Rachel Okine flies to Los Angeles today to plot the next chapter of her career after amicably departing Hopscotch Features/Entertainment One last Friday.
After spending 12 years with the Hopscotch group since its inception, Okine told IF this morning, “It’s time to move on. I am incredibly fortunate to have been a part of the company. I learned so much and made so many good friends. I am sad and I am going to miss it but I am excited about what’s next."
She had the dual roles of head of development for Hopscotch Features, the JV between eOne MD Troy Lum, producer Andrew Mason and writer John Collee, and production and acquisitions executive at eOne.
Lucy Hill continues as eOne acquisitions manager and a new head of development for Hopscotch Features will be hired.
“Rachel was the first person we ever employed at Hopscotch, so over the past 12-13 years she has been an integral part of our growth and success," Lum told IF. "It’s a sad day and the end of an era but I am so looking forward to watching Rachel soar to new levels. We wish her every success.”
Okine joined Hopscotch in 2002, working across technical delivery, publicity and marketing and serving as acquisitions manager at Hopscotch from 2002 – 2006.
She was involved in the acquisition of films such as Source Code, Pan’s Labyrinth and Midnight in Paris, and brought into the company Wish You Were Here and The Sapphires.
In 2012 she received the inaugural Natalie Miller Fellowship which recognises entrepreneurship and excellence in the Australian screen industries.
She intends to spend a month in LA and envisions working either in production or acquisitions. She will be back in time to attend the premiere of Russell Crowe’s The Water Diviner, which she developed at Hopscotch Features.