Synchronicity Opens Australian Hub

Synchronicity Films is launching Synchronicity Australia, based in Melbourne and led by former BBC Drama Development Producer Ruth Underwood.

The Glasgow-based production company, behind the hit The Cry, is setting up shop in Melbourne to expand its focus on producing high-end drama for both the domestic and international markets. Underwood will be tasked with sourcing local IP and producing scripted content for Synchronicity in Australia and potential U.K.-Australia co-productions.

Underwood has been and will continue to be integral to all of Synchronicity Australia’s projects, the first of which is a TV adaptation of Helen FitzGerald’s novel Ash Mountain. Ash Mountain is a warm, darkly funny portrait of small-town life in rural Victoria and a shocking and truly distressing account of a catastrophic event that changes things forever.

Claire Mundell, founder and creative director at Synchronicity Films, said: “A key goal for Synchronicity is to expand our production reach so we can focus on truly universal stories with global appeal. Having spent a considerable amount of time in Australia filming The Cry we feel a real affinity with the country, so it’s a natural place for us to set up a new office to originate projects. We are thrilled that someone of Ruth’s caliber is helming this new venture and look forward to working on Ash Mountain and other upcoming projects which will have their genesis in Australia.”

FitzGerald added: “Synchronicity Films has championed my writing since my first book was released nearly 15 years ago. Since then, Claire Mundell has been dedicated, tireless and brave in her vision and ambition, culminating in The Cry which, in my book, is the best TV adaptation ever made! I am so excited to be developing Ash Mountain with Claire and the team. This one is really special to me for a whole host of reasons, but mostly the setting. I’ve been away from Australia for so long, but the country is in my bones. I’m so excited about Synchronicity Australia and can’t wait to binge-watch this show, and hopefully many more.”

Underwood commented: “I am so pleased to have the opportunity to develop the creative relationships I’ve already established in Australia, and further explore the great pool of talent here on Synchronicity’s behalf. I have a long-standing professional and personal relationship with Claire, and I love Synchronicity’s ethos of positivity and inclusion, coupled with their editorially-led approach to development. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be heading up their endeavors on this side of the world and to be working on another excellent Helen FitzGerald novel, Ash Mountain.”