From pottery, pyrography and macramé, to carving, crocheting and even a Chris Hemsworth lampshade, Making It Australia is set to premiere September 15th on 10 and 10 Play.
Creativity lives inside all of us, and people everywhere have rediscovered the joy of making things by hand. Making It Australia is a series that celebrates enthusiastic, professional, and amateur craftspeople, skilled across multiple disciplines and ready to push themselves outside of their comfort zones, to create personal handmade items from the heart.
Hosted by comedians Susie Youssef and Harley Breen, Making It Australia brings together 13 of the country’s best Makers, to compete in the barn, from sewing to woodworking, papercrafts to pottery, and carving to crocheting.
On hand to encourage their creativity and share their hard-earned wisdom with the Makers, are the judges; award-winning production designer Deborah Riley, and renowned paper engineer Benja Harney.
Each episode will focus on a theme that draws its inspiration from popular trends in crafting and DIY. The Makers must complete two challenges per episode, with the winner earning a coveted award honouring their victory: a patch.
In the end, only one hopeful will have crafted and DIY’d enough to earn the title of Master Maker and $100,000.
The series is based on the American format, hosted by Parks and Rec stars Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman. Making It Australia is a Eureka production for Network 10.
The Hosts
Susie Youssef is a comedian, actor, writer and improviser who has written, performed and produced comedy for stage, radio and television in Australia and around the world.
Youssef said: “I feel ecstatic to be working on a show that is going to bring so much joy to everyone who sees it.
“I feel pumped that we’re showcasing some kick arse creative geniuses from all over the country and I feel ridiculously short standing next to Harley Breen but, for this show, I’m ok with that.”
Harley Breen is an award-winning comedian, television host and radio personality who has won over a legion of fans in Australia – and the globe – with his accessible and relatable stories and style.
Breen, says that as well as things he makes for himself, his three kids have honed his crafting skills.
“In addition to craft time with my kids, for as long as I’ve been able to, I’ve wanted to be in my shed making things that could otherwise be purchased but not appreciated.
“I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to host a show of this magnitude alongside my very talented friend Susie Youssef, and truly love the idea and subject matter.”
Making It Judges
Judging the Makers’ creations will be award-winning production designer Deborah Riley, and renowned paper engineer Benja Harney.
Master craftspeople in their own artistic fields, Riley is a production designer and art director, and Harney is a world-renowned paper engineer.
Best-known for her work as head of art department on Game Of Thrones, one of the most-watched television series of the past decade, Riley’s equally impressive film credits include work as set designer on The Matrix, 21 Grams, and Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge.
With four Emmy awards and a BAFTA under her artistic belt, Riley is ready to encourage and inspire the makers to push themselves beyond their comfort zone.
Riley said: “At a very fundamental level, I believe in what Making It stands for. I believe in artists and the transformative power of their art.
“All of the challenges will test our makers in different ways and I am incredibly excited to see what they bring to the table”.
Renowned as a pioneer in his field, Harney has created bespoke paper constructions for some of the world’s leading brands including Google, Nike, Facebook and Hermes. Not to mention two of Australia’s most successful music exports: Kylie Minogue and SIA.
As a master-maker himself, Harney is excited at the prospect of being able to share his hard-earned wisdom with our makers and hopes to encourage them to bold heights of creative expression.
Harney said: “I’m over the moon to be involved with 10’s series Making It and to help celebrate Australian imagination.
“I’ll be looking for an inventive approach to materials, confident colour choices and projects that are beautifully finished. These are sure-fire ways for our makers to achieve those ‘wow’ moments we’re looking for”.
