A Screentime Production For

A Screentime production for

Narrated by Claudia Karvan

Media Kit

Screentime Publicity STUDIO Publicity Catherine Lavelle Michael Morcos E catherine @clpr.com.au E [email protected] T 02 9405 2880 T 02 9430 3452 M 0413 885 595 M 0416 256 225

©Screentime Pty Ltd, Screen NSW, Screen Australia and FOXTEL 2014.

Taking On The Chocolate Frog is a 3 x 1 hour documentary series that follows a group -‐ of ex criminals and individuals with troubled pasts, as they einvent r themselves as actors on the stage. Performing a play by one of Australia's award winning playwrights, can the cast take on The Chocolate Frog and succeed?

Drama Coach Grant Thompson addresses the audience of family and friends at auditions for The Chocolate Frog.

“Last night's The Chocolate Frog at Parramatta Correction Centre was thrilling and inspiring.” Deborah Jones, theatre critic

“The Chocolate Frog deserves to be seen widely in theatres as well as prisons and juvenile detention centres. Powerful theatre & performances.” Jo Litson, theatre critic

“Frankly, I can’t recall ever seeing a more compelling play, in a more graphic setting.” Peter FitzSimons, The Sun Herald

"One of the best experiences I have ever had watching live theatre. Real and raw! And awesome performances." Roy Billing

“The courage and dedication of these un-‐schooled, yet very convincing actors was a revelation. A fine achievement by all concerned.” John Waters

"It was a breathtaking, fantastic and truly inspiring night." Gigi Edgley

2 ©Screentime Pty Ltd, Screen NSW, Screen Australia and FOXTEL 2014.

This remarkable documentary series follows a group of ex-‐criminals as they are challenged to perform Jim McNeil’s play The Chocolate Frog. One of Australia's most violent criminals in the s, 1960 McNeil wrote the play whilst serving a sentence in Parramatta Correctional Centre. This unlikely playwright became a celebrity for writing plays from his gaol cell, having never stepped foot inside a theatre.

Guided by Grant Thompson, the group will be challenged to stage the play in front of theatre critics, an -‐ A list audience, family and friends inside the very place the play was written. Narrated by Claudia Karvan, Taking on The Chocolate Frog follows the emotional journey of the group and unravels the fascinating story of Jim McNeil.

Tension will be high as Grant has just ten weeks to get this unlikely group of thespians ready to pull off the most credible and inspiring performances of their lives.

Will this be the catalyst for rebuilding their lives?

Can they take on The Chocolate Frog … and succeed?

Paul ‘Macca’ McKenzie stands in the prison hallway turned stage for the final performance of The Chocolate Frog 3 ©Screentime Pty Ltd, Screen NSW, Screen Australia and FOXTEL 2014.

THE CHOCOLATE FROG

The Chocolate Frog explores what happens when two older prison inmates accuse a younger newcomer of colluding with police. In prison vernacular, ‘Chocolate Frog’ is rhyming slang for ‘dog’, which is one who violates the informal ‘laws’ of prison society.

The two older prison inmates assume the mantle of power in a mock trial and ‘try’ the younger for his suspected crime. A towel suffices for the judge’s wig, an iron bedstead for his bar of justice and a wooden chair for the dock.

McNeil wrote the play to illustrate to those who knew nothing of prison life that prison values are just faithful reflections of some of society’s own attitudes.

Inside Parramatta Correctional Centre where Jim McNeil wrote and first performed The Chocolate Frog.

4 ©Screentime Pty Ltd, Screen NSW, Screen Australia and FOXTEL 2014.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION Narrated by Claudia Karvan, Taking On The Chocolate Frog centres on an unlikely group of Shakespearean actors and is inspired by the work of infamous criminal turned award-‐winning playwright, Jim McNeil.

Produced and created by Screentime, a Banijay Group company, for STUDIO, this three-‐hour documentary series will challenge the group to perform McNeil’s play The Chocolate Frog -‐ following the process from rehearsal to performance, in front of an audience -‐ of A list actors and respected theatre critics inside the gaol in which the play was written – Parramatta Correctional Centre.

Actor David Field is interviewed before the final performance of Taking On The Chocolate Frog.

