Press release from Optus One80 Project
Optus and MTV Networks Australia are pleased to welcome internationally acclaimed, award winning actor, David Wenham to the judging panel for the OPTUS ONE80PROJECT’s fifth year of competition. After much deliberation, the Top 10 entries for this year’s project have also been announced with finalists hailing from the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
“I am really excited to be apart of this year’s OPTUS ONE80PROJECT. Initiatives like the OPTUS ONE80PROJECT are so important to the development of the Australian film and television industries. There is an abundance of untapped talent out there that needs to be discovered,” Wenham commented.
Having starred in a long list of local and international blockbusters including The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, The Boys, Australia, 300, Van Helsing and Moulin Rouge, Wenham’s distinguished 15 year professional career has cemented him as one of Australia’s most renowned actors.
Wenham will join a panel of industry experts including Kat Stewart, star of last years’ winning entry, Dungoona and award winning Underbelly actor and members of Blue Tongue Films, from the renowned Australian Film collective behind Animal Kingdom; Joel and Nash Edgerton, David Michôd, Spencer Susser, Luke Doolan, Kieran Darcy-Smith and Tony Lynch.
Gavin Williams, Managing Director, Optus Consumer, said, “Optus is very happy to see an actor with the stature of David Wenham involved in this project – joining the other great judges who are already on board. Optus firmly believes in the next generation of filmmakers and we’re looking forward to seeing what this year’s finalists have in store for us”
The OPTUS ONE80PROJECT is an opportunity for aspiring TV makers to turn their good idea into a big shot at the small screen. From a long list of entries the Top 10 finalists, selected by representatives from Optus and MTV, include:
Sick
Fully Sick Rapper
Christian Van Vuuren, Sydney, NSW
http://www.one80project.com.au/view_entry.php?id=524
You Me And The End Of The World
Jono Blake, Sydney, NSW
http://www.one80project.com.au/view_entry.php?id=469
The Prohibition
Luke Goodall, Melbourne, VIC
http://www.one80project.com.au/view_entry.php?id=207
Family Tree
David Vincent Smith, Perth, WA
http://www.one80project.com.au/view_entry.php?id=463
Snobs
Gracie Otto, Lucy Hayes, Sydney, NSW
http://www.one80project.com.au/view_entry.php?id=226
Neon
Cameron Suardana, Gold Coast, QLD
http://www.one80project.com.au/view_entry.php?id=86
Australian Family Reunion
Colman Ridge, Brisbane, QLD
http://www.one80project.com.au/view_entry.php?id=83
15.52
Daniel Flood, Brisbane, QLD
http://www.one80project.com.au/view_entry.php?id=482
King St Hustle
Melvin Montalban, Sydney, NSW
http://www.one80project.com.au/view_entry.php?id=444
One Wish
Mitchell Fitzpatrick, Sydney, NSW
http://www.one80project.com.au/view_entry.php?id=321
From the Top 10, the judges will pick a Judges’ Choice winning entry which will be made into a one hour drama broadcast on MTV Australia. A second winner, the Public Vote Award, will be selected by the public who can view the top 10 entries online and on their mobile by visiting www.one80project.com.au from Monday, January 24, 2011 until Friday, March 4, 2011.
This year a $5000 cash prize will also be awarded to the best entry submitted by a student, as selected by our judging panel.
Winners of the Judges’ Choice Award, Best Student Entry and the Public Vote Award will be revealed at the OPTUS ONE80PROJECT Festival on Sunday, March 20, 2011.
Both the Judges’ Choice Award and Public Vote Award winners will receive a prize package that will include a share in $20,000 cash. The winner of the Judges’ Choice Award will work with MTV’s production team to shape their pilot into a full-length multi-platform drama which will premiere on Optus ZOO web, mobile portals and on MTV Australia Channel 124.