ABC, Showtime, BBC Studios // 2021
Nikhil Katira is a talented psychiatric nurse with a big problem: while his patients are getting better, he’s getting worse. Wakefield challenges our notions of what’s crazy and what’s sane. And it does so with humour, warmth, pathos – and a big dose of intrigue. Rudi Dharmalingam (Tin Star, The Split), Mandy McElhinney (Bad Mothers, Squinters) and Geraldine Hakewill (Wanted, Miss Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries) lead the cast. Created by Kristen Dunphy (The Principal), with Showrunners Kristen Dunphy and Sam Meikle, directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse (The Dressmaker) and Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket), the 8 part drama is set in a Blue Mountains psychiatric hospital.
Madman Entertainment / ABC // 2021
The feature documentary, Big Deal, is a wake-up call about the frightening extent to which money has infiltrated politics. It begins with Christiaan (Top of the Lake) mocking the fact that the US democracy has been taken over by big money, but he soon realises that the situation in his home country is not all that different. Christiaan’s unlikely journey shows us why we should care, and how we might work together to ensure our democracy is safeguarded from being sold to the highest bidder. Directed by Craig Reucassel (War on Waste) and Executive Produced by Jen Peedom (Sherpa).
FX // 2018-2021
A charismatic, yet volatile hitman Ray Shoesmith must navigate his chilling business while also maintaining friendships, parental responsibilities and a fledgling romance in a narrative driven by dark humour and offbeat conversation. Written and starring the winner of the 2019 Best Actor Logie Scott Ryan. Directed and executive produced by Nash Edgerton, with Jason Burrows and producer Michele Bennett.
CBS All Access // 2018-2021
Set over the course of a major drug cartel bust, No Activity follows the misadventures of two low-ranking cops who spend way too much time together; two criminals who are kept in the dark; two dispatch workers who haven’t really clicked; and two Mexican tunnelers who get stuck in a space unsuitable for a pair of relative strangers. Starring Will Ferrell, Bob Odenkirk, Amy Sedaris, JK Simmon, Jessica Alba, Jason Mantzoukas, Sunita Mani and Patrick Brammall. Created, written and directed by Trent O’Donnell, with co-creator Patrick Brammall.
FOX // 2020 – 2021
The Moodys follows a tight-knit, but slightly dysfunctional family of five, all of whom gather in their hometown of Chicago for the “perfect” holiday. From break-ups to arrests to sharing one bathroom, each family member is packing his/her own eccentricities and hiding secrets from the others – as if the holidays were all about carols and eggnog! From CBS Television Studios and FOX Entertainment, The Moodys is based on Jungle Entertainment Pty Limited and Australian Broadcasting Corporation series “A Moody Christmas.”
Nine Network, Sundance Now // 2019
Bad Mothers explores the underbelly of modern motherhood through four very different women. Funny, heartfelt and full of surprises, Bad Mothers is about the struggles all parents face juggling work and career (and also a murder!). Any challenge is easier if you’re among friends. Starring Melissa George, Tess Haubrich, Mandy McElhinney, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Daniel MacPherson. Created by Rachel Lang and Gavin Strawhan of Filthy Productions with executive producers Chloe Rickard, Phil Lloyd and Steven Zanoski.
ABC // 2019
Victoria ‘Sando’ Sandringham is the charismatic loose cannon CEO and public face of popular department store chain “Sando’s Warehouse”. She’s also the mother of two adult children she’s had little to do with since becoming pregnant to her daughter’s fiancé ten years ago. Now, after being kicked out of her beloved company and her assets frozen, she weasels her way back into the family home to enlist her estranged family to help win back her business. With zero tact, and a mountain of emotional baggage to unpack, this is going to be Sando’s toughest negotiation yet. Starring Sacha Horler, Phil Lloyd and Krew Boylan. Created by Phil Lloyd and Charlie Garber, with executive producer Jason Burrows and producer Chloe Rickard.
ABC // 2018-2019
Squinters celebrates the mundane peak hour ritual for the workers at K2, a good dispatch centre, as they commute into the sun each morning and again as they return home at day’s end. Starring Kristen Schaal, international musical comedian Tim Minchin, Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver, Stephen Peacocke, Damon Herriman, Sam Simmons, Rose Matafeo and many more. From co-creators Trent O’Donnell and Adam Zwar with executive producers Chloe Rickard and Jason Burrows.
