Charlie Pickering and Chris Walker TV party
Thinkative Television celebrated its 10th Birthday at Hope St Radio in Collingwood on Wednesday this week.
Hosting the event were founding partners Charlie Pickering and Chris Walker. The third business partner – the busy Kevin Whyte – wasn’t able to make it. Pickering and Walker previously worked together in Roving Enterprises’ The Project.
The production business is the home of the hit ABC TV series The Weekly and Hard Quiz.
Pickering currently hosts, writes and executive produces The Weekly and Hard Quiz, is a team captain on Endemol Shine Australia’s Would I Lie to You.
Before Thinkative, Walker was the first managing editor of The Project and was the EP of Network 10’s 50 Years Young. He is the co-creator and ep of The Weekly, Hard Quiz and Tomorrow, Tonight.
Rachel Millar (left) and Kieran Bycroft (right) with Charlie and Chris
John Tabbagh (left) and Lizzie McKenzie and Frank-Bruzzese (right) with Charlie and Chris
The Deep goes deeper into mixed reality extension
Toronto-based Dark Slope has announced it has secured production funding for a mixed reality extension of the global animated hit series The Deep.
To be called The Deep – Beyond The Reef will launch as a Meta Quest 3 title and is supported by an investment from the Canada Media Fund. The production is promising an unparalleled mixed reality experience.
Developed for a global audience and produced by A Stark Production and WildBrain, together with Infinite Studios, The Deep series an is based on the graphic novel series, which was created by multi-award-winning, best-selling comic book author and playwright Tom Taylor (Superman, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Injustice: Gods Among Us, Wolverine, Iron Man, Batman: The Detective, Star Wars: Age of Resistance) and co-creator, artist James Brouwer (Justice League Beyond), and published by Wolfgang Bylsma and Skye Ogden’s Gestalt Comics.
Underlying rights holder of The Deep, CEO & executive producer at A Stark Production Avrill Stark said, “The Deep has captivated audiences globally with its rich storytelling and vibrant universe. We are incredibly excited that Dark Slope will be building an experience that invites existing and new fans of this world into an adventure where they can navigate the depths of the ocean with under-water vehicles, encountering fascinating creatures.”
The Deep – Beyond The Reef
About A Stark Production
A Stark Production (ASP) is a Sydney-based production company and a leader in the creative development and production of quality children’s content. ASP teams with global partners to deliver successful internationally co-produced shows. From its inception the company has been led by Avrill Stark, an independent producer who has teamed with companies to produce hundreds of hours of series across a broad age range, preschool – teens. ASP has received many nominations and awards for outstanding animation: The Kidscreen Award for Best Kids Series, the prestigious UNICEF Award at Annecy, the Elan Award for Best Animated Television Production together with a BAFTA nomination and numerous nominations for the Australian Film Industry (AFI) Awards.
See also: A Stark, WildBrain & Infinite making fourth season of ABC kids series The Deep
About Dark Slope
Dark Slope’s team of trailblazers and advanced spatial and virtual production technologies combine to bring quality television and immersive experiences to life for clients and partners including Marblemedia, Aircraft Pictures, Insight Productions, Nickelodeon, Dave & Busters, Hasbro, Epic Games, NBC Peacock, WildBrain, TVOntario, WarnerMedia and more. Dark Slope was recognized as a Realscreen Trailblazer for their impact on the scripted and unscripted industries (2023), and as a North America Deloitte Technology Fast 500 (2022) and Canadian Deloitte Technology Fast 50 (2022).
SXSW: Aussies going to Austin
Five Australian screen projects have been selected for the 2024 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film & TV Festival which will take place in Austin, Texas from 8-16 March.
Making their respective world premieres are feature film Audrey, documentary short film The Big Wait, and animated augmented reality (XR) project Many Worlds.
Mystery-thriller Birdeater will make its international premiere and the First Nations psychological horror film The Moogai will also be showcased at SXSW following its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival this month.
New Screen Australia CEO Deirdre Brennan said, “Congratulations to the teams behind these unique projects on their SXSW selection. This important recognition highlights the demand for compelling Australian content across all genres and formats globally. Participation in SXSW, a festival known for innovative and ground-breaking work, demonstrates the high calibre and audience appeal of our homegrown stories. I’m absolutely thrilled about their selection.”