Shooting has been underway on Nowhere Boys in Melbourne, the latest series from Matchbox Pictures.

The ABC3 series was formerly known as The Lost Boys but has had a title change for copyright reasons.

The 13 x 30min series follows four mismatched teenage boys who return from a school trip to discover they have come back to an alternate world where they no longer exist.

It features Joel Lok, Dougie Baldwin, Rahart Sadiqzai and Matthew Testro.

The series is produced by  Tony Ayres (The Slap, Underground: The Julian Assange Story) and Beth Frey (Next Stop Hollywood, Dr Sarmast’s Music School). Directors are Daina Reid (Paper Giants: Magazine Wars, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War), Peter Carstairs (September), Alister Grierson (Sanctum and Kokoda) and Craig Irvin who is also a writer on the series.

Executive Producers are Michael McMahon (Next Stop Hollywood, Anatomy and The Slap) and Helen Panckhurst (The Straits and My Place).

Halfway through the year but there is still plenty to look forward to from networks.

There are still some big local dramas and reality shows to come and from September networks will also be able to fast-track new and returning US shows.

If you want to know more about any of these shows, try clicking on the show’s Tag or do a search.

Please note this list is not complete.

ABC:
Serangoon Road,
Janet King,
Carlotta,
The Gods of Wheat Street,
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries,
The Broken Shore,
It’s a Date,
(Untitled Chris Lilley project)
Upper Middle Bogan,
Redesign My Brain,
William’s Big Twitch,
First Footprints,
Kakadu,
Audrey’s Kitchen,
Gruen Nation,
New Tricks,
Silk,
Broadchurch,
Don’t Be Afraid of the Darkies,
8MMM,
Opening Shot,
Top Boy,
Nowhere Boys (formerly Lost Boys),
Peleda,
The Flamin’ Thongs,
The Annoying Orange,
Prank Patrol Road Trip,
Blue Kangaroo,
Room on the Broom,

Delayed to 2014: Spicks and Specks

SEVEN:
Zero Hour,
Mr. Selfridge,
The X Factor,
Dancing with the Stars,
Surveillance Oz,
The Black List,
SlideShow,
Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS,
Cosentino (specials),
Anh Does Britain,
Coastwatch Australia,
Formal Wars,
Young Dumb and Living off Mum,
Please Marry My Boy,
Beauty & The Geek Australia,
Hotel Secrets,
30 Rock,
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Cancelled: Australia’s Got Talent

NINE:
Australia’s Got Talent,
Underbelly: Squizzy,
Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story,
Schapelle,
The Taste,
Love Child,
Big Brother,
The Bible,
Hostages,
Partners

Cancelled: Return to Eden

TEN:
Puberty Blues,
Recipe to Riches,
Wonderland,
This Week Live,
A League of Their Own,
Ripper Street,  (pictured)
Shock of the Now,
The Bachelor,
Come Date with Me,
Batavia,
Secret & Lies: The Track,
New Girl,
Homeland,
Mako: Island of Secrets,
Reign,
(Untitled morning project),
(Untitled breakfast project),

SBS:
Housos,
Better Man,
On Death Row,
The Bridge,
South Park,
Once Upon a Time in Punchbowl,
The Network,
Welcome to Puntland,
Surgery Ship,
Stephen Hawking’s Brave New World,
Destination Flavour,
Thai Street Food,
Movie Mayhem with Marc Fennell
The Killing
Vikings,
Masters of Sex

Cronulla Riots (online)

This post updates.

TV Tonight hears whispers of two new comedies in development with Matchbox Pictures, the prolific production house behind The Slap, The Straits, The Devil’s Playground, Camp, The Real Housewives of Melbourne, Formal Wars and Nowhere Boys.

Family Law, featuring writer Benjamin Law, is a comedy in development for SBS.

It’s hoped to be produced by Tony Ayres in Brisbane next year. Law (pictured) has appeared on Randling, Q & A and Agony Aunts.

Also in development is a new comedy series for ABC2, Maximum Choppage, to be executive produced by Debbie Lee.

ABC3’s next local production Nowhere Boys begins next month and looks like it will hit its target as a contemporary, slightly spooky series for a young audience.

The 13 x 30min series follows four mismatched teenage boys who are paired up for a school hike through a forest. But when they return they discover they have come back to an alternate world where they no longer exist.

It features Joel Lok, Dougie Baldwin, Rahart Sadiqzai and Matthew Testro. You’ll also see some familiar faces in adult roles including Michala Banas, Libby Tanner, Damien Richardson and Heidi Arena.

The series is produced by creator Tony Ayres (The Slap, Underground: The Julian Assange Story) and Beth Frey (Next Stop Hollywood, Dr Sarmast’s Music School) for Matchbox Pictures.

6:30pm Thursday November 7th ABC3.

ABC3’s Studio 3 is proving to be a fertile training ground for its young presenters, where they learn the kind of skills that will see them advance to other shows.

Studio 3 airs on ABC every morning from 6-8 am and afternoons from 5-7 pm. In between programming aimed at 8 – 14 year olds, Studio 3 hosts provide the links. Produced at ABC’s Ripponlea studios, the team churns out up to 55 links a week, all ranging from 1 – 3 minutes.

With each of those links having to be written, performed and produced, that’s a lot of television and as Series Producer Marie Davies explains, it can only be achieved with a versatile crew, including those behind the cameras.

“Most of my team are multi-skilled so they could be floor-producing or lwriting or field producing. I have one senior writer whose main role is to write the breakfast show. But if she’s sick we can step in,” she says.

“Studio 3 is the home of the channel. When there are new programmes coming to the channel you’d probably hear about it first from us. We’re there to support them by having cast members, such as Nowhere Boys, coming in to talk about their new drama. Animators might also come in, plus we’re there to entertain. We’re also there to be culturally relevant and hopefully humorous.”

Presenters include channel originals Kayne Tremills and Amberley Lobo, plus James Elmer, Olivia Phyland who usually host in pairs. Other ABC3 faces include Scotty Tweedie, Nicole Singh, Mitch ‘Tommo’ Tomlinson, Joel Phillips, Hannah Wang, Alannah Ahmat and Good Game’s Steven ‘Bajo’ O’Donnell and Stephanie ‘Hex’ Bendixsen.

