Screen Australia and YouTube Australia have committed $480,000 to four emerging projects under the tenth edition of the “Skip Ahead” initiative, the flagship program aimed at helping Australian YouTube creators expand their storytelling skills and elevate production value. Since its inception in 2014, “Skip Ahead” has funded 43 creator teams, making it one of the most significant long-term investments in the country’s digital-first creative ecosystem.
The selected projects reflect a diverse mix of genres, spanning comedy, animation, factual, and preschool entertainment. “Garn: The Series,” created by comedy duo Declan and Connor Evanson, follows two small-town tradies whose lives spiral after a record-breaking Keno win draws unwanted attention. The 3 x 8-minute show, produced by Brenton Pinsent, will launch on the Garn. YouTube channel. “BUG” (working title), from animation collective minbitt, tells the story of misplaced Garden Ant nymphs fighting for survival in a post-apocalyptic world, written and directed by Mel Shin and Skye Henwood, with Tom Murray producing. The pilot will premiere on the minbitt YouTube channel.
Documentary project “Re:Plastic” explores Australia’s complex relationship with plastic waste. Engineer and creator Bryce Cronin, who also writes and directs, experiments with recycling every piece of plastic he encounters and even attempts to produce it from scratch in his kitchen. The three-part series, executive produced by Matthew Phung, will debut on the Buildy Bryce YouTube channel. Rounding out the slate is “The Vegetable Plot,” a preschool-targeted 6 x 2-minute series inspired by the award-winning Australian children’s band of the same name. Written and produced by Luke Escombe with support from producers Alvaro del Campo, Nick Lorentzen, and writers Tania Lacy and Cleon Prineas, and directed by Stefan Wernik, the series follows Pep, Egg, Haze, and their parents on adventures in their beat-powered double-decker bus, Eartha. It will be released on The Vegetable Plot YouTube channel.
In addition to funding, the four teams will take part in a three-day workshop where they will be mentored by industry leaders and program alumni, including Luke Clark and Elizabeth Price of media company Never Too Small, director Michael Shanks and producer Mike Cowap of short film “Rebooted,” fantasy comedy creators Goldie Soetianto and Elliot Ryan of “Deerstalker Pictures,” comedian and singer Jordan Raskopoulos, and digital strategists from Changer Studios.
With “Skip Ahead” now marking a decade of investment, the initiative underscores the evolving role of YouTube in the Australian content landscape. By combining development funding with professional mentorship, Screen Australia and YouTube are positioning creators not only to thrive within digital platforms but also to transition their skills into broader entertainment markets.