Film and television producers Tony Ayres, Helen Bowden, Penny Chapman, Michael McMahon and Helen Panckhurst have formed a new company, Matchbox Pictures .
Matchbox Pictures is a production and rights management company that will capitalise on the strengths of its five principals, and provide opportunities for them to co-operatively build and market their businesses in Australia and internationally under one umbrella.
The Matchbox Pictures producers already have over twenty-five film, television and interactive properties in production and development and are working with some of the most exciting talents in the Australian film, television and interactive industries.
Projects in the pipeline include: Saved – a 2-part drama starring Claudia Karvan (writer Belinda Chayko, director Tony Ayres) about a woman who saves an Iranian refugee from detention and then falls in love with him, for SBS Television; My Place – a 13 part children’s series and multi-platform project about the kids who live in one spot on earth over 260 years, for the ABC; Uncertainty – a documentary about the artist Bill Henson (director Kathy Drayton); The Straits – a 6-part crime drama about a family of smugglers, for the ABC (writer Louis Nowra, director Matthew Saville); and Lou – a feature film about a young girl who finds love through a dangerous game with her Alzheimic grandfather (starring John Hurt and Emily Barclay).
Matchbox Pictures has received support from the Screen Business Venture Program of the Australian Film Commission and in early August will be seeking a full-time Head of Business whose responsibilities will include the pursuit of market and production partnerships on all platforms.
[Release by Matchbox]