Tremills and Lobo are already hosting additional ABC3 shows such as Bushwacked, My Great Big Adventure, Schools Spectacular and Wacky World Beaters.

“The hope is that they will go on to do other ABC3 shows like Kane and Amberley,” says Davies.

“They get to do everything. They did Live television when we started, field stuff, characters, comedy, so it’s a really good grounding. Live is probably the only thing they don’t get as much experience with. But they do it As Live.”

23 year old host Phyland joined in December 2011 following an open casting call. She had been studying Psychology and Occupational Therapy but says despite the career detour, it instilled a few skills she has nevertheless been able to call upon.

“In Psychology we learned the theory of how to memorise things and at Uni we had to remember masses of information. So I think it helped me be able to learn scripts,” she says.

“We’re lucky we get to ad lib a lot but if there are things we have to plug then we need to remember all the shows and what times they are.

“I’m really glad I studied. I’m not living in this bubble of ‘I’ve made it as a TV presenter.’ It could fall through.

“So I’m glad I have another degree behind me.”

On the day TV Tonight visited, Phyland and Elmer were recording Halloween segments. Donning the spooky garb and throwing in eccentric accents, both were working without an autocue to a rehearsed script.

Amongst the more unusual job descriptions are everything from characters to interviews, location work, vox pops, movie launches, competitions and more.

“What I love about the job is it’s so different. People ask if I’d like to do acting and absolutely I would love to give it a crack, but I don’t know if it could meet how interesting this job is because you’re constantly forcing yourself to quickly learn new information and it’s so dynamic. But with acting you film the same information, the same few sentences from different angles over and over. So I love how chaotic it is,” Phyland explains.

She has also filmed extreme challenges for another series, Live on the Edge.

“We went skydiving, shark diving, bungee jumping on a BMX, rally driving –you name it, they made me do it basically,” she laughs.

“I would love to, if the chance came up, do another show on ABC. I’d like to still be a Studio 3 host like Kane is still a host but he’s filming Bushwhacked and he did My Great Big Adventure.”

ABC3’s most popular event is its annual Smackdown, involving all the channel personalities each January.

Davies says, “Every Australia Day we make a 20 minute comedy spoof with all the hosts, including Hex and Bajo, as a comedy-drama surrounding one kind of event that kids might play on Australia Day. It’s just a nice way to have all the hosts from the different shows and bring them all together so the kids can interact.”

Despite working year-round presenting for ABC3, Phyland admits to loving her job, especially when she meets the fans.

“As cliché as it sounds, it’s so nice meeting your audience,” she says.

“They remember everything. I meet kids on the street and they’re like ‘You did this, and this morning you were doing that and two years ago you did this…!’

“I feel so grateful. I come to work and I cry with laughter from the morning til the afternoon. I go home with pains in my stomach.”

Studio 3 airs mornings from 6am and afternoons from 5pm on ABC3.

At the 17 years of age Matt Testro has his first professional gig in Nowhere Boys.

Not a bad way to start your career, really, playing one of four leads in the new ABC3 series from Matchbox Pictures.

Testro (pictured, far right) plays Jake, one of the mismatched teens who become caught up in a supernatural experience.

“We get lost in this forest during a school excursion. A few peculiar things happen overnight,” he said.

“The next morning we find our way back to our town of Bremin but things aren’t quite as they seem. We come to the realisation that everything is the same except for this one difference which is that we were never born. It’s like an alternate dimension.

“A supernatural event happens which we’ll find out later in the series what that is.”

Testro plays alpha-jock Jake, but Testro says don’t be deceived by appearances.

“He might come across as a bully to the untrained eye, so to speak, but it’s just an aggressive front. He’s quite protective into letting anyone in to who he really is. He doesn’t let anyone into his private life because he’s quite torn. His dad is a bit of a reject who can’t seem to get himself together and his mum is working two jobs, trying to keep them afloat. He lives in quite a shabby place,” he says.

“He’s quite embarrassed about that. He loves his dad but not as much as he loves his mum, he adores her. But he’s still kind of embarrassed and he uses that aggressive front towards the other kids at school.

“But it’s really just a ‘Don’t mess with me sort of attitude.’ Passive aggressive, sort of…”

Joining him are (from L to R) Rahart Sadiqzai as Sam, Joel Lok as Andy and  Dougie Baldwin as Felix. Adult roles include Michala Banas, Damien Richardson and Heidi Arena.

The show, created by Tony Ayres (The Slap, Underground: The Julian Assange Story, Saved, Bogan Pride), is aimed at 10-16 year olds.

“This is actually my first job and the learning curve has been incredible,” says Testro.

“Before this I did acting courses for fun and it was something I enjoyed doing. I always did Drama at school and I enjoyed Improv competitions and stuff like that.”

Testro’s enthusiasm is unmistakable, but shooting Nowhere Boys hasn’t been without its challenges.

‘The hours are the hardest part. But getting up at 4:30 for something I love is a lot easier than getting up at 7:30 for school. The hours don’t faze me too much until about 3:30 in the afternoon and then it starts to catchup with you,” he admits.

“(Directors) Daina Reed and Peter Carstairs have been fantastic. And I learned from Phillip Jones and Greg Spiller the first assistant directors. They have so much to offer. Greg Saunders, our drama and dialogue coach was amazing during rehearsals. I felt like I got more out of 3 weeks one on one with him then any acting courses I ever did. But Simon the DIrector of Photography, lighting, props, watching the way they set it up, gives you a broader knowledge of what you have to do during the scene.

“Everyone has to be doing their thing for the scene to work.”

The acting courses he refers to even includes an 8 day course in Los Angeles.  During his time in the US Testro got a lucky break.

“I was lucky enough to end up with an agent over there just through meeting people. So then I started taking it seriously. It was great having other people acknowledge my abilities,” he says.

Testro now has both US and Australian representation. And while he is no relation to agent Stacy Testro, his family does have a background in entertainment.

“Mum was once a casting agent for musical theatre and she does event management. And my dad is a singer with SMA Productions doing corporate events around Australia and the world,” he explains.

Testro has also been studying Year 12 whilst filming Nowhere Boys, a big ask for any 17 year old.

“I did 7 hours tutoring today as well as shooting. I’m doing Year 12 which is also important to me, but I’ve split it up over 2 years to try and take a little bit of pressure off. I’m doing Legal Studies and English this year and next year I plan to do Australian History, Music and Drama,” he says.

