Beyond and Granada in Ozzie sitcom deal

Australia's Beyond International has teamed up with Granada Media's Sydney outpost Granada Productions to develop and co-produce sitcoms.

As principal sponsor of the Australian Sitcom Festival (3-15 December), Beyond has first option of three of the scripts and will tie up with Granada for at least one of them.

Granada Productions' ceo Paul Jackson described the move as {an important initiative that encourages young Australian writers.{ He added, in the words of William Goldman, {there are three important things in film and television: the script, the script and the script.{

The nine script finalists are: Guru Blues written by Michelle Warner; What's That Burning? by Mary Louise Sweeney, Family From Hell by Robert Carter; Sketchy At Best written by Gerard Cogley, Fiona Harris and Katrina Mathers; The Wild Brothers by Pete Donovan and Adam Isitt; Glamour written by Hugh Watson; Bloodsuckers by Rob Caldwell; Asteroid Belt by Andrew Johnston; and Warm Feelings by Gary N. Lines. The scripts will be staged by the Queensland Theatre Company.