Following the emotional journey of Grant and his cast, the series illustrates the fascinating story of Jim McNeil – famous as an Australian Writer’s Guild Award winning playwright, but also one of Australia’s most violent criminals from the 1960s, who publicly struggled to assimilate back into society and life outside prison. McNeil wrote The Chocolate Frog during a 17-‐year prison sentence, in an attempt to show those who knew nothing of prison life that prison values are just faithful reflections of some of society’s own attitudes.

5 ©Screentime Pty Ltd, Screen NSW, Screen Australia and FOXTEL 2014.

Produced with funding assistance from Foxtel’s Production Fund, Screen Australia and Screen , NSW this remarkable series offers a group of ex-‐criminals and individuals with troubled pasts the opportunity to reinvent themselves as stage actors under the guidance of their teacher and mentor Grant Thompson.

Created and executive produced by Simon Steel, Taking On The Chocolate Frog is executive produced by Bob Campbell, and executive produced and directed by Debbie Cuell.

Simon Steel, Executive Producer and Screentime Head of Factual said, “Largely unknown to many Australians, we are excited to introduce a new generation to an extraordinary part of Australia’s theatre history as Grant and his cast take on The Chocolate Frog.”

Chris Keely, General Manager of STUDIO said, “We are very pleased to be joining forces with Screentime, and with thanks to Foxtel’s Production Fund we are able to bring to life this inspiring and gripping masterpiece.”

Foxtel’s Executive Director of Television, Brian Walsh said, “Foxtel is thrilled to continue encouraging and investing in the Australian arts scene and capturing original content for broadcast around the country.

“The Foxtel Production Fund has assisted O in STUDI commissioning innovative new programs since 2010, and we’re delighted to bring this dramatic story to our subscribers in 2014.”

ABOUT SCREENTIME Screentime, a Banijay Group company, is a specialist television production company with an outstanding list of over 40 productions including Popstars and four seasons of RBT. Their award winning and celebrated dramas include six series of Underbelly, The Underbelly Files, The Incredible Journey of ,Mary Bryant Society Murders, Jessica, My Husband My Killer, A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne, Breakers, MDA, Crownies, Brothers In Arms and the critically acclaimed Tim Winton’s cloudstreet.

The company most recently completed production of miniseries Janet King for ABC TV and Fat Tony & Co for the Nine Network and Outback Coroner for Foxtel’s Crime & Investigation Network. Screentime are currently in postproduction on the upcoming s drama serie ANZAC Girls and in production on documentary series Flying Miners for ABC TV.

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THE CREW Narrator Claudia Karvan

Executive Producers Bob Campbell Simon Steel Debbie Cuell

Producers Tom Armstrong Grant Thompson Director Debbie Cuell Playwright Jim McNeil Composer Guy Gross

THE CAST Drama Coach Grant Thompson Cast Guy Spence Peter Sammak Jimmy Filipovski Paul McKenzie Shamus Vincent Will Kostopoulos Amy Squire Michael Lahoud Sam Ali Charlie

Special Guest Mentors George Whaley Denise Roberts Rachel Ward

7 ©Screentime Pty Ltd, Screen NSW, Screen Australia and FOXTEL 2014.

ABOUT JIM McNEIL And THE CHOCOLATE FROG

Considered one of Australia's most violent criminals of the 1960s, Jim McNeil spent most of his adult life in prison. He wrote the Australian Writers’ Guild Award winning The play Chocolate Frog, having never set foot in a theatre.

Born in Melbourne in 1935 the youngest child of a working class family, stories abound of McNeil’s childhood mischief. At the age of 11 he went to holiday at the home of his English teacher, where he was repeatedly sexually assaulted for four days before escaping back home. It was not long after this that Jim really began to act out, losing interest turning in school and to a life of crime.

At the age , of 14 McNeil met prostitute and wife of a local crime boss – Poppelia. ‘Poppy’ introduced him to sex, drugs, hard alcohol as well as gangsters and crims who took Jim under their wing and taught their new protégé the ways of their world. Through his newfound friends he got work on the docks and short haul cargo ships, spending much of his late teens out at sea. At the age e of 22 h married Valerie, who was pregnant with his first child and who would go on to bear him five more.

Specialising in armed robberies, the Melbourne media christened McNeil The Laughing Bandit because of his amusement at how easy it was to hold up a TAB or pub at gunpoint. In 1967, a 32-‐year-‐old McNeil was sentenced to 17-‐ years gaol at Parramatta Correctional Centre, after he shot and wounded a police officer during a robbery at Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains.

