The Optus One80project Launches Its Second Year With The Release Of Last Year's Peoples Choice Winner - Hammer Bay
After a hugely successful first year, the OPTUS ONE80PROJECT in association with Samsung Mobile, is back to give local aspiring TV makers a shot at the small screen. The project, in its second year running, is a national competition inviting anyone with a good TV idea to submit a pitch which is then judged by an expert panel of industry specialists including MTV Networks Australia Executive Producer Ean Thorley to ultimately be produced and aired on MTV in Australia. Winners will be announced at the OPTUS ONE80PROJECT Festival on 27 January 2008.
To coincide with the launch of the second year of the competition, MTV will premiere the 2006 'Peoples Choice' winner - HAMMER BAY. The drama, written and directed by Sydneysider Ben Briand will premiere on 16 October at 7:00pm.
Michael Smith, Group Marketing Director, Optus Consumer said, "The unique model of OPTUS ONE80PROJECT being truly multi-platform across TV, mobile and online provides a fantastic opportunity for talented and budding filmmakers to showcase their work to the industry. Following last year's success, we are looking forward to seeing the 2007 entries and once again supporting Australian drama.'
"We were thrilled with the number and the quality of the entries we received last year. With the 'Peoples Choice' winner Hammer Bay set to premiere on MTV in October, and the 'Judges Choice' winner 'Takoyaki City' currently in production, we're really excited to see what this years entries will bring,' said MTV Networks Australia Executive Producer Ean Thorley. "MTV Networks Australia is proud to offer up its skills, reach and resources to give aspiring TV makers a chance to bring their ideas to life especially with the exceptional pool of talent residing in this country.'
Jenny Goodridge, Samsung Mobile Marketing Manager said, "Samsung are proud to be supporting the local ground roots film industry and with products such as the Samsung F500, the world's first DviX phone, we can deliver the most stylish and enjoyable mobile multimedia experience now.'
OPTUS ONE80PROJECT offers a chance of a lifetime with the call to entry period commencing from 2 October 2007 until 30 November 2007. Ten entries will then be short-listed and viewed on the OPTUS ONE80PROJECT website (www.one80project.com.au), Optus ZOO mobile portal and MTV. All entries must be suitable for viewing on mobile phones, internet and TV.
Voters will easily be able to download the 10 short-listed pilots to their phone via WAP, or stream them from the competition website. Viewers will vote for their favourite pilot via a short code from their mobile phone or at the competition website. Votes can be cast over seven weeks, from 7 December 2007 until January 25, 2008.
The pilots from the 10 finalists will be screened at the OPTUS ONE80PROJECT Festival on 27 January 2007, after which the two winning entries will be announced. Both winners will receive $10,000 and a Samsung prize pack including a Samsung F500 mobile phone. In addition the Judges Choice will get the opportunity to work with MTV production experts and an executive producer at MTV Australia's production facilities to develop and shape their original pilot into a full-length multi-platform drama. The completed final episodes will be shown on MTV and will be accessible via the Optus ZOO web portal.
To find out more about OPTUS ONE80PROJECT and how to enter, log onto www.one80project.com.au.
For further information:
Tracy Monkman:
Phone: (02) 8082 5302
Email: tracy.monkman@optus.com.au
Optus
Laura Vozzo
Phone: (02) 9921 0299
Email: laura.vozzo@mtvna.com.au
MTV Networks Australia
About Optus
Optus is an Australian leader in integrated communications. The company specialises in a broad range of communications services including mobile, local, national and long distance telephony, business network services, internet and satellite services and subscription television. For more information please visit www.optus.com.au
About MTV
MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Paramount Comedy and Game One seen in 442.9 million households in 170 countries and 28 languages via 121 locally programmed and operated TV channels and 95 Web sites. The company's diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA)
About Samsung Mobile
Samsung is the world's number three manufacturer of mobile handsets.* Key to its success has been its unwavering focus on delivering premium quality, superior designed, multi-media mobile phones. Major innovations in these areas include the world's first 10 megapixel camera phone; 8 mobile TV phones across 4 different broadcasting services, the first 8GB hard disk drive (HDD) embedded music smartphone and the world's fastest High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.au/mobile.
* Strategy Analytics, 2005.