“But for now whenever I’m not shooting and I’m back at Unit Base I’ll be doing tutoring, trying to keep up with the class. I actually find I get more done here and it’s twice as time efficient, because I haven’t got my mates next to me!”

I ask about his ambitions and which actors he most admires?

“Tom Hardy is a great actor the way he just immerses himself into a role. It’s really admirable. Then there’s the greats like Jack Nicholson, Tom Hanks, who are increadible actors. Chris Hemsworth and Sam Worthington are real inspirations as far as Australian talent goes. To try and follow in the footsteps of people like that would be amazing.

“But all the boys are great and they bring their own thing to the mix. Joel is a great actor to work with and so is Rahart and Douggie. They’ve all got certain things that they’re really, really good at. They’re all young actors with previous experience but I’m the new one. I’ve got so much to learn from them.”

Nowhere Boys premieres 6:30pm Thursday November 7 on ABC3.

Nominations are in for the third annual AATCA Awards.

Competing for Drama Series are Offspring, Redfern Now, Serangoon Road and Wentworth, while the Telemovie / Miniseries category includes An Accidental Soldier, Mrs Biggs, Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story and Top of the Lake.

Also nominated are Please Like Me, Dance Academy, Upper Middle Bogan, MasterChef, The X Factor and Nowhere Boys.

Interestingly, a number of international actors are up for acting gongs, and may snatch one from Aussie performers.

TV Nominees:

Best Television Drama Series
Offspring – Season 4 (Network Ten)
John Edwards, Imogen Banks

Redfern Now – Series 2 (ABC1)
Darren Dale, Miranda Dear

Serangoon Road (ABC1)
Paul Barron, Nick North

Wentworth – Series 1 (FOXTEL – SoHo)
Jo Porter, Amanda Crittenden

Best Telefeature or Mini Series
An Accidental Soldier (ABC1)
Kylie du Fresne, Sue Taylor

Mrs Biggs (Seven Network)
Kwadjo Dajan, Tony Wright

Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story (Nine Network)
John Edwards, Jodi Matterson

Top of the Lake (FOXTEL – UKTV)
Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Jane Campion, Philippa Campbell

Best Television Comedy or Light Entertainment Series
The Agony of Life (ABC1)
Adam Zwar, Nicole Minchin, Amanda Brotchie

Gruen Nation – Series 2 (ABC1)
Sophia Zachariou, Jo Wathen, Wil Anderson, Jon Casimir

Please Like Me (ABC2)
Todd Abbott

Shaun Micallef’s MAD AS HELL – Series 2 (ABC1)
Peter Beck, Shaun Micallef

Upper Middle Bogan (ABC1)
Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope

Best Children’s Television Series
Dance Academy – Series 3 (ABC3)
Joanna Werner

Nowhere Boys (ABC3)
Tony Ayres, Beth Frey

Peleda (ABC3)
Luke Jurevicius, Nathan Jurevicius

You’re Skitting Me – Series 2 (ABC3)
Toni Malone, Damian Davis

Best Reality Television Series
Australia’s Got Talent – Series 7 (Nine Network)
Greg Beness, Steve Kelly

MasterChef: The Professionals (Network Ten)
Margaret Bashfield, David McDonald, Mark Barlin, Tim Toni

My Kitchen Rules – Series 4 (Seven Network)
Rikkie Proost, Matt Apps, Evan Wilkes, Greg Swanborough

The X Factor – Series 4 (Seven Network)
Jonathon Summerhayes

Best Direction in a Television Drama or Comedy
An Accidental Soldier (ABC1)
Rachel Ward

Please Like Me – Episode 3 ‘Portuguese Custard Tarts’ (ABC2)
Matthew Saville

Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story – Part 1 (Nine Network)
Geoff Bennett

Top of the Lake – Episode 5 ‘The Dark Creator’ (FOXTEL – UKTV)
Garth Davis

Best Direction in a Television Light Entertainment or Reality Series
Big Brother 2013 – Episode 1 ‘Launch’ (Nine Network)
Mark Adamson

Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year Asia – Episode 1 ‘Week 1’ (Nine Network)
Tim Bartley, Jo Siddiqui

MasterChef: The Professionals – Episode 13 ‘Mansfield Offsite’ (Network Ten)
Michael Venables

STUDIO at the MEMO – Episode 3 ‘Anna Lumb/Briefs/Don Walker/Sheridan Harbridge/Kaki King’  (FOXTEL – STUDIO)
Ken Connor

Best Screenplay in Television
Offspring -Season 4- Episode 13 (Network Ten)
Debra Oswald

Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story – Part 1 (Nine Network)
Samantha Winston

Redfern Now – Series 2 – Episode 3 ‘Babe in Arms’ (ABC1)
Steven McGregor

Upper Middle Bogan – Episode 5 ‘No Angel’ (ABC1)
Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope, Gary McCaffrie

Best Cinematography in Television
An Accidental Soldier (ABC1)
Germain McMicking

Mrs Biggs – Episode 3 (Seven Network)
Fabian Wagner

Redfern Now – Series 2 – Episode 6 ‘Dogs of War’ (ABC1)
Jules O’Loughlin ACS

Top of the Lake – Episode 5 ‘The Dark Creator’ (FOXTEL – UKTV)
Adam Arkapaw

Best Editing in Television
Mrs Biggs – episode 3 (Seven Network)
Ben Lester, Mark Atkin ASE

Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story – Part 1 (Nine Network)
Mark Perry

Redfern Now – Series 2 – Episode 6 ‘Dogs of War’ (ABC1)
Dany Cooper ASE

Top of the Lake – Episode 5 ‘The Dark Creator’ (FOXTEL – UKTV)
Scott Gray ASE

Best Sound in Television
Australia’s Got Talent – Series 7 – Episode 1 ‘Auditions’ (Nine Network)
John Simpson

Mrs Biggs – Episode 5 (Seven Network)
John Wilkinson, John Hughes AMPS, Clare Howarth, John Senior, John Whitworth

Redfern Now – Series 2 – Episode 3 ‘Babes in Arms’ (ABC1)
Grant Shepherd, Wes Chew, Robert MacKenzie, Tom Lowndes, Sam Gain-Emery

