Bridget Callow-Wright.
Jungle Entertainment has launched a features division, with a focus on international films to be shot and produced in Australia.
Producer Bridget Callow-Wright has been appointed as a development executive to assist in developing the features slate, which includes genre, action-drama, and documentary, all with the company’s signature comedic style.
Callow-Wright was formerly senior development executive at Cowlick Entertainment, and will retain her own banner Midwinter Films.
First off the slate will be science-fiction comedy Croak, about a gang of teenagers who discover that their biology teacher is harbouring a dark secret that is about to unleash death and destruction. Penned by Shane Brady and co-writer Priscilla Cameron, the film will be directed by brothers Connor and Christian Van Vuuren with Callow-Wright and Jungle COO Chloe Rickard producing.
“As well as being lots of laughs, Croak tackles important environmental questions through the eyes of teenagers in regional Australia,” says Rickard.
Other films in development include The Hitchhiker, an all-female vampire road movie based on writer-director Adele Vuko’s short film starring Liv Hewson, which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival.
Craig Reucassel (The Chaser, War on Waste) is attached to direct The Democracy Project, a comedic documentary which will follow Christian Van Vuuren as he investigates Australia’s sometimes dysfunctional democratic system.
“There are certainly ongoing challenges for feature films but there are also fantastic new opportunities. Jungle has such a strong reputation for innovation, risk-taking and quality producing, which puts the business in a prime position to capitalise and to succeed in this space” says Callow-Wright.
The Sydney-based Jungle has three shows it has created soon to air in the US, including the third season of No Activity (CBSAA), the second season of Mr Inbetween (FX) and A Moody Christmas (Fox).
“We’ve proven ourselves as a nimble innovator in the international television space,” says CEO Jason Burrows.
“While the film industry is tougher than ever, we believe there are big opportunities to bring Australian stories to new international audiences.”
Rickard and Callow-Wright will be attending Melbourne International Film Festival’s 37°South Market August 1 – 4, and will be in LA in late August.