Comedy development studio launches

A new TV and internet studio is looking to back 50 new ideas – most of them comedy – in the hope that at least one of them is a hit.

Wildseed – which has been set up by former Aardman Animations and BBC executives Jesse Cleverly (in the left of the picture) and Miles Bullough – will invest at least £10,000 in each of the projects.

It has already backed two: an animated sketch show for young adults based on the work of underground comic artist Ralph Kidson and a live-action sci-fi/horror web series from 19-year-old Drew Casson

Wildseed is looking for ideas in four genres: sci-fi/horror/fantasy, animated sitcom, character comedy and comedy for kids – as well as setting aside ten projects for wildcard ideas that don’t fit any of those categories. Other than the children’s shows, their prime target is 13 to 25-year-olds.

Bullough, who was previously head of broadcast at Aardman and before that managing director at comedy production house Absolutely, said: ‘For our investment-funnel model to work, we need just one of our 50 investments to turn into a breakout hit. That feels achievable.’

‘Some of the people we are working with are at a turning point in their burgeoning careers, and we have been able to make a crucial contribution to what they do. Neither we nor our creators make money from our early stage investments – it all goes into the projects.’

Kidson’s sketch show features ideas such as God and Jesus, where God explains his plans to Jesus for his latest miracle; Animal Job Centre where an unemployed squirrel tries to navigate the job market; and Serengeti, where loutish animals launch into foul-mouthed tirades at the slightest provocation.

Meanwhile, teenager Casson’s idea is a 90-minute coming-of-age story about a small English town being taken over by aliens, which will be shot this summer.

More projects are expected to be announced soon; and the company says they are ‘platform neutral’ – so ideas could be for YouTube, or even video games.

Proposals should be sent via their website

Published: 19 Jun 2013