Paper Dolls

Television Ten Network
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Network 10 Announces New Scripted Drama Paper Dolls.

BELINDA CHAPPLE (Photo Jerald Dinesh)
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AINSLIE CLOUSTON (Photo Alex Vaughn)
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Network 10 today announced an eight-hour scripted drama Paper Dolls .

Set in 2000, Paper Dolls follows the meteoric rise and fall of the fictional girl-band INDIGO - a manufactured pop group born out of one of the first reality TV shows.

Desperate to escape their ordinary reality and with aspirations of pop-stardom, five hopeful women step into the spotlight only to find that their dream of fame is compromised by what it takes to achieve it.

As INDIGO is unleashed into the world to instant success and stardom, the girls’ connection with each other evolves from competition to confidants.

But their secrets threaten to tear the band apart, especially the machinations of one extra ambitious member who re-enters the music industry for a specific reason – to implode the group and seek vengeance on the record label that wronged her.

Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, Paramount Australia and New Zealand, Beverley McGarvey, said: “We are thrilled to have commissioned another premium, entertaining, and distinctive Australian drama from HELIUM. Paper Dolls is set to be a captivating and engaging series. With a sensational cast and an experienced creative team, this story will enthral audiences.”

Producer and HELIUM Founder, Mark Fennessy, said: “ Paper Dolls is a deeply fascinating, female-driven drama with a female-led creative team. This dramatic and compelling series is defined by its unique mix of fun and edge - equal parts gritty and aspirational, whilst shining a light on some of this generation’s freshest and most creative voices.”

Produced by HELIUM’s Mark Fennessy, created and written by Ainslie Clouston (Darby and Joan, Amazing Grace, Playing For Keeps,) and developed with Claire Phillips (RFDS, The Wrong Girl, Playing For Keeps), with Bardot’s Belinda Chapple as co-executive producer, production on Paper Dolls is set to commence in Sydney later this year and will premiere on 10 in 2023.

Coming Soon To 10 And 10 Play On Demand.

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Given the series is about a girl band you would think there will be a number of original songs as well.

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Who will play Jackie O? Will they have a member that steals from them and is kicked out of the group? How will they portray Sophie Monk?

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In an interview with Jonathan Moran in today’s Stellar magazine, Belinda Chapple reveals she has no plans to appear on the series.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/lifestyle/stellar/belinda-chapple-bardot-was-buried/news-story/3d3596775cc38f97022d5fd8663c97ce

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This looks awful, and is coming from the same people over and over again. No wonder local dramas all blend boringly into each other.

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10 Shines The Spotlight On Paper Dolls.

Paper Dolls (Courtney Monsma, Miah Madden, Naomi Sequeira, Emalia, Courtney Clarke) (3)
Paper Dolls (Courtney Monsma, Miah Madden, Naomi Sequeira, Emalia, Courtney Clarke) (3)1813×2275 309 KB

Paper Dolls. Coming Soon To 10 And 10 Play.

Network 10 today announced the cast of its latest local drama commission, Paper Dolls. The HELIUM Pictures production with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW, commences filming tomorrow.

At the cusp of the new millennium, five aspiring singers are thrust into the spotlight in pursuit of pop-stardom and fame. Paper Dolls is an eight-part scripted drama for Network 10, following the meteoric rise and fall of fictional manufactured girl-group: HARLOW.

Never far from the watchful eye of the cameras, fans and critics, HARLOW is born out of music reality television show Pop Rush, redefining pop culture in the process. However, the five young women must navigate the dark side of a glamourous industry determined to commodify them.

The superb ensemble cast includes Emalia (Australian Gangster), Naomi Sequeira (Evermoor Chronicles), Miah Madden (Redfern Now) , Courtney Clarke (Last King of The Cross) and Courtney Monsma (Frozen The Musical) as the five band members.

Based on an original concept created by Belinda Chapple, created and written by Ainslie Clouston (Amazing Grace), with writers David Hannam (Darby and Joan), Marieke Hardy (Heartbreak High), Jenna Purcell, Sara Khan (Heartbreak High) and Thomas Wilson-White (Heartbreak High). Paper Dolls is directed by Tenika Smith (The Heights), Nina Buxton (Summer Love) and Erin White (Wellmania), produced by Jessica Carrera (Seriously Red) and Kerrie Mainwaring (Bali 2002), executive produced by Mark Fennessy (Last King of The Cross) and Belinda Chapple, with Alexander Pettaras (Last King of The Cross) as associate producer.

Sophia Mogford, Executive Producer, Drama and Comedy, Paramount ANZ said: “Australian’s are going to love this premium drama that highlights what goes on behind-the-scenes in the making of a girl pop-group.

“It is a fascinating and extraordinary insight which pulls back the showbiz curtain to reveal the dark side of fame. With a stellar ensemble cast of fresh new talent, we can’t wait for audiences to watch Paper Dolls. It is going to be ground-breaking."

Producer Jessica Carrera said: “With an assembly of so many bright creative talents and brilliant music, we are thrilled to introduce audiences to the nostalgic Y2K world of Paper Dolls. The series charts the euphoria and complexity of striving for pop stardom, while asking the question: how far would you go to get to the top?”

Screen Australia COO Michael Brealey said, “We’re pleased to support this talented creative team who has crafted an intriguing and gritty drama. Celebrating the nostalgia of pop music and the search for talent on reality TV, this series is set to engage audiences, taking them behind closed doors of the music industry.”

Paper Dolls is a HELIUM Pictures production for Network 10 Australia, with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW. Entertainment One (eOne) handles the international distribution for Paper Dolls outside of Australia.

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Paper Dolls Adds To Star Cast.

Paper Dolls (L-R Thomas Cocquerel, Emma Booth and Ditch Davey)
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Paper Dolls. Coming Soon To 10 And 10 Play.

Network 10 today announced the latest cast members joining local drama commission, Paper Dolls, which is currently filming in Sydney.

Emma Booth (Glitch), Thomas Cocquerel (The Gilded Age) and Ditch Davey (Spartacus) joins our previously announced ensemble cast Emalia (Australian Gangster), Naomi Sequeira (Evermoor Chronicles), Miah Madden (Redfern Now), Courtney Clarke (Last King of The Cross) and Courtney Monsma (Frozen The Musical). Also joining the supporting cast are Lyndon Watts (Hamilton the Musical), Carlos Sanson Jr. (Bump), Ben Turland (Neighbours), Philippa Northeast (The Newsreader) and Elizabeth Cullen (Bali 2002).

Paper Dolls is an eight-part scripted drama for Network 10, following the meteoric rise and fall of fictional manufactured girl-group: HARLOW. Everyone dreams of being a pop star. The fame. The fans. The euphoria. But be careful what you wish for