Top of the Lake – Episode 5 ‘The Dark Creator’ (FOXTEL – UKTV)
Richard Flynn, Tony Vaccher, John Dennison, Craig Butters, Danny Longhurst, Blair Slater

Best Original Music Score in Television
Mrs Biggs – Episode 3 (Seven Network)
Bryony Marks

Nowhere Boys – Episode 1 (ABC3)
Cornel Wilczek

Redfern Now – Series 2 – Episode 3 ‘Babe in Arms’ (ABC1)
Antony Partos

Top of the Lake – Episode 5 ‘The Dark Creator’ (FOXTEL – UKTV)
Mark Bradshaw

Best Production Design in Television
An Accidental Soldier (ABC1)
Clayton Jauncey

Mrs Biggs – Episode 5 (Seven Network)
Pat Campbell

Peleda – Episode 3 ‘The Amber Shard’ (ABC3)
Nathan Jurevicius

Top of the Lake – Episode 5 ‘The Dark Creator’ (FOXTEL – UKTV)
Fiona Crombie

Best Costume Design in Television
An Accidental Soldier (ABC1)
Terri Lamera

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries – Series 2 – Episode 1 ‘Murder Most Scandalous’ (ABC1)
Marion Boyce

Mrs Biggs – Episode 3 (Seven Network)
Amy Roberts, Kitty Stuckey

Top of the Lake – Episode 5 ‘The Dark Creator’ (FOXTEL – UKTV)
Emily Seresin

Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama
Ernie Dingo
Redfern Now – Series 2 – Episode 6 ‘Dogs of War’ (ABC1)

Remy Hii
Better Man (SBS)

Lachy Hulme
Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story (Nine Network)

Meyne Wyatt
Redfern Now – Series 2 – Episode 3 ‘Babe in Arms’ (ABC1)

Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama
Marie Bunel
An Accidental Soldier (ABC1)

Claudia Karvan
The Time of Our Lives (ABC1)

Asher Keddie
Offspring – Season 4 (Network Ten)

Sheridan Smith
Mrs Biggs (Seven Network)

Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama
Alexander England
Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story – Part 1 (Nine Network)

Luke Ford
Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story – Part 2 (Nine Network)

Peter Mullan
Top of the Lake – Episode 5 ‘The Dark Creator’ (FOXTEL – UKTV)

David Wenham
Better Man – Part 2 (SBS)

Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama
Kris McQuade
Wentworth – Series One – Episode 10 ‘Checkmate’ (FOXTEL – SoHo)

Heather Mitchell
Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story – Part 1 (Nine Network)

Robyn Nevin
Top of the Lake – Episode 4 ‘A Rainbow Above Us’ (FOXTEL – UKTV)

Kat Stewart
Offspring – Season 4 – Episode 9 (Network Ten)

Television / AACTA Award for Best Performance in a Television Comedy
Lisa McCune
It’s A Date – Episode 1 ‘Abandon’ (ABC1)

Shaun Micallef
Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell – Series 2 (ABC1)

Robyn Nevin
Upper Middle Bogan (ABC1)

Josh Thomas
Please Like Me (ABC2)

The 3rd AACTA Awards will be held in Sydney and Los Angeles in January 2014.

At just 16 years of age Dougie Baldwin has had a big year.

He’s appeared in two ABC series, Upper Middle Bogan and Nowhere Boys, currently screening on ABC3.

He also appeared in the film The Turning, and says his interest in performing came naturally.

“I’ve just always wanted to be in front of people I suppose, playing guitar with my tennis racket in front of my parents!” he says.

“I was part of an acting group for 5 years doing little plays and theatres, and got told I was ok. So I thought I might try and do it for a living.

“My sister is with the same agent and she put my name in.

“We have a drama coach, Greg, who is fantastic and I’ve had a couple of audition preparation classes, with a coach. But no official training.”

On Nowhere Boys, Baldwin plays Felix the Goth, a polar opposite from the 3 other boys he is paired with on a school excursion in a forest. But after getting the lost, the 4 emerge to discover none of their families and friends remember them.

“He’s the one who’s different to the rest. He’s cynical and kind of broken, due to a bad past. I like to think he’s been stopped in his way having a nice life and then something happened to his brother,” Baldwin explains.

“So he’s not a positive person at the moment.

“He doesn’t fit in. When the boys were put together he was very reluctant, at first.

“He sees them as people who conform and play to people’s egos. Loving popularity. The normal, stereotypical teenager he doesn’t like and he’s grown apart from them.”

Filming Nowhere Boys for Matchbox Pictures was a much different experience to the comedy work in Upper Middle Bogan.

“Upper Middle Bogan was a comedy, but we learned with Drama it’s about playing the situation,” he says.

“The shoot has been exhausting but amazing. My last job I was working with older people so as much as I loved it, it was very intimidating. But now I’m working with the other guys, we all get along. I’ve never laughed so much in one day.”

But while it may be a drama, the four “nowhere boys”, also comprising Matthew Testro, Joel Lok and Rahart Sadiqzai, have been up to their fair share of mischief during filming.

Baldwin puts it down to being a sign of their chemistry.

“We don’t really notice how ridiculous we’re being until the Extras start reacting to us. Then we know ‘Ok that was weird,” he laughs.

“The hardest part has been keeping the energy up. It’s been fun but there are 10 hour days and you have to keep the energy going through the scenes for each take. So that’s something I’ve tried to focus on.”

Despite a strong year of work early in his career, Baldwin isn’t yet settled on the kind of work he wants to do in the future, but he puts Robert Downey Jr and Johnny Depp high on his wish list of dream co-stars. I note that both are eclectic, intense performers. Is this where he sees himself?

“I do like to play the weirdos and the outcasts. I’ve had many auditions to play the jock but I just didn’t really click,” he says.

“I don’t have a specific genre I want to do, but just to keep doing what I’m doing.”

But first he has to get through his current workload, including completing Year 11, something he’s had to juggle during filming.

“Homework I do whenever I can fit it in. Whenever I’m not filming my tutor will come and grab me and I just do what needs to be done,” he shrugs.

“But I don’t complain, I’m very lucky to be doing what I’m doing.”

Nowhere Boys airs 6:30pm Thursdays on ABC3.

In the latest Spotlight series on those working behind the scenes, we hear from two Directors working on ABC3’s drama series Nowhere Boys.

