Sara Richardson.
Network 10 drama executive Sara Richardson is moving back to production house Playmaker Media after nearly three years with the broadcaster.
Richardson returns to Playmaker as an executive producer and will working across the Sony Pictures-owned production company’s drama slate both in Australia and with Sony Pictures Television International’s LA creative team.
The appointment reunites Richardson with the Playmaker team of which she was a driving member before joining Network Ten in 2017. The television executive spent five years as a drama development producer for Playmaker with production credits including The Wrong Girl, House Husbands, The Code and Love Child.
“We are excited to have Sara return to Playmaker. She is an incredibly talented drama executive who will play an integral part in leading Playmaker’s future drama projects” said Playmaker co-founders David Maher and David Taylor.
During Richardson’s career at Network 10 she oversaw the development and production of dramas including Neighbours, Playing For Keeps, Five Bedrooms, My Life Is Murder and The Secret She Keeps. Richardson also worked on Offspring and Wake In Fright.
Playmaker is currently in production on a new Stan Original series, The Commons. The series stars Joanne Froggatt (Liar, Downton Abbey) and Damon Herriman, and is being produced with support from Sony Pictures Television. Additionally, second series of Stan Original Bloom is also slated for production in late 2019.
Richardson said she looked forward to beginning her next chapter at Playmaker. “My passion has always been to tell bold, complex and exciting stories that audiences can escape into. The ability to develop innovative, high quality projects with Playmaker is an exciting opportunity.”
During her career she has also held roles at Essential Media and Entertainment, where she worked across development and business affairs for over two years and was a creative assistant at Global Television.
Her extensive work across Australian commercial networks and US cable networks in factual and drama include Gourmet Farmer (SBS), Seduction in the City (SBS, Arte France), Australia: The Time Traveller’s Guide (ABC, NOVA US), Australia on Trial (ABC), and The Making of Modern Australia (ABC), Rake (ABC), Jack Irish (ABC), and Hiding (ABC, ITV).