It was during this sentence that McNeil completed his high school education and joined The Resurgents Debating Society – a small group of inmates who joined together to debate, write and paint. Here he wrote The Chocolate Frog and the group first performed the play for a small audience of visitors.

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Among the small audience of visitors was veteran theatre actor and director Malcolm Robertson, who was so moved by the performance that he spent the subsequent months conducting weekly workshops with the group. In 1971, he directed the first professional production performed by John Clayton, Martin Harris and Gerard Bonk.

The play explores what happens when two older prison inmates accuse a younger newcomer of colluding with police. In prison vernacular, ‘Chocolate Frog’ is rhyming slang for ‘dog’, which is one who violates the informal ‘laws’ of prison society.

The two older prison inmates assume the mantle of power in a mock trial and ‘try’ the younger for his suspected crime. A towel suffices g for the judge’s wi , an iron bedstead for his bar of justice and a wooden chair for the dock.

McNeil wrote the play to illustrate to those who knew nothing of prison life that prison values are just faithful reflections of some of society’s own attitudes.

Soon McNeil had many champions in the art world, including journalist David Marr and celebrated theatre critic and publisher Katherine Brisbane. Declared to be one of Australia’s most important writers and assuming celebrity status, Australia’s art figures rallied for his early release and in 1974 he walked out a free man – ten years early.

In 1982, at the age of 47, McNeil died of alcohol related illness.

9 ©Screentime Pty Ltd, Screen NSW, Screen Australia and FOXTEL 2014.

EPISODE ONE A group of unlikely thespians prepare to audition for a play that will give them the chance to become professional actors. A group of troubled individuals turned thespians attend drama courses run by Grant Thompson. Some members of the class have achieved success with small roles on television, but so far no one has appeared on stage. Grant feels his pupils have to rise to this challenge if they want to take themselves seriously as actors and achieve professional careers.

Grant reveals his challenge at Parramatta Gaol. Grant chooses the AWGIE award winning play – The Chocolate Frog, written by criminal Jim McNeil, whilst serving a sentence at Parramatta Gaol in the late 60s for shooting a police officer. The play was first performed by an all-‐prisoner cast in the gaol, before achieving success in theatres all over Australia. Grant believes a new production of The Chocolate , Frog performed at the now abandoned gaol by his cast, will attract wide interest, and more importantly an audience of critics and celebrities who could help his pupils launch their professional careers. Not everyone is enthusiastic. Peter is worried that he won’t be able to learn the lines. Another member of the class, Amy, finds it difficult to turn up on time. And like actors everywhere, some of the group can become very passionate and temperamental when it comes to the interpretation of lines. But Grant perseveres, and so does the group. Gradually, they learn to recite Shakespeare beautifully, bringing to it an extra dimension from their often troubled lives. Macca gives Grant a tour of the Parramatta With audition day fast approaching, Grant must decide gaol. which of his class will perform the coveted three roles in The Chocolate . Frog

10 ©Screentime Pty Ltd, Screen NSW, Screen Australia and FOXTEL 2014.

EPISODE TWO Audition day arrives and Grant must decide which of his class will appear in the play The Chocolate Frog. Tensions are high among Grant’s class with only three roles on offer in the play The Chocolate . Frog With fierce competition, Grant prepares his group using preliminary acting exercises and for some this already proves to be difficult. Despite huge enthusiasm and charm, Amy consistently turns up late for class, always with a brilliant but complicated excuse. The group warm up in acting class As the day of the auditions draws near, Grant battles some demons of his own. Despite outward confidence, he has never directed a major play before, so he asks legendary theatre director, George Whaley – whose former students and colleagues include Mel Gibson, Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis – for help. After weeks of hard work, audition day at Ensemble Theatre arrives and the group are full of nerves. Not only are they competing for roles – they will also be performing before their family and closest friends – the people who have stood by them through some terrible times. Emotionally, the stakes are huge. Performances are good, though some better than others – Jimmy forgets his lines, but Peter, Guy and Charlie deliver sensationally good Shakespearian monologues. Then some of the group share their story on stage. For a few of the guys, this is the first time their family have ever seen or heard them like this. Guy, normally the toughest of tough nuts, begins to choke. The time has come for Grant to decide who will perform The Chocolate Frog. Peter, Guy and Charlie are chosen to perform Jimmy forgets his lines during the three leads and Paul will understudy. The others will be auditions given a chance to showcase their talents in curtain raising monologues before the play. With only six weeks until the final performance, the real hard work is only just beginning.