In this Q&A with TV Tonight, Peter Carstairs (pictured below, far right) and Craig Irvin explain how the Matchbox Pictures project is providing new opportunities for directors who have worked in other mediums.

Irvin (pictured, bottom) also wrote and directed, which is not very common in Australian television.

What attracted you to Nowhere Boys?

Peter Carstairs:
It was such a terrific concept. Nothing like this, as far as I knew, had ever been done in Australian TV before. That is, a high-concept show that really breaks from the traditional reality based drama but that is still naturalistic and truthful in tone. So I saw it as the first in a new generation of Australian television shows. The series is also made up of fantastic character journeys – great relationships, shifts in alliances, and real human dilemmas. It was just very, very good writing. It allowed us, as directors, to realise strong visual ideas (including an enormous amount of visual effects) but, more importantly, there is a real emotional truth to the characters and their journeys. And, on an emotional level, that makes it a very satisfying drama – that reaches both kids and adults. And, of course, I was excited about working with Matchbox. Tony (Ayres) and I have known each other quite a while and, over the years, we’ve have tried to find a project to collaborate on and Nowhere Boys ended up being that project. Or at least, it was the first one that has gone into production!

Craig Irvin:
I was working on The Slap with Matchbox Pictures when Tony told me the concept- and I was hooked. I grew up loving shows like the Twilight Zone and the possibilities of Nowhere Boys immediately captured my imagination. It had that ‘what the hell is going to happen next?’ quality to it that is completely addictive as an audience and a creative. You could see that it had the potential to be something quite different, there were so many ways that you could take the characters and the story and I knew that Tony, as the showrunner would be pushing it as far as he could. I wanted to be involved right away. It was also a great team. It was clear from the start that Matchbox wanted to give Nowhere Boys a fresh perspective and have a combination of both experienced and new voices in the writing and directing of the series. There was an energy and excitement that started with the first writer’s room and continued through production.

Describe the biggest challenge during the shoot?

Peter:
Time was always our enemy mainly because there were so many complex VFX and action sequences. But we had a smoking crew including our DOP Simon Chapman, who is now shooting ‘Cut Snake’ and, thankfully, we always managed to get through the schedule somehow. And we’re all very happy with the results.

Craig:
Without a doubt it was time. When you are trying to create something with genre elements, there are inherent expectations from an audience e.g. action set pieces, pacing and tone, Visual Effects – and these things take time to get right. But we had an enthusiastic cast and, as Pete said, a crew of ninjas who helped make it happen.

What was your background prior to Nowhere Boys?

Peter:
I come from a film background i.e. I studied at AFTRS then wrote and directed a feature film, “September” (Hopscotch, 2008). In fact, all the directors came from film backgrounds in one way or another – and to Matchbox’s credit they tried to find directors whose sensibilities and strengths suited the drama and tone of individual blocks. And I think that shows in the final product. Its subtle when it needs to be and muscular, too, when it needs to be. Visually, each block is from the same world, but increasingly different in tone as the journey changes and becomes darker and more action driven towards the conclusion.

Craig:
I studied at the VCA before working as a researcher at Big and Little Films, which was Tony Ayres’ and Michael McMahon’s company before they were part of founding Matchbox. I wrote and directed a short film that was funded by Film Victoria called “Tethered” (2011) that got a great response and led to an attachment on The Slap (Matchbox, 2011) which was easily one of the best and most intense things that I’ve ever done. From there I did the research for NB and co-wrote the series bible with Tony.

Film or TV -do you have a preference?

Peter:
I love both – but am far, far more interested in TV now than I was ten years ago. Television has changed so much in that short time (both the way we consume it, and the shows themselves). So I’m not the only filmmaker around these days who sees television as the new independent cinema. It’s an exciting time to be in TV I think.

Craig:
I think that each has its own strengths and I love them both, so I don’t have a preference. Television has really pushed the boundaries in recent years and has come into its own. Its ability to tell complex stories with detailed character development is incredibly exciting. There is a lot of confidence in the industry about TV right now, the shows are getting far more ambitious and audiences are repaying the daring of creators by embracing it. It’s great.

What’s next for you?

Peter:
I start work on a Seven Network drama in February. Craig and I have also co-written another feature film that I hope to direct soon (being produced by Buffalo Gal Pictures in Canada), and we have another TV show in development with Matchbox. Obviously, being writers as well as directors, we’re interested in being part of the development process from as early as we possible wherever we can.

Craig:
At the moment the focus is on developing a bunch of new ideas while building on the experience of Nowhere Boys and looking for more opportunities to write and/or direct. A few projects are starting to come together which is very exciting… and of course NB series two may also be a possibility.

Nowhere Boys airs 6:30pm Thursdays on ABC3.

The 3rd AACTA Awards Luncheon presented was held yesterday at Sydney’s The Star, hosted by actor Patrick Brammall.

The television and documentary categories presented were largely technically-based, with wins including Top of the Lake, Mrs Biggs, Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year Asia, Miss Fischer’s Murder Mysteries, Redfern Now, Kakadu. Redesign My Brain which won Best Documentary Television Program.

However Best Children’s Television Series was awarded and went to ABC3’s Nowhere Boys.

TV winners:

BEST CHILDREN’S TELEVISION SERIES
Nowhere Boys Tony Ayres and Beth Frey – ABC3

BEST DIRECTION IN A TELEVISION LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT OR REALITY SERIES
Hamish & Andy’s Gap Year Asia Episode 1: Week 1; Tim Bartley and Jo Siddiqui – Nine Network

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN TELEVISION
Top Of The Lake Episode 5: The Dark Creator; Adam Arkapaw – FOXTEL – UKTV

BEST EDITING IN TELEVISION
Mrs Biggs Episode 3; Ben Lester and Mark Atkin ASE – Seven Network

BEST SOUND IN TELEVISION
Top Of The Lake Episode 5: The Dark Creator; Richard Flynn, Tony Vaccher, John Dennison, Craig Butters, Danny Longhurst and Blair Slater – FOXTEL – UKTV

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE IN TELEVISION
Redfern Now – Series 2 Episode 3: Babe in Arms; Antony Partos – ABC1

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN IN TELEVISION
Peleda Episode 3: The Amber Shard; Nathan Jurevicius – ABC3

BEST COSTUME DESIGN IN TELEVISION
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries – Series 2 Episode 1: Murder Most Scandalous; Marion Boyce – ABC1

BEST DOCUMENTARY TELEVISION PROGRAM
Redesign My Brain Paul Scott and Isabel Perez – ABC1

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY
Kakadu Episode 4 Nick Robinson and Luke Peterson – ABC1

BEST EDITING IN A DOCUMENTARY
Desert War Episode 1: Tobruk Lawrie Silvestrin ASE – ABC1

BEST SOUND IN A DOCUMENTARY
Desert War Episode 1: Tobruk Ash Gibson Greig, Ric Curtin, Glenn Martin, Ash Charlton and Chris Bollard – ABC1

TEN screens the full AACTA Awards tomorrow night at 8:30pm.

