More Winners (1990 - 1990)

Feature series
8 episodes x 60 minutes

Series synopsis:

More Winners is an anthology series of six quite different telemovies, shot and set in different parts of Australia. Ranging across comedy, drama, suspense, historical drama, adventure, fantasy, and social realism, these diverse stories explore issues such as friendship, independence, competition, decision making and conflict.

Curator’s Notes:

This was the final series of telemovies produced by the ACTF following their national and international successes with Winners (1985), Kaboodle (1987) and Touch the Sun (1988). Despite the award-winning quality of these films, the national and international markets for telemovies were rapidly drying up. The broadcasters preferred multi-episode series, set in the one place, arguing that it was easier to promote an ongoing character-based series and build up audience loyalty over a period of time.

By this stage it was also becoming increasingly difficult for the ACTF to keep filming in all states and territories, a key feature of these anthologies. A major reason for this happening in the first place was related to the funding arrangements with each state, which required that the Foundation film locally. For instance, His Master’s Ghost and Boy Soldiers were shot in Victoria, The Big Wish, Second Childhood and Mr Edmund were shot in NSW, and The Journey was shot in Tasmania.

With these constraints dictating the locations and nature of children’s productions, the ACTF moved to producing locally in Victoria. Its first effort was the hugely successful Round the Twist (1989), laying the foundations for a growing television production industry centred in Melbourne and Victoria.

Annemaree O'Brien

Titles in this series