Werner Film Productions’ founder and producer Joanna Werner.
Writer-producer, showrunner and specialist script producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (Lost) is headed to Melbourne for a week-long intensive workshop to develop The Story Lab project Hereafter, created by Giula Sandler (Glitch) & David Hannam (Carlotta).
Grillo-Marxuach has just wrapped work as co-executive producer on The CW’s post-apocalyptic drama The 100, and is currently developing the Xena: Warrior Princess reboot for NBC Universal.
While in Melbourne, Grillo-Marxuach will also feature in a Screen Australia ‘In Conversation’ event hosted by Werner Film Productions’ founder and producer Joanna Werner.
Funded by Screen Australia’s Enterprise Stories program, The Story Lab is an initiative of film and television production company Werner Film Productions, cultivating "innovative Australian stories for television that can hold their place amongst the current wave of global long form television series".
WFP producers Werner and Louise Smith are guiding the process.
A high concept family drama, Hereafter was chosen from close to 500 submissions last year.
“We are thrilled to welcome Javier to Melbourne to work with Giula and David, the creators and writers of Hereafter", Werner said.
"Louise and I are extremely excited by the unique concept behind Hereafter and know that this series has the potential to create compelling and unforgettable television."
“Javier’s incredible wealth of experience in the writers’ room environment will be invaluable in developing the project to its full potential”, she said.
The show's co-creators and writers Giula Sandler and David Hannam said, “We’re very excited to have Javier Grillo Marxuach join us on the development of Hereafter, a compelling, character driven drama with a twist."
"Javier’s international perspective and experience with high concept drama will be instrumental in developing the concept over the five days. We couldn’t be happier to be collaborating with The Story Lab and the team at Werner Film Productions."
The Story Lab workshop will run April 11-15.
Screen Australia’s In Conversation event with Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Joanna Werner will be held on April 13 at ACMI.
Book here.