Award-winning production company Matchbox Pictures has been fully acquired by NBCUniversal International Television Production.

The company, which has produced such titles as The Slap, Nowhere Boys, The Straits, The Devil’s Playground, Camp and The Real Housewives of Melbourne, was already part-owned by NBCU following an equity stake in 2011.

The announcement was made by Michael Edelstein, President, NBCUniversal International Television Production, will open up  opportunities internationally and growth in scripted and unscripted content.

Matchbox Pictures will continue to operate under Managing Director Chris Oliver Taylor with founders Penny Chapman and Tony Ayres on the scripted side of the business, and Kylie Washington on unscripted content.

Michael Edelstein said: “Matchbox is one of the most exciting and dynamic production companies we have encountered. Penny Chapman, Tony Ayres and Kylie Washington have a fantastic creative track record and are incredibly well respected. We are excited by what the future holds and are keen to help their programs reach audiences around the world.”

Chris Oliver-Taylor added: “We are thrilled to cement our successful relationship with NBCUniversal. The fact that NBCU have decided to fully-own the company is testament to both the wonderfully talented staff here at Matchbox and NBCU’s confidence in Australia’s creative industry, of which we are immensely proud to be a part.”

Matchbox launched in 2008 and produces TV drama, comedy, documentary, young adult television and feature films, including upcoming projects for Foxtel and ABC1.

ABC will be getting more from Nowhere Boys and It’s a Date.

Both have received funding from Film Victoria for second seasons.

Fiction Television funding:

It’s A Date Series 2, Hell and High Waters – an eight-episode return journey into the world of dating
Nowhere Boys Series 2, Matchbox Productions – In this 13-part series the boys have found their way home
HJ5, Moody Street Kids – animated children’s series about a band (HJ5) of talented girls and their adventures.

Nowhere Boys aired late last year on ABC3, featuring  Joel Lok, Dougie Baldwin, Rahart Sadiqzai and Matthew Testro as four mismatched teenagers who return from a school hike to discover they have come back to an alternate world where they no longer exist.

Earlier this year ABC’s Brendan Dahill told TV Tonight that “all things being equal” Peter Helliar’s It’s a Date would return. It was also his biggest commissioning gamble in 2013.

“It didn’t conform to conventional wisdom. There were no recurring characters, there were two plays within each half-hour episode, so 16 performances overall. Trying to cast with that many cameos, Pete Helliar associated with that many writers, it was probably the biggest risk we took in Comedy, up there with Elegant Gentleman’s Guide.”

The show also picked up the Best Scripted Format Award in the International Format Awards at MIPCOM 2013 in Cannes.

ABC3 is marking Easter by showing favourite shows back-to-back-to-back including Life With Boys, a Nowhere Boys marathon and Dance Academy.

Kicking off 3ASTER on Good Friday is the second series of Life With Boys! Follow the crazy life of Tess Foster as she struggles with being the only girl in an all-male household. Whether she’s arguing with her brothers or getting their dating tips, testosterone rules the roost!

You won’t want to miss Easter Saturday’s marathon – it’s the epic Nowhere Boys! Relive all the action, suspense and drama as Jake, Sam, Andy and Felix discover they’re stuck in a parallel world into which they were never born!

As a special Easter treat, head to ABC3’s YouTube channel as rad behind-the-scenes clips from Nowhere Boys will be uploaded after each episode airs!

On Easter Sunday, join Tara and her friends as they struggle with life and dancing during their final year at the Academy! And then on Easter Monday, Tess and her crazy family are back with more episodes of Life With Boys from series 1 AND 2!

ABC shows dominate the nominations announced today for the annual Australian Directors Guild Awards, including Redfern Now, Rake, Please Like Me, The Broken Shore, The Time of our Lives, Paper Giants, An Accidental Soldier, Dance Academy and Nowhere Boys.

They will compete against directors of Puberty Blues, Wentworth, The Packer-Murdoch Story, Better Man and Mr and Mrs Murder.

In the feature film category the nominees have directed The Great Gatsby, Mystery Road, The Railway Man, The Rocket and These Final Hours.

The ADG Awards will be announced on Friday May 2nd at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, hosted by Claire Hooper.

TV Nominees:

TV Comedy:
Daniel Nettheim – Mr and Mrs Murder – Series 1 Episode 5 “Lost Soul”
Matthew Saville – Please Like Me – Series 1 Episode 3 “Portuguese Custard Tarts”
Trent O’Donnell – The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting – Episode 1

TV Drama Serial:
David Gould – Home & Away – Episode 5873
Geoffrey Nottage – Home & Away – Episode 5712
Geoffrey Nottage – Home & Away – Episode 5713
Howard Scott Hartford-Davis – Home & Away – Episode 5884

TV Children’s:
Craig James Irvin – Nowhere Boys – Series 1 Episode 8
Daniel Nettheim – Dance Academy – Series 3 Episode 12 “A Perfect Storm”
Peter Carstairs – Nowhere Boys – Series 1 Episode 7

TV Mini Series:
Daina Reid – Paper Giants: Magazine Wars – Part 1
Geoff Bennett – The Packer-Murdoch Story – Episode 1
Khoa Do – Better Man – Episode 4

TV Drama Series:
Adrian Russell-Wills – Redfern Now – Series 2 Episode 1 “Where the Heart Is”
Glendyn Ivin – Puberty Blues – Series 1 Episode 6
Kevin Carlin – Wentworth – Series 1 Episode 1
Peter Duncan – Rake – Series 2 Episode 2
Rachel Perkins – Redfern Now – Series 2 Episode 2 “Starting Over”
Tori Garrett – The Time of our Lives – Series 1 Episode 5

Documentary Series:
Bentley Dean/Martin Butler – First Footprints – Episode 1
Gary Doust – Next Stop Hollywood
Nick Robinson – Kakadu – Episode 4

Documentary Stand-Alone:
Corrie Chen – Suicide & Me
John Hughes – Love & Fury
Madeleine Hetherton – The Surgery Ship

Telemovie:
Rachel Ward – An Accidental Soldier
Rowan Woods – The Broken Shore

Australian screen producers have weighed in to the debate on ABC cuts calling on the broadcaster to quarantine expenditure on television drama and children’s television programming, regardless of any budget cuts.

