Barbara Uecker, head of programming and acquisitions for ABC TV Children.s, is leaving the public broadcaster on Friday.
A six-year ABC veteran who was instrumental in the launches of ABC4 Kids and ABC3, Uecker tells If she plans to take a break.
.I need a proper holiday and to recharge the batteries before I look at the opportunities that are out there,. she said. She was acting controller of children.s TV at ABC last year after Tim Brooke-Hunt stepped down, pending the arrival of head of children.s TV Deirdre Brennan.
During Barbara.s reign she launched local series including Matchbox Pictures' Nowhere Boys and Werner Film Productions. Dance Academy and was executive producer of the new animated Bananas in Pyjamas.
.I have had a fantastic six years,. she said. .We have a great team in place and the channels are in great hands..
Brennan said, .Barbara has...
A six-year ABC veteran who was instrumental in the launches of ABC4 Kids and ABC3, Uecker tells If she plans to take a break.
.I need a proper holiday and to recharge the batteries before I look at the opportunities that are out there,. she said. She was acting controller of children.s TV at ABC last year after Tim Brooke-Hunt stepped down, pending the arrival of head of children.s TV Deirdre Brennan.
During Barbara.s reign she launched local series including Matchbox Pictures' Nowhere Boys and Werner Film Productions. Dance Academy and was executive producer of the new animated Bananas in Pyjamas.
.I have had a fantastic six years,. she said. .We have a great team in place and the channels are in great hands..
Brennan said, .Barbara has...
- 3/24/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
After stepping down as ABC Television.s controller of children.s content, Tim Brooke-Hunt will launch his own banner, Pacific Vision, providing consulting and executive producer services.
Using his expertise in children.s entertainment, he will focus on international co-productions and co-financing, particularly with Asia.
Brooke-Hunt will continue as a member of the board of the Asian Animation Summit and. in the next few months will act as a mentor to producers from Malaysia, Korea, Australia and Thailand whose projects will be presented at the summit in Phuket, Thailand, in December.
He played a key role in the launch of the annual event which is an initiative of ABC TV, Screen Australia, Korea's Kocca and Malaysia's MDeC.
He leaves the ABC at the end of next week and will launch Pacific Vision on October 1. Deirdre Brennan, currently director of content, Australia and New Zealand, for BBC Worldwide, will replace Brooke-Hunt in the New Year.
Using his expertise in children.s entertainment, he will focus on international co-productions and co-financing, particularly with Asia.
Brooke-Hunt will continue as a member of the board of the Asian Animation Summit and. in the next few months will act as a mentor to producers from Malaysia, Korea, Australia and Thailand whose projects will be presented at the summit in Phuket, Thailand, in December.
He played a key role in the launch of the annual event which is an initiative of ABC TV, Screen Australia, Korea's Kocca and Malaysia's MDeC.
He leaves the ABC at the end of next week and will launch Pacific Vision on October 1. Deirdre Brennan, currently director of content, Australia and New Zealand, for BBC Worldwide, will replace Brooke-Hunt in the New Year.
- 9/5/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Tim Brooke-Hunt, ABC TV.s controller of children.s content, said he will step down in September to pursue new opportunities in children's entertainment. In the past six years he oversaw the launch of ABC3 and ABC4Kids, which reach almost 60% of Australian children aged up to 12 years. Children's programs are the most popular content on ABC TV's iview catch-up service, accounting for more than 2 million program plays monthly. "I leave ABC TV with renewed respect for public broadcasting, with gratitude to the talented producers of our programs,. he said.
Richard Finlayson, the newly appointed Director of ABC Television, said: "There is no doubt that the dominance of ABC TV in the children.s area has been one of the great success stories for the ABC and this has been achieved under Tim.s leadership..
Brooke-Hunt worked for Beyond International and the Yoram Gross Studios before starting his own company,...
Richard Finlayson, the newly appointed Director of ABC Television, said: "There is no doubt that the dominance of ABC TV in the children.s area has been one of the great success stories for the ABC and this has been achieved under Tim.s leadership..
Brooke-Hunt worked for Beyond International and the Yoram Gross Studios before starting his own company,...
- 6/19/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
This article first appeared in If magazine issue #149
.
Creator Luke Jurevicius says "trust" was the key to handing over his CGI-animated goth child Figaro to an all-Australian team for a $6 million TV series.
"I had to learn that you couldn't do it all yourself,. he says. .If you were super controlling and untrusting, production would grind to a halt. Once you've boarded the train, there ain't no hopping off so you've got to have trust and faith. That faith is built on evidence. I saw animation director David [Webster]'s TV series Erky Perky and thought 'wow, this is high end'. I also thought we could do better."
The Adventures of Figaro Pho, which screens on ABC3 in October, was based on Jurevicius' one-minute shorts in 2008 which won two AFI awards and was voted best animation series in the world at the 2009 Kidscreen awards.
The extended seven-minute episodes (39 in total), produced...
.
Creator Luke Jurevicius says "trust" was the key to handing over his CGI-animated goth child Figaro to an all-Australian team for a $6 million TV series.
