The Comedy Channel is pleased to announce that it will once again be offering up to $25,000 towards the development of a new TV comedy concept as part of the 2008 SPAA Conference’s "Comedy Gold" session being held on the Gold Coast from November 12-14.
The Comedy Channel is inviting Australian writers, performers and producers to submit programme ideas for a 13 part half-hour comedy series. Finalists selected will have the opportunity to pitch their comedy concept directly to a panel of judges including Brian Walsh, Executive Director of Television and Marketing, Foxtel and Graham Burrells, Head of Entertainment, Foxtel at the 2008 SPAA Conference in November.
Alex Ristevski, Channel Manager The Comedy Channel said, “As I write this quote about how excited the channel is to once again engage the Australian creative community, two more comedy show ideas land on my desk. One is a sitcom set in a brothel, the other a game show that involves sending text messages titled ‘Don’t Shoot the Messenger’.
“Our open door policy on concept proposals not only reinforces our position on local development and production but also highlights the fact that a great idea can come from anyone at any time. This competition is a great way to formulise that process giving everyone an equal footing and the opportunity to have the next big TV hit on their hands.”
The two winners announced at the 2007 SPAA Conference, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Better created by comedy writers Sean Condon and Rob Hibbert and Jason and the Residents created by Jason Gann have advanced to stage two of the development process with the likelihood that they will screen on The Comedy Channel by the beginning of next year.
For those considering submitting a proposal, Comedy Gold 2007 will have a special encore screening on Sunday August 3 at 6.30pm on The Comedy Channel. This behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to sell your idea and the tricks and pitfalls encountered by last year’s finalists is compulsory viewing.
Producers are invited to submit a proposal of no more than three pages in length. The proposal must be accompanied by video footage which helps to illustrate the proposal. Application forms can be downloaded from www.thecomedychannel.com.au or www.spaa.org.au/conference
Entries close 5pm, Friday, 19 September 2008. Short-listed producers will be notified on 29 September and finalists notified on 28 October. The winner will be announced at the SPAA Conference Pitch Session on 13 November 2008.
[release from Fitzpatrick Public Relations]