Matthew Deaner, Executive Director of Screen Producers Australia, has written to ABC Managing Director Mark Scott urging any trimming to come from operational structures not local content.

“ABC audiences love their Australian drama and the nation’s parents rely on the ABC to provide quality programming for their kids. There has been a stunning resurgence in quality ABC drama over recent years with programs such as Rake, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and The Slap as well as children’s content such as Dance Academy and Nowhere Boys garnering both huge local audiences and succeeding on the international stage and we want that standard to be maintained.”

In February Mark Scott said of a Senate estimates review, “If our funding were somehow cut, we would need to look at all our services – radio, television, online – in the cities and in the bush.

“Nothing would be spared from that kind of review, and I can give no guarantee on any services, that any services could be spared, including rural services, if our funding was cut,” he said.

Screen Producers Australia says the ABC’s recent written response to the review indicated cuts have already been made by the ABC to Drama and Comedy Content of $1.62 million and Children’s Content of $4.135 million.

“In light of these existing reductions and in the absence of any firm commitments from the ABC, the independent production sector is being left to rely on misinformation in the media or rumours and leaks that undermine confidence in the sector and undermines the capacity for Australian production businesses to adequately plan for the future,” Deaner said.

“This is a sector that contributes substantially to both the cultural and economic life of our nation.

“Screen production companies are by nature entrepreneurial, creative technology businesses which raise investments from domestic and international sources, employ thousands of Australians and in turn develop a work force with globally transferable skills and then sell content to domestic and international markets and territories that entertain a global audience. Their output binding our communities together in powerful story telling while every dollar invested provides positive returns to Australia’s GDP.”

The ABC is yet to outline the future for Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries despite the show and its star attracting Logie nominations.

ABC3 has confirmed its second season of Nowhere Boys, following a funding approval recently announced by Film Victoria.

Pre-production will begin next month, with filming scheduled to commence in Melbourne in late June.

Returning are Joel Lok, Dougie Baldwin, Rahart Adams and Matthew Testro.

In Season Two ‘Jake, Sam, Andy and Felix’ soon discover that despite making their way back home the adventure hasn’t stopped and that they aren’t the only ones who crossed back into this universe.

Deirdre Brennan, ABC TV Controller of Children’s Television, said: “Our ABC3 audience was thoroughly enthralled in the mystery of the Nowhere Boys and we are excited to work with Matchbox Pictures again on the highly anticipated second series.”

Creator Tony Ayres, Matchbox Pictures added, “It’s rare to be given an opportunity to produce a high concept children’s TV series like Nowhere Boys. It’s a show that Matchbox is tremendously proud of, and we’re thrilled that the adventure will continue in series 2.”

Nowhere Boys series 2 is produced by Matchbox Pictures with the assistance of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Film Victoria. The series is being sold internationally by NBCUniversal and in Australia and New Zealand by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. The series is created and produced by Tony Ayres (Cut Snake, The Slap, The Home Song Stories), produced by Beth Frey (Next Stop Hollywood and Dr Sarmast’s Music School) and executive produced by Michael McMahon (Next Stop Hollywood and The Slap).

Nowhere Boys is a nominee at the 2014 TV Week Logie Awards for Most Outstanding Children’s Drama and recently won the 2014 AACTA Award for Best Children’s Television Drama Series. It has also been shortlisted as a finalist at the Prix Jeunesse International 2014.

Logie award winning Nowhere Boys has been picked up for screening by UK kid’s channel CBBC.

On Sunday the ABC3 Matchbox Pictures’ series won the Logie as Most Outstanding Children’s series.

The BBC has also pre-bought series 2, which was formally announced last week.

Sarah Muller, Head of CBBC Acquisitions & Drama Development Children’s Television, said:”Nowhere Boys offers CBBC an amazing opportunity to acquire a really top-notch International drama from a world-class production company to complement our existing slate of UK-produced shows.

“The story-telling and the young cast are superb and I know our audience will be on the edge of their chairs as they are taken through the fast-paced action. Increasingly we see that kids are demanding content with a strong episodic spine and Nowhere Boys certainly satisfies that need.”

Tony Ayres, Series Creator said: We’re thrilled that Nowhere Boys will now be screened on CBBC. The series has been a labour of love for all of the very talented team of writers, directors, crew and cast involved, and it’s a show we are all immensely proud of.”

Matthew Testro, Dougie Baldwin, Joel Lok and Rahart Adams will all return for the second series.

In the second and final part of TV Tonight‘s Red Carpet wrap there are more questions and hints about upcoming plots and projects!

Logies 2014: Random Acts of Carpetness P 1

DANIELLE CORMACK, CELIA IRELAND and SHAREENA CLANTON on  the arrival of ‘Joan Ferguson’ to Wentworth:

“She’s certainly brought a lower temperature to the room.

“A quiet intensity.”

What’s coming up in Season 2?

“Bea and Doreen have a love affair!” Cormack jokes.

“And there could be a love child!”

“It’s a really high intensity drama, especially by the end of season two.

“If (fans are) hooked now they will be hooked even more.

“They’ve sold the format to Holland, and sold the show to Ireland, Africa, Scandinavia and the UK.”

ADAM HILLS on The Last Leg and getting recognised by Londoners:

“Channel Four want to sign me up until the end of 2015 now, they’ve got me hosting Celebrity 15 to 1.

“Cab drivers in particular (are recognising me). But what’s really weird is I’ll go down to the shops for a coffee and sit having my breakfast. Then when I get home there are tweets going ‘OMG I just saw Adam in the street.’”

