The hit network’s Hamish Blake and Dave Thornton fly the flag for radio in Now Add Honey.
Super’s super right? Well, radioinfo’s major advertiser, Media Super is different. Not only does it specialise in superannuation for people working in media, it invests in it too through a revolving loan fund for Australian film and television production.
Started in 2010, Media Super’s cash flow facility, provided through its partner Fulcrum Media Finance, has helped fund local productions such as:
The Dressmaker; a box office winner and nominee for 12 AACTA awards
Last Cab to Darwin, Jeremy Sims’ directorial debut and nominee for 6 AACTA awards
Others include Holding the Man, family favourite Oddball, the Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman film The Railwayman, Drift and TV series’ Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and The Secret River adapted from Kate Grenville’s novel by Academy Award nominee Jan Sardi and Mac Gudgeon.
The most recent release that has benefited from Media Super funding is Now Add Honey that stars the hit network’s Hamish Blake from the Hamish & Andy Drive Show and Fifi and Dave’s, Dave Thornton from the FOX breakfast show.
In this, his first movie role Hamish plays alongside Robyn Butler and Hollywood actor Portia de Rossi in the story of a suburban family turned upside down when a teenage pop star cousin comes to stay.
Following the success of the fund since start up Media Super has announced the doubling of its revolving loan fund for Australian film and TV production, from $30 million to $60 million.
Media Super CEO Graeme Russell made the announcement at SCREEN FOREVER, the screen production industry’s peak industry event, in Melbourne. “Our investment, including pre-sales, has earned members a healthy 7.1% per annum since inception. The decision to double the size of the fund is a reflection of the ongoing confidence we have in the benefits of this unique finance model.
“Both the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) and Screen Producers Association (SPA) support the Fund’s involvement in this type of alternative investment, which is unique to Media Super,” said Mr Russell.
New productions in the pipeline include season 4 of Rake, starring Richard Roxburgh; Berlin Syndrome, directed by Cate Shortland and starring Teresa Palmer; and Jasper Jones, starring Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving in the adaptation of Craig Silvey’s award-winning novel.