"I had to learn that you couldn't do it all yourself,. he says. .If you were super controlling and untrusting, production would grind to a halt. Once you've boarded the train, there ain't no hopping off so you've got to have trust and faith. That faith is built on evidence. I saw animation director David [Webster]'s TV series Erky Perky and thought 'wow, this is high end'. I also thought we could do better."
The Adventures of Figaro Pho, which screens on ABC3 in October, was based on Jurevicius' one-minute shorts in 2008 which won two AFI awards and was voted best animation series in the world at the 2009 Kidscreen awards.
The extended seven-minute episodes (39 in total), produced...
- 1/31/2013
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Ten Australian television animation projects will be presented at the inaugural Asian Animation Summit (Aas) in Kuala Lumpur.
The Aas, which will be held December 10-11, is aimed at promoting the co-production and co-financing of children's animation across Asia.
The 10 successful Australian projects are: Babyccino (Mememe Productions), Bottersnikes and Gumbles (Ambience Entertainment), Evie & Tom's Mad Hair Day (Lemonade Digital Productions), Fantastic Forest (Chocolate Liberation Front), Herb and Ray's Yum (Sticky Pictures), Prisoner Zero (Planet 55 Studios), Ramiro (Liquid Animation), Skyrunners (Beyond Screen Productions), Super Mega Hyper Pets (Flying Bark Productions), The Eggsperts (Re Productions).
A total of 36 projects will be on show at the Aas. Each producer will have 45 minutes to pitch their show to an audience of potential co-producers, broadcasters and distributors. Eight of the successful Australian projects were selected by Screen Australia and supported by ABC TV.
The Aas was initiated by the director of ABC Television, Kim Dalton,...
The Aas, which will be held December 10-11, is aimed at promoting the co-production and co-financing of children's animation across Asia.
The 10 successful Australian projects are: Babyccino (Mememe Productions), Bottersnikes and Gumbles (Ambience Entertainment), Evie & Tom's Mad Hair Day (Lemonade Digital Productions), Fantastic Forest (Chocolate Liberation Front), Herb and Ray's Yum (Sticky Pictures), Prisoner Zero (Planet 55 Studios), Ramiro (Liquid Animation), Skyrunners (Beyond Screen Productions), Super Mega Hyper Pets (Flying Bark Productions), The Eggsperts (Re Productions).
A total of 36 projects will be on show at the Aas. Each producer will have 45 minutes to pitch their show to an audience of potential co-producers, broadcasters and distributors. Eight of the successful Australian projects were selected by Screen Australia and supported by ABC TV.
The Aas was initiated by the director of ABC Television, Kim Dalton,...
- 11/8/2012
- by Staff Reporter
- IF.com.au
Production on the third series of ABC teen drama Dance Academy has begun in Sydney.
The series, which reunites cast members Xenia Goodwin, Jordan Rodrigues, Alicia Banit, Dena Kaplan, Thomas Lacey, Isabel Durant, Keiynan Lonsdale and Tara Morice, follows the dancers as they complete their final year at the academy.
Joanna Werner, producer and co-creator, said in a statement: .We are so delighted to be going into production on the third series. The scripts are really strong with so much going on for all of our characters, and we are working with some of the best choreographers in Australia to ensure there are even more fabulous dance routines in this series..
Dance Academy has won several awards including the TV Week Logie Award for Most Outstanding Children.s program and a Hugo Television Award for best Children.s Series. It was also nominated for an International Emmy in the Children and Youth category.
The series, which reunites cast members Xenia Goodwin, Jordan Rodrigues, Alicia Banit, Dena Kaplan, Thomas Lacey, Isabel Durant, Keiynan Lonsdale and Tara Morice, follows the dancers as they complete their final year at the academy.
Joanna Werner, producer and co-creator, said in a statement: .We are so delighted to be going into production on the third series. The scripts are really strong with so much going on for all of our characters, and we are working with some of the best choreographers in Australia to ensure there are even more fabulous dance routines in this series..
Dance Academy has won several awards including the TV Week Logie Award for Most Outstanding Children.s program and a Hugo Television Award for best Children.s Series. It was also nominated for an International Emmy in the Children and Youth category.
- 8/28/2012
- by Anthony Soegito
- IF.com.au
Beyond Productions has begun shooting on a children’s science quiz show called Steam Punks for ABC3. The show is hosted by Paul Verhoeven, of Triple J’s Nerdy by Nature.
The announcement:
ABC3’s first Australian science series Steam Punks, 40 x 30, starts production today in Sydney.
Produced by Beyond Productions for ABC3, Steam Punks is a fast, furious and funny science based quiz show hosted by comedian Paul Verhoeven (Triple J’s Breakfast’s Nerdy By Nature segment).
During each episode two teams of two contestants, aged between 12-15 years-old, find themselves trapped in a subterranean Steampunk world ruled by the malevolent ‘Machine’.
The ‘Machine’ uses her minion, Paul, to quiz the contestants on their scientific knowledge, problem solving and ability to interact with technology in order to win their freedom.
Tim Brooke-Hunt, Controller of ABC Children’s Television, said “Steam Punks will offer ABC3 viewers an entertaining mix of science and fun,...
