Aussie LGBTI web series hits 18 million views as production begins on two new seasons
Filming begins in Sydney next month on Seasons 4 and 5 of one of Australia’s most successful web series Starting From…Now!.
Created by writer/director Julie Kalceff, in direct response to a lack of diversity on Australian television screens, Starting From…Now! had over 10 million views in the first year of its release, and has now reached an audience of more than 18 million across more than 225 countries.
The international success of the show, which stars Bianca Bradey, Sarah de Possesse, Rosie Lourde and Lauren Orrell, has been recognised with multiple award nominations, including the 2015 Screen Producers Australia awards.
Starting From… Now! has also been nominated in the US ITV Awards and will screen at Miami Webfest, Rio Webfest, NYC Webfest, and Brooklyn Webfest, having already played this year at Webfests in Montreal, Berlin, Melbourne and Hollywood.
Starting with the illicit attraction between Steph (Sarah de Possesse) and her friend’s girlfriend, Darcy (Rosie Lourde – Felony), the series has rapidly grown across three seasons to touch on topics such as familial estrangement, drug and alcohol abuse, infertility and the desire to start a family in a lesbian relationship. Season Four is tipped to cast its net even further.
Julie Kalceff says: “It is thrilling that so many millions of people around the world have discovered Starting From… Now! and responded so enthusiastically.
“Our creative focus has never just been about sexuality and what it means to be a lesbian. From the beginning, the intention was to portray complex female characters that happened to be lesbians. The series is about what it means to be human and the diversity of issues we’re confronted with on a daily basis. It just happens to be set in the LGBTI community.”
Rosie Lourde, who is also a producer on the show, said that the series’ success has begun to attract new partnerships. Sydney’s flagship Beresford Hotel, part of the Merivale Group, has this week come on board as the most recent sponsor. As venue partner, it will be a significant location for the new shoot.