FILM ANYTHING BUT A DUD

THE creators of a short film inviting viewers to consider their treatment of people with a disability hope that funding from a peak production body will transform it into a series that could be aired on commercial television or a major streaming service.

Production house Robot Army, headed by Ryan Chamley from Hamlyn Heights, is behind Jeremy The Dud, which charts the lives of two brothers living in a world where everyone has a disability.

The comedy, which will be adapted into a TV pilot in coming months, looks at the stigmas and prejudices faced by those with a disability.

“We really want to go a lot deeper and explore the stigmas and prejudices that are faced by these people,” Mr Chamley said of his aims after receiving funding from Screen Australia. “The key to this is to show how people with disabilities are treated.”

Mr Chamley said he hoped a pilot for a future TV series would be ready to go to market early next year after interest was shown by TV networks in the UK and US.

He will work with Daniel Monks to further develop the storyline of Jeremy The Dud, whose short film iteration features Nick Boshier, who was behind the Beached Az cartoon, and The Greatest Showman actor Sam Humphrey.

Screen Australia Head of Development Ner ida Moore said: “We are pleased to see our story development programs are supporting a new wave of Australian storytellers while also supporting midcareer and experienced creators.”

Ms Moore said the funding would encourage experienced creators to take creative risks and “dream big” in terms of story and audience.