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EPISODE THREE After six weeks of tumultuous rehearsals, the eagerly awaited final performance of The Chocolate Frog is in danger of failing when one of the cast ends up in hospital. The six-‐week rehearsal of The Chocolate Frog begins badly. At the first read through, Peter can’t sit still for more than twenty minutes, becoming progressively frustrated before he finally explodes. Charlie falls asleep, constantly. Apart from Guy, everyone bickers and fights. Three weeks in, the cast know their lines, but because they aren’t working together as a team, the first run through is a disaster. Grant bawls them out, with immediate results. The second rehearsal that day is considerably better. Everyone is heartened – perhaps they will make it after all. Now Grant has a chance to concentrate on the curtain raising performances, including monologues from other members of the class including Jimmy, Paul and Amy. Just as everything seems to be going well, Guy turns up to a rehearsal limping. Later that day, he has to go to hospital for a blocked artery in his leg. At first everyone thinks Guy will pull through, but the news becomes increasingly alarming. Paul, the understudy, is under pressure to replace Guy, but despite intense rehearsals hasn’t managed to learn his lines. The class is destabilised. After one bad rehearsal Peter abuses Charlie. As the news about Guy gets even worse, the production hits its lowest ebb. At a fraught meeting before a rehearsal, Grant tells Charlie he will not give up on him despite his uncooperative behaviour. Rehearsals resume and at long last, Charlie seems to get it. He concentrates during his performance, and later apologises to Peter privately. But Paul still hasn’t got his lines down pat. Without Guy, the production is falling flat.

Three days before show time, Guy leaves hospital on After Guy ends up in hospital, will he be crutches with 80 stitches in his leg. Because of previous able to perform? addiction problems, he won’t take painkillers. No one knows if he will be well enough to perform. It’s the day of the final performance and the audience of critics, celebrities and family arrive at a prison cell block that’s been transformed into a theatre. Amy, Paul, Jimmy, Will and Shamus perform their curtain raising pieces to huge applause. But will Guy make it to the stage for the final performance?

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CLAUDIA KARVAN NARRATOR

One of Australia’s most respected and acclaimed film and television actors, Claudia Karvan is the co-‐creator, producer and star of Spirited. The second series of Spirited aired on Foxtel’s W Channel in 2011.

Claudia has starred in many Australian television series and miniseries including The Secret Life of Us, My Brother Jack, Small Claims and the highly popular Love My , Way for which she was creator, producer and star. Love My Way won numerous awards including the Silver Logie Award for Most Outstanding Drama Series and the Australian Film Institute (AFI) Award for Best Television Drama Series three years in a row. For her role as Frankie in Love My , Way Claudia is also -‐ a two time winner of both the Silver Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress and the AFI Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series. In 2009, Claudia also starred in the SBS telemovie Saved, directed by Tony Ayres, which earned her the 2010 Silver Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress.

In 2013, Claudia was seen in Warwick Thornton’s feature The Darkside. Her other feature film credits include Daybreakers opposite Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe, Pauline Chan’s 33 Postcards alongside Guy Pearce, The Long Weekend opposite Jim Caviezel, Gillian Armstrong’s High Tide with Judy Davis, Phillip Noyce’s Echoes of Paradise, Paperback Hero with Hugh Jackman and The Heartbreak Kid for which she was awarded Best Actress by the Film Critics Circle of Australia.

Claudia has most recently starred in the ABC drama The Time of , Our Lives SBS miniseries Better Man and the second series of Puberty Blues and will next be seen in the ABC telemovie The Broken Shore.

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GRANT THOMPSON PRODUCER and DRAMA COACH Grant graduated from Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Acting/ Drama in 1994. He has worked as an actor with the prestigious Shakespeare and Co in the US, was the lead in Over The Top With Jim in the inaugural Brisbane Festival, appeared in The Dish and has worked on many Australian TV dramas.

In 2000 he moved to the other side of the camera, working as an agent with Mark Morrissey and later working in production.

While overseeing extras casting on the last four Underbelly series and Bikie Wars: Brothers In Arms, Grant met a number of actors who had spent time in prison. It sparked an idea and for the past few years Grant has been training former prisoners and individuals with troubled pasts, for the film and TV industry.

