Libertine Pictures and Australian producer Prospero partner

1 August, 2014

Libertine Pictures partners with leading Australian factual producer Prospero

Libertine Pictures and Prospero Productions today announced a trans-Tasman partnership that will see the production of new documentary, factual and drama programming in New Zealand and build on the success of Prospero’s existing factual formats.

Perth-based Prospero is one of Australia's leading independent documentary production companies having made quality, multi-award winning documentaries and documentary series for nearly 25 years. Prospero’s Outback Truckers is currently screening on TV One in the prime 7:30pm Saturday slot

The first production for the partnership with New Zealand’s Libertine Pictures is Wild Survivor, a three-part outdoor adventure factual series commissioned by National Geographic Channel, in which presenter Phil Breslin is challenged to survive in the wilderness using only techniques of indigenous people of the land. Episode one of Wild Survivor has already shot in the Kimberly region of North West Australia and episodes two and three will shoot in the Rotorua Lakes region of the North Island and on the coast of the upper South Island this month.

Libertine’s Richard Fletcher said: “We are delighted to partner with Prospero. By sharing expertise and access to resources and markets, it allows Libertine to enter the factual and documentary production sector with the benefit of Prospero’s expertise and proven success behind us. It also lets us diversify from our core base of features and television drama.”

One of Prospero’s managing director Ed Punchard said: “The Prospero signature is strong narrative-driven documentaries that appeal to a wide range of viewers and we have been looking to expand our production base into New Zealand for some time. We have been careful to find the right partner and were very impressed with Libertine’s business plan and the expertise, enthusiasm, and resources they can bring to the partnership. We look forward to working with Richard and Libertine, and with New Zealand’s highly skilled film makers.”

Gerard Quinn, Chief Executive of Grow Wellington, said the economic development agency welcomed the expertise Prospero would bring to the local screen sector. “Grow Wellington has enjoyed working with Libertine and Prospero as they’ve established this partnership. Prospero Productions New Zealand will add depth and scale to the thriving Wellington screen sector.”

Under the partnership, Prospero and Libertine have formed Prospero Productions New Zealand. Libertine will oversee the management of the New Zealand company, the physical production of programmes, and work closely with Prospero’s development and creative team to develop new television programmes for production in New Zealand. Prospero will also provide its expertise in relation to the financing, distribution and exploitation of the programmes.

About Libertine Pictures
Libertine Pictures, the inaugural recipient of the NZ Film Commission’s Business Development Scheme, was formed in 2013 to bring together exceptional creative talent to make film and television aimed at audiences around the world. Along with the experience of its founders, producers Richard Fletcher and Paul Davis and writer Neil Cross, the company is distinguished by its partnerships with practitioners across the industry. This brings their expertise together with the talents of leading filmmakers and distribution and sales professionals here and overseas.

For more information visit: www.libertinepictures.com

About Prospero Productions
Prospero Productions is one of Australia's leading independent documentary production companies. Having made quality, multi-award winning documentaries and documentary series for nearly 25 years. The Prospero signature is strong narrative-driven documentaries that appeal to a wide range of viewers.

Prospero has an outstanding track record of introducing emerging personnel into the Western Australian film industry and from the outset, have been a dedicated and proven proponent of knowledge-sharing. Prospero has a great commitment to quality film making. This commitment extends not only to providing high-quality work for film and television production staff throughout the production and post-production cycle, but also to mentoring and training its staff.

For more information visit: www.prospero.com.au

ENDS

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