STAN // 2015-2018
Two cops examine the minutiae of life as they kill time staking out a suspected missing persons case. An improvised comedy of two handers, No Activity is a snail’s paced crime story juxtaposed with the rapidly expanding personal stories of the cops, criminals, and hostages involved. Starring Patrick Brammall, Harriett Dyer, Dan Wylie, Darren Gilshennan, Genevieve Morris and David Field. Created, written and directed by Trent O’Donnell with executive producer Jason Burrows and producer Chloe Rickard.
Nine Network // 2016 – 2017
They’ve just won the lottery, now Lebanese-Australian family the Habibs are moving from the suburbs into Australia’s richest enclave and living the Aussie dream. But to their new neighbours, the old-money O’Neills, this means war! The series is the first narrative comedy to be commissioned by a free-to-air commercial channel in 12 years. It was created by Phil Lloyd, Rob Shehadie, Tahir Bilgic and Ben Davies with executive producer Jason Burrows and producer Chloe Rickard.
ABC, BBC2, Hulu // 2012 – 2014
A comedy series that visits, once a year, for six years, the lovably dysfunctional Moody family, as they come together to share this universally celebrated holiday. The series is stuffed full of all the fun, fights, bad gifts, boring uncles, overbearing in-laws, shocking family secrets and bizarre eccentricities that any family who’s experienced the melting pot of Christmas Day will relate to. A Moody Christmas was a finalist in the Best Comedy of the Year category at the Monte Carlo TV Awards and has been picked up by CBS for a straight to series order for Fox. Its sequel is The Moodys which sees the Moody family coming together for family events over one year. Starring Ian Meadows, Patrick Brammall, Jane Harber and Tina Bursil. It was created and written by Phil Lloyd and Trent O’Donnell with Executive Producer Jason Burrow and producers Andy Walker and Chloe Rickard.
ABC // 2013
With longer-form scenes, this series aspires to take sketch comedy in a different direction with less traditional material and a surprising cast. It is at times random, often ridiculous and occasionally surreal. It is led by Jungle’s accomplished roster of directors and a variety of established and up and coming writers.
ABC // 2015
Narrated by Terence Stamp, this is the story behind one of the world’s most loved films, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
ABC // 2008 – 2010
A satirical black comedy television series in which Myles Barlow, a critic, reviews real-life experiences in response to viewer questions, such as being a murderer and a drug-mule, the rush of pleasure as he pays for sex and the bleakness of living on the streets. Review with Myles Barlow was winner of the Best Comedy at both the 2008 and 2010 AFI Awards. The format was sold to the UK, Europe and the US. With the US three season series, Review aired on the Comedy Channel and was created by Trent O’Donnell and Phil Lloyd.
ABC // 2012
Created by Sam Simmons, the undisputed master of suburban absurdity, Problems finds Sam wrapping his head in ham, serenading stuffed owls, and disco dancing in his own specially designed bread shoes, and goes some way to explaining why he won the highly prestigious 2015 Edinburgh Comedy Award and is one of most thrilling live performers in the comedy arena. He is an evangelical advocate of bringing silly back to comedy. Jungle was a co-producer alongside Token. The series was directed by Trent O’Donnell.
Jungle Entertainment produces premium drama and comedy for a worldwide audience. We collaborate with the very best creators and work tirelessly to champion their unique vision. We are known for a signature comedic tone, through which we explore the light and the dark in every story.
2020 and 2021 both saw four Jungle productions commissioned in the US, including the first season of Wakefield (Showtime/ ABC Australia/ BBC Studios), the fourth season of No Activity (Paramount Plus), the third season of Mr Inbetween (FX) and the second season of A Moody Christmas (Fox).
We drive innovative models of production and we like to be first. We produced Australia’s first ever SVOD commission, the original No Activity for Stan Australia, BBC2 and Hulu, as well as the first scripted comedy developed and commissioned by an Australian commercial network in 15 years, Here Come The Habibs. The creative team at Jungle were also behind Review With Miles Barlow which was ABC2’s first commission and was remade by Comedy Central into three seasons of Review.