BRIAN NANKERVIS on upcoming RocKwiz episodes:

“There’s some real crackers. There’s a Billy Bragg one, Courtney Barnett, 2 from Byron (this year) -not just 1.

“There’s a behind the scenes episode of the Bluesfest for their 25th year.”

IDO DRENT, JANE HARBER, RICHARD DAVIES and ALICIA GARDINER from Offspring on Season Five:

“The scripts are amazing,” said Richard Davies.

“And the guests are better than the core cast!” laughed Jane Harber.

“I’m loving seeing Nina in a different light, that’s what I’ve found,” added Alicia Gardiner. “After such a traumatic end of Season Four to see her come through.”

ESSIE DAVIS on whether the Logie nomination has aided a renewal for Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and her next project:

“Fiona, Deb and the ABC are in discussions about a third season.

“I have a major feature film, The Babadook, opening in Australia on the 22nd May.

“It’s a psychological horror film that I’m very proud of and I hope Australians will get out there and support the Australian film industry in the same way that they support television.”

MATT LE NEVEZ on whether Parer’s War should was best served scheduled against the Logies:

“Hopefully people will tune in and watch it. It’s hard to know.

“The ABC know a lot more about scheduling that I do. I know they wanted it around ANZAC Day and Sunday night is always a big night.

“ABC also have iview so if they miss it tonight there’s an opportunity to catch it during the week.”

KAT STEWART on the outlook for Offspring‘s Billie Proudman and TEN’s Drama record:

“We come back 6 months later and the good thing is for Billie that she’s a lot more focussed, and dug herself out of a hole because she’s got a little girl to help raise.

“She’s got a job to do and she’s in a much better place.

“TEN have a lot to be proud in terms of Drama, with Secrets and Lies and Puberty Blues. They’re a terrific network.”

PAULA ABDUL on her first Logies event:

“It’s as glitzy and glamorous as the big awards shows in the States. It reminds me of going to the Kodak Theatre, but everyone tells me it’s different when you get inside.”

Is she ready for the Aussie knack for knocking the Logies?

“It seems like it’s kind of tradition to make it like that? But that’s fun.

“That’s the difference to the States. They’re very serious.”

ASHER KEDDIE on not having to go home after the Logies this year, spared another early morning filming schedule:

“I don’t have to go home so I can stay and have a drink and see friends and not rush off. I always think ‘Do people know I’m going to work or do they just think I’m boring and anti-social?’

‘It’s nice to not have to tomorrow morning.’

Her next project is Party Tricks.

“We started rehearsals last week and we’re a week away from announcing an amazing cast. Very excited!

“No hints, no way!”

JULIA MORRIS on wearing a ring for gay marriage.

“I love talking about my ring! I bought my dress so that the one thing I’d get to talk about on the red carpet is the fact that I’m wearing a ring that symbolises marriage equality and I support it, and it can’t be spoken about enough, until it happens.

“I think that everyone should get married and live the nightmare that all married people live!”

LIVINIA NIXON on being back at work on Nine News after her maternity leave:

“I’m loving it. I love being part of that work team again and enjoying he people that I work with. It’s great fun.”

MATTHEW TESTRO, JOEL LOK and DOUGIE BALDWIN on what to expect in season two of Nowhere Boys:

“It’s about the demons following us into the other worlds.

“More deep, dark magic.

“We’re back in reality but there are things pulling us back, so we’ll see how that turns out.”

VIRGINIA GAY on performing cabaret as well as juggling TV commitments:

“Ordinarily I do a cabaret show every year, but this year I have committed to too much work. So this is the first year in a while I haven’t done a cabaret show.

“I love back rooms and a cabaret chair. Some Kurt Weill and Kylie with a piano accordion.”

JESSICA MARAIS on ABC’s upcoming Carlotta telemovie and era similarities to Love Child:

“I’m glad it’s not on at the same time (as Love Child). To ask the audience to suspend their disbelief to watch you in two things at once I think is a bit much.

“They’re completely different characters.”

And that’s a Logies wrap for another year!

Upcoming ABC drama Glitch will begin production in October, after securing funding from Screen Australia this week.

The Matchbox Pictures production, as first revealed by TV Tonight, embraces elements of the supernatural.

Set in the fictional country town of Yoorana, the 6 x 1 hour series sees the run-down town take on a new life from the most unlikely of places… the past.

‘Yoorana’ becomes the gothic rural backdrop to a tale of love and redemption, of second chances gained and lost, of vengeance and forgiveness. As the “Risen” discover who they are and why they have returned, those around them are also faced with a perplexing new reality, challenging all the beliefs and ideals they held dear.

Glitch is created by Tony Ayres (Cut Snake, The Slap, Nowhere Boys, The Home Song Stories), developed by Ayres and Louise Fox (Broadchurch, Dead Europe, Love My Way), and produced by Ewan Burnett ( The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, Small Time Gangster, Dead Gorgeous) and Louise Fox.

Tony Ayres, pictured, said “Glitch is a high concept show which uses genre to explore primal human emotions. In supporting us, the ABC has shown yet again their commitment to bold, ground breaking Australian television. ”

The series is being sold internationally by NBCUniversal and will air on ABC TV at a later date.

Rachel Griffiths will make her TV directorial debut on the second season of ABC3’s teen drama, Nowhere Boys.

Griffiths tells TV Tonight she ‘shadowed’ directors while appearing on Nine’s House Husbands.

“These guys were great and they were very open. The actors were lovely about me being on set on the days when I wasn’t working and watching how it was done,” she says.

She will get to flex her directing skills on the small screen following on from two short films a decade ago, Tulip and Roundabout.

“I’m very excited to be working with Tony (Ayres, creator) and very grateful that he went into bat for me and gave me that chance,” she says.

“It’s a very normal transition in America. When you’ve done 200 hours of television you get to know what helps what doesn’t help and you know what’s required. That doesn’t mean I’m blasé about it all. I’m really nervous!

“I will be shadowing a block of that pretty soon and I had my first pre-production meeting yesterday.”

Season Two of the Matchbox Pictures series will begin filming in late June with Joel Lok, Dougie Baldwin, Rahart Adams and Matthew Testro.

Griffiths previously appeared on both Underground: The Julian Assange Story and Camp for Matchbox Pictures.