Sandra Makaresz (l) and Laura Clelland.
Laura Clelland and Sandra Makaresz have been invited to participate in the second annual Kids Live Action Pitch at MIPTV – the only Aussies among five teams from around the world.
They will be pitching Super Huu, the tale of 13-year-old Huu Phan, who becomes the keeper of an ancient Talisman and must win the trust of the Warrior Spirits trapped within it to control the super powers they can give him.
The twist: The Warrior Spirits are a trouble-making, rude and stupid bunch who are intent on making Huu’s life hell.
Makaresz and Louise Creely created and wrote the concept for Clelland’s company Sublimate Entertainment.
“We are really thrilled to have been selected for the Kids Live Action Pitch and to be attending MIPTV as we have a few projects that we are looking to find partners for – children’s, YA and adult drama,” Clelland tells IF.
Her slate includes Sleep State, a young adult drama series, Best Laid Plans, an adult drama/comedy series and feature film Edge of Time.
At last year’s inaugural event at MIPTV Buffalo Media’s Andre Lima and John Sheedy pitched Mrs McCutcheon, a series based on a short film which starred Alec Golinger as 10-year-old Tom, who believes he was born in the wrong body.
Last year Clelland and Makaresz completed web series Life of Jess funded by Screen Australia’s Skip Ahead initiative. The 5 x 8’ show traced the high school years of YouTuber Jess Holsman, written and produced by Holsman, Elle Croxford, Makaresz and Clelland, with Clelland directing.
Clelland was among 20 producers who took part in Screen Producers Australia’s six-months mentoring program Ones to Watch last year, supported by SBS, Screen Australia and YouTube.
She owns the Queensland crew booking agency Essential Crew and guest lectures at Griffith Film School and Bond University.
MIPTV runs from April 8-11. The Kids Live Action Pitch finalists are: :
Anarchy Anderson
Produced by: Mosaic Entertainment
Country: Canada
Lady Ada’s Secret Society
Produced by: Coconut Effect Productions
Country: Canada
Super Huu
Produced by: Sublimate Entertainment
Country: Australia
The Strand
Produced by: Magpie 6 Media Entertainment
Country: Ireland
Yalla! Yo!
Produced by: Studio 100 NV
Country: Belgium
Selection jury:
Nina Hahn, SVP International Production and Development, Nickelodeon
Nicole Keeb, Head of International Coproductions and Acquisitions, ZDF Germen Television
David Levine, Vice-President Programming, Production & Strategic Dev, Disney Channels EMEA, The Walt Disney Company
Cheryl Taylor, Head of Content, BBC Children’s, BBC
Luca Milano, Executive Director Rai Ragazzi, Rai Radiotelevisione Italiana