Newcastle Producer and Co-founder of Good Eye Deer, Olivia Olley has been announced as One To Watch by Screen Producers Australia.
Olivia is one of 20 emerging producers from across Australia who will partake in the Ones To Watch career accelerator program.
Ones To Watch pairs Australia’s finest emerging producers with senior mentors from the industry to support the development of their film and TV slate.
CEO of Screen Producers Australia, Matthew Deaner said the organisation sees a diverse selection of applicants and projects and is inspired by the potential of the talent, their creativity and the future of Australian stories to be told.
“We are excited to support the journeys of the 2018 Ones To Watch and open the doors for emerging producers to industry exposure, mentorships with experienced producers and authentic industry opportunities,” Matthew said.
For Olivia’s Newcastle Production Company, Good Eye Deer (owned by Olivia Olley and partner Gavin Banks), that goal is to produce a high-concept, scripted drama or comedy series set in the Newcastle or Hunter Region. Today the team are one step closer to achieving this goal.
Ones To Watch also provides an exclusive First Look pitch session with SBS where Olivia will have the opportunity to pitch either a documentary or drama concept and win a grant to develop her pitched idea further with SBS.
Head of Commercial and Production at SBS, Chris Irvine said that SBS’s involvement in the Ones To Watch program is important.
“SBS’s involvement with SPA’s Ones To Watch program is an important part of our commitment to developing the next wave of Australian screen production talent; and to see that talent better reflect the diversity of Australian audiences watching those screens,” Chris said.
This national recognition and industry support comes on the back of recent success where Olivia and Gavin produced a short film for the ABC. Good Eye Deer’s short film One, released on iView as part of the inaugural series SEED: Regional Shorts, was released in May 2018. Starring nationally-renowned, stand-up comedian, Nikki Britton, the short film was funded by the ABC and Create NSW with support finance from local organisation Newcastle NOW.
IMAGE | Local Producer and Co-founder of Good Eye Deer, Olivia Olley.