The announcement:
ABC3’s first Australian science series Steam Punks, 40 x 30, starts production today in Sydney.
Produced by Beyond Productions for ABC3, Steam Punks is a fast, furious and funny science based quiz show hosted by comedian Paul Verhoeven (Triple J’s Breakfast’s Nerdy By Nature segment).
During each episode two teams of two contestants, aged between 12-15 years-old, find themselves trapped in a subterranean Steampunk world ruled by the malevolent ‘Machine’.
The ‘Machine’ uses her minion, Paul, to quiz the contestants on their scientific knowledge, problem solving and ability to interact with technology in order to win their freedom.
Tim Brooke-Hunt, Controller of ABC Children’s Television, said “Steam Punks will offer ABC3 viewers an entertaining mix of science and fun,...
- 7/5/2012
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
ABC's Children's TV department is in the midst of a restructure, following the resignation of head of commissioning and development Carla de Jong.
Commissioning will now be separated into two areas: live action and animation.
Current vice president of programming and development at the UK's Hit Entertainment Chris Rose will take up the position of head of animation in May.
Rose has previously worked in acquisitions for BBC's Children and CBeebies. He has also served as exective producer on a number of animated series aimed at pre-schoolers, including Hit Entertainment's Mike the Knight, which he developed.
Commissioning and development editor Simon Hopkinson will oversee the live action children's TV department after three years commissioning drama and animation for ABC's children's channels under the direction of de Jong.
Both Rose and Hopkinson will report to ABC Children's controller Tim Brooke-Hunt.
De Jong will depart the ABC at the end of March and relocate to Toronto,...
Commissioning will now be separated into two areas: live action and animation.
Current vice president of programming and development at the UK's Hit Entertainment Chris Rose will take up the position of head of animation in May.
Rose has previously worked in acquisitions for BBC's Children and CBeebies. He has also served as exective producer on a number of animated series aimed at pre-schoolers, including Hit Entertainment's Mike the Knight, which he developed.
Commissioning and development editor Simon Hopkinson will oversee the live action children's TV department after three years commissioning drama and animation for ABC's children's channels under the direction of de Jong.
Both Rose and Hopkinson will report to ABC Children's controller Tim Brooke-Hunt.
De Jong will depart the ABC at the end of March and relocate to Toronto,...
- 2/21/2012
- by Amanda Diaz
- IF.com.au
ABC4Kids has received an audience share of 45 per cent among 0-4 year olds in August, up by 10 per cent on last August.
ABC4Kids broadcasts on ABC2 from 6am to 7pm daily, increased from 8am to 1.30pm.
As a result the channel is, for both Fta and Paytv channels, the top daytime channel among pre-schoolers, with the animated series of Bananas in Pyjamas the top ranking program among all Fta digital channels on Friday 26 August. It was the Banana’s highest weekday performance, with a five city average of 284,000 since launching on Monday 2 May.
In fact, on Friday 26 August, ABC4Kids had nine of the top ten programs across the digital free to air channels.
ABC TV’s Controller of Children’s, Tim Brooke-Hunt said in a statement, “We are thrilled that the extended broadcast hours for ABC4Kids on ABC2 have been so quickly and enthusiastically embraced by our audience.
ABC4Kids broadcasts on ABC2 from 6am to 7pm daily, increased from 8am to 1.30pm.
As a result the channel is, for both Fta and Paytv channels, the top daytime channel among pre-schoolers, with the animated series of Bananas in Pyjamas the top ranking program among all Fta digital channels on Friday 26 August. It was the Banana’s highest weekday performance, with a five city average of 284,000 since launching on Monday 2 May.
In fact, on Friday 26 August, ABC4Kids had nine of the top ten programs across the digital free to air channels.
ABC TV’s Controller of Children’s, Tim Brooke-Hunt said in a statement, “We are thrilled that the extended broadcast hours for ABC4Kids on ABC2 have been so quickly and enthusiastically embraced by our audience.
- 9/1/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
The ABC’s head of commissioning and development for children’s television, Carla de Jong, will be working from Toronto “for the coming months” due to personal reasons.
In an email sent by De Jong to her ABC colleagues on March 1, the TV executive said “for many of you who work with me remotely already, this will not be a great change and I will be returning to Australia when necessary for meetings and events.”
De Jong’s last day at the ABC’s Ultimo office was March 16. She will resume her work remotely on April 11.
Encore contacted the ABC for comment about the decision to allow De Jong to retain her position during the months she will be away from Australia, instead of appointing an acting officer during her absence.
Update:
We received a written response from Tim Brooke-Hunt, executive head of children’s TV:
“The details of any...
In an email sent by De Jong to her ABC colleagues on March 1, the TV executive said “for many of you who work with me remotely already, this will not be a great change and I will be returning to Australia when necessary for meetings and events.”
De Jong’s last day at the ABC’s Ultimo office was March 16. She will resume her work remotely on April 11.
Encore contacted the ABC for comment about the decision to allow De Jong to retain her position during the months she will be away from Australia, instead of appointing an acting officer during her absence.
Update:
We received a written response from Tim Brooke-Hunt, executive head of children’s TV:
“The details of any...
- 3/31/2011
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
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