Other productions include Bad Mothers for Nine Network Australia and Sundance Now, as well the original A Moody Christmas for ABC in Australia, which sold to BBC2, Hulu and total of 108 other territories worldwide.
The fourth season of No Activity USA went to air in 2021. It is a co-production with Gary Sanchez Productions, and is co-created, directed and co-written by Jungle partner Trent O’Donnell. The series stars Will Ferrell, Bob Odenkirk, Amy Sedaris, JK Simmons, Jessica Alba, Jason Mantzoukas, Sunita Mani and our very own Patrick Brammall.
No Activity is currently one of the highest selling formats around the world having been remade in the US, Holland, Germany, Spain, Japan, Denmark and Dubai with more foreign remakes soon to be announced.
Jungle also operates as a production services company that provides end to end support for international partners in producing world class content anywhere in Australia.
We strive to find the best stories on the planet and bring them to the screen.
Welcome to the Jungle.
Chief Executive Officer & Partner
Jason Burrows started Jungle with a small house plant in his apartment. It is now one of Australia’s most dynamic production companies with a solid track record of international success. Jason’s Executive Producer television credits include Wakefield (ABC), No Activity (the original and the US remake), Mr Inbetween (FX), Squinters (ABC) and Sando (ABC) as well as Here Come the Habibs (Nine Network), A Moody Christmas (ABC), its sequel The Moodys (ABC), and The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting (ABC). In the factual sector, his credits include Big Deal, Between a Frock and a Hard Place (ABC) and the comedy documentary The Super Dave Odyssey (Network Ten)
Chief Operating Officer & Partner
Chloe Rickard is Partner, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Producer at Jungle Entertainment. She has been integral to the company’s growth, innovation and success. Her Executive Producer credits include Wakefield (ABC/BBC Studios), Bad Mothers (Nine Network/Sundance Now), Squinters (ABC) and Soul Mates (ABC/SeeSo). She produced No Activity (Stan Australia), The Moodys and its sequel A Moody Christmas (ABC/BBC2/Hulu), Sando (ABC), Here Come the Habibs (Nine Network), Elegant Gentlemen’s Guide to Knife Fighting (ABC), and over 150 television commercials and music videos. She is currently developing the feature films The Hitchhiker based on the internationally acclaimed short film and Croak funded by Screen Australia. Chloe gained her Masters of Screen Arts & Business from AFTRS, in which she was awarded the Foxtel New Media Innovation Prize and the Wake In Fright Prize for the best thesis. Chloe is the Chair of the Screen Tasmania Advisory Board (STEAG).
Writer & Partner
Phil Lloyd is the co-creator and co-writer of prime time ABC comedy series A Moody Christmas, its sequel The Moodys and Review With Myles Barlow. Both formats have been remade in the US. He has won multiple Best Comedy AFIs, Best Comedy at SPA, Best Comedy AWGIE and Best Ensemble Comedy two years running (Equity). He was the head writer and showrunner of Here Come the Habibs and executive produced Bad Mothers (Nine Network). Lloyd was also co-creator and writer of top-rating ABC1 sitcom At Home With Julia. In branded entertainment, Phil’s work on Qantas’s The Great Crusade won a Cannes Gold Lion and was nominated for a 2012 International Emmy. As an actor, Phil has played many roles including Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s partner Tim Mathieson in At Home With Julia, and the existential critic in Review With Myles Barlow, for which he won a Best Comedy Performer AFI.
Director & Partner
Trent O’Donnell is currently working on comedies in both Australia and the US, and racks up plenty of frequent flier miles as an in-demand director, writer and producer. Trent is the creator, director , co-writer and executive producer of No Activity for Paramount Plus. He was the supervising and directing executive producer on hit Fox comedy New Girl from 2013-2017 and directed 28 episodes during this time. He is the co-creator, writer and director of A Moody Christmas, its sequel The Moodys which is being remade in the US by CBS for Fox and Review with Myles Barlow, which was also remade in the US as Review on Comedy Central. He has won multiple Best Comedy AFIs, Best Comedy at SPA, a Best Comedy AWGIE, Best Ensemble Comedy two years running (Equity Award) and Best Comedy Director (Australian Directors’ Guild Award). His other directing credits include the The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Letdown, Problems, Woodley, Laid, Kitchen Cabinet and The Chaser’s War on Everything.