His students have landed main cast roles in Underbelly: Razor, George Basha's feature film Convict and various other speaking roles. He runs regular weekly acting workshops where former armed robbers and recovering addicts among others learn everything from film and television acting to Shakespearean sonnets.

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GUY SPENCE Having spent numerous years behind bars, over multiple gaol sentences, Guy was first gaoled in Long Bay Men’s Division as a 17-‐year-‐old when he was caught selling dope.

Guy became addicted to drugs on and off for the next thirty years.

Now, nine years clean and sober, Guy is a Welfare Support Worker at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Rozelle and has appeared as part of the main cast in Underbelly: Razor as the character Sid Kelly.

PETER ‘PETE’ SAMMAK Having lived a colourful life, Peter is one of Grant Thompson’s original students. Running his own corporate carpet cleaning business while studying his acting, Peter has appeared as an actor in Rake with Richard Roxburgh and was the co-‐lead in Australian feature film Convict released this year.

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JIMMY FILIPOVSKI At the age of 17, Jimmy was plucked from obscurity to be the lead actor in ABC TV’s Heads & Tails with Gary Sweet. He was also cast in the drama On The Loose.

As a teenager, Jimmy was in and out of the courts and by his late 20s had spent significant time in . gaol Now 4, 4 Jimmy continues the battle to reject his ‘gaolhouse mentality’, and is striving to get back to the acting career he started a long time ago.

PAUL ‘MACCA’ McKENZIE First sentenced to juvenile detention in the late 60s, Paul spent time in prison during the 70s and 80s. He was in Parramatta gaol at the same time as Jim McNeil.

Having children motivated Paul to try to distance himself from the system. He travelled extensively, working prawn trawlers in North Queensland, and working as a welder and truck driver.

An zing ama character, he has worked in productions including Underbelly: Razor, Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms, Devil’s Playground and Old School.

Paul is also the father of actor Luke McKenzie, one half of the driving force behind The McNeil Project which last year sought to revive McNeil’s plays for a new audience, with Malcolm Robertson directing.

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SHAMUS VINCENT Having previously spent time in gaol, Shamus has now dedicated himself to learning the craft of acting. He credits this change in direction to his two daughters.

Shamus appeared in Underbelly: Badness and was invaluable on set.

WILL KOSTOPOULOS Having never been convicted of any crime, Will is CEO of a major transport company. He and his son came to class to try something different with their lives.

AMY SQUIRE Originally from New Zealand, Amy moved to Australia at the age of 11.

She fell in with the wrong crowd, got mixed up in drugs and was in and out of prison from a young age.

Amy has always loved acting and has appeared in Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms and Packed to the Rafters.

Now 30, Amy credits her enthusiasm for acting with helping her stay on track.

MICHAEL ‘MICK’ LAHOUD A troubled youth, -‐ 28 year-‐old Michael spent a short period of time in remand.

Michael runs his own tattoo parlour from his mother’s garage in Western Sydney and with only basic reading and writing skills is working on improving his abilities.

A father of young daughters, Michael has vowed to never go to gaol.

SAM ALI Currently working and studying, 20-‐year-‐old Sam joined Grant’s drama class two years . ago With Grant and his students regular clients at Sam’s father’s pizza restaurant, it was suggested that Sam go along to Grant’s class in the hope that it would keep him . out of trouble Studying drama at , the time Sam went along for a session and liked it so much he became a regular. Still attending Grant’s classes, Sam will this year undertake a Bachelor of Arts and Commerce at the Australian Catholic University.

CHARLIE Joining Grant’s drama class this year to further explore his passion for acting, 18-‐year-‐old Charlie has had some troubled years, with time spent in rehab. Now ing look to the future, Charlie is keen to pursue his acting career.

GUY GROSS COMPOSER

Guy Gross is a multi award winning Australian film and television composer. From his BAFTA nominated score for the international hit The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to the US Sci-‐Fi series Farscape, over his 30-‐year career, Guy has composed hundreds of hours of film and television music including a long list of documentaries.

Amongst his documentary scores, highlights have been The Howard Years, and ABC's highest rating documentary, Who Killed Dr Bogle and . Mrs Chandler

Guy received the AGSC Award for Best Music in a Documentary for Uncle Chatzkel, produced by Rod Freedman (Once My Mother) and Emile Sherman (The King's Speech).

