With little to no experience in drama for television and film, burgeoning writer and director Sarah Daggar-Nickson and director Scott Otto Anderson entered OPTUS ONE80PROJECT with hopes of gaining experience in this notoriously challenging and elitist industry.  But when their riveting three minute entry Dream Life (which follows the unraveling of a seemingly ‘perfect’ family) took out the coveted spot, a whole new journey started for this hot new talent .  As part of her prize, Scott and Sarah worked with producers at MTV to develop the pilot into a full-length drama to screen on the network and also via the Optus Zoo mobile portal.   Now that the pilot is in production and offers are streaming in, Sarah takes a retrospect look at their win, and offers some advice to greenhorn writers, producers and directors pursuing their big break.

MTV: Why did you originally enter OPTUS ONE80 PROJECT?

Sarah: I had just finished a treatment and a script I was happy with, and a friend of mine asked if I’d heard about the OPUTS PROJECT180 and told me about the prizes.  Even though I had no experience in the film or the television industry, I thought it would be a great opportunity to get in and have a chance, without really knowing anyone or having any experience, but just having an idea. 

So I hooked up with a director called Scott Otto Anderson; he directed the trailer and bought on a crew and we won! I think the opportunity to have an idea that comes from anywhere and get it on air, that’s completely unique in this country and very exciting. 

MTV: Did you think that you would win?

Sarah: It took me utterly by surprise!  When I wrote it I thought, I just want to write something that I’d want to watch and I think other people would want to watch.

MTV: Would you say the world of television drama is a hard one to get into?

Sarah: Sure, there’s not a lot of money and there’s not a lot of local production either.  There seems to be a lot of repetition in ideas in the productions we do make and funding is hard to come by, so yes!

MTV: So where are you at in terms of producing your pilot into a drama?

Sarah: Well Scott (the director) has done the shoot and is in edit right now.  I’ve seen one rough cut but I’m waiting in anticipation to see how it turns out!

MTV: Is this process what you expected it to be?

Sarah: It’s been a big learning curve, as soon as I won I knew that there would be surprises because I didn’t know what to expect.  Out of everything, that’s what’s been really valuable; just to know what’s involved and to know the process and the different people involved, and what they contribute to it. It's definitely a team sport, even though it was us who won the project, we couldn’t have done it without the incredibly hard-working cast, crew and the wonderful Liz Watts and Linda Micsko from Porchlight Films who were brave enough to produce for us.

MTV: What has been the best part about winning the challenge?

Sarah: To be honest, the best part is hope! For me, as a new writer it’s great to have people like Neil Armfield saying you’re a good writer, and that there are opportunities out there giving people the chance to have a go if you’ve got the passion and the potential to do it. 

MTV: Why do you think your pilot won?

Sarah: I’ve got no idea, maybe because it was different?  And maybe Australians do want to see different programming and don’t want to the same old thing…

MTV: What opportunities have arisen for you since winning this comp?

Sarah: I’ve got a literary agent, and I’m working on my next show.  I’ve learnt so much about the business and the process and I’m in a much more educated space than I was before.
Io love television and I love film and that’s why I wrote it in the first place. 

MTV: In your opinion, what makes a great drama?

Sarah: Just something that’s engaging and exciting and fun and takes you to a new world; you have to be able to relate to it as an audience, its got to hum with you in some way, but you want to see something fresh and have it take you on a ride.
And for me, the drama that I like always does that; it doesn’t reflect life right back at me, but it takes me to a new place and makes me look at it from a different angle and connect with it a new way. 

MTV: What do you think is the biggest mistake by novice directors/filmmakers/scriptwriters?

Sarah: Be aware of budgets! And make sure the people you’re working with are really aware of your idea and understand it and believe in it.  It’s got to go through a lot of communication channels before it comes out the other end so you want to make sure the people involved know what the story is about. 

MTV: So what advice would you pass onto this year's entrants?

Sarah: Stay true to idea, don’t feel like you have to water your idea down. Still stay aware of your audience but just make your dreams come true! I know it sounds cliché, but it sounds like people in the industry are really excited by new ideas.  So if you have an idea or see a story that hasn’t been told before, then that’s what you should focus on!

To keep track of the production of Sarah and Scott’s winning pilot, check out their myspace page at Myspace.com/dreamlifeshow

To check out their winning pilot, click here!