Recently completing Outback Coroner for Screentime and Evershine, his other television drama scores include the series Bordertown produced by Knapman Wyld Television, for whom Guy has also scored the international award winning television series East West 101 and the telemovies Dangerous Remedy, A Model Daughter -‐ The Killing of Caroline Byrne, Joanne Lees: Murder in the Outback, and Scorched.

Recipient of the APRA/AGSC International Achievement Award, Guy is a director and partner of Trackdown, one of Australia's leading film music and audio service providers. In 2012 he was elected president of the Australian Guild of Screen Composers.

For further information visit www.guygross.com

BOB CAMPBELL EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Having spent his career working in the media holding senior management positions with Network TEN, Bob Campbell was appointed Managing Director and CEO of the Seven Network in 1987, a position he held until 1995.

Forming Screentime in 1996 with Des Monaghan, the television production company is a member of the Banijay Group and has operations in Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. With productions in all genres including telemovies, miniseries, long form drama, comedy, serial drama, reality, factual and documentary, Screentime also produces formats which are owned by the group in over 40 countries.

Screentime has produced many of Australia’s most celebrated drama productions including Janet King and the upcoming miniseries ANZAC rls Gi for ABC TV, Fat Tony & Co and the Underbelly franchise for the NINE , Network the critically acclaimed miniseries Tim Winton’s cloudstreet, Crownies for ABC TV and Brothers In Arms for Network TEN.

Screentime has also produced four seasons of the top-‐rating series RBT for the NINE Network, as well as the observational documentary series Outback Coroner for Foxtel’s Crime & Investigation Network. The company is currently in production on new series Village Vets Australia for the LifeStyle Channel.

Formerly Chairman of both The Film Finance Corporation and the Sydney Dance Company and Non-‐Executive Chairman of Adcorp, Bob was also previously Director of the Sydney Swans, The Australian Film Radio & Television School and the Australian Film Commission. Bob is currently on the board of Screen NSW.

SIMON STEEL CREATOR EXECUTIVE & PRODUCER With over twenty years experience in production, produced Simon Steel has some of Australia’s most iconic television series.

Commencing his career with the Wide World of Sports, over a period of fifteen years Simon series produced and executive produced numerous shows for the Nine Network across many genres, including T his is Your Life, The Footy Show, 20 to 1 with Bert Newton, Skating as On Thin Ice, well as the channel’s eponymous New Year’s Eve Coverages.

In 2009 Simon joined Screentime, a Banijay Group company, as Executive Producer Entertainment, responsible for the development and production of -‐ their non fiction content. Notably, Simon created and executive produced four seasons of the police observational series RBT for the Nine Network.

Recently promoted to Head of Factual, urrently Simon is c managing the ment develop of an increasing slate of production. Co-‐executive Producer on the Screentime and Evershine production Outback Coroner for Foxtel’s Crime & Investigation Network, Simon is also Executive Producer for Village Vets Australia, which is currently in production and due to air on Foxtel’s LifeStyle Channel later this year.

DEBBIE CUELL DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE & PRODUCER A talented senior media executive, Debbie has over twenty years experience developing and producing high quality programs for the commercial networks and the ABC in Australia. She was most notably Executive Producer of Development at Zapruder’s Other Films, during which time she executive produced and directed The Gruen Sweat, which won the Rose D’or 2013 for Best Entertainment Program and series 4 of The Gruen Transfer, which won the 2012 AACTA Award for Best Light Entertainment Program. She also conceptualised, executive produced and directed Country Town Rescue, a six part OB documentary series for ABC TV.

Debbie was also Supervising Producer and Director on series 2 and 3 of The Gruen Transfer which won the 2010 AFI Award for Best Light Entertainment Television Series. From 2003 – 2006 she was Executive Supervising Producer and Director for Better Homes and , Gardens during which time the show won two consecutive TV Week Silver Logie awards for Most Popular Lifestyle show.

Debbie has executive produced a number of other programs, including River Cottage Australia for ITV Studios, Missing Persons Unit for Freehand Productions and Gangs of Oz for Eyeworks TV.

Prior to this Debbie produced and directed a number of television series, as well creating and developing two seasons of the documentary series The Zoo for the Seven Network.

With a truly outstanding breadth of experience, Debbie was selected as a juror at the 2012 and 2013 International Emmy Awards and at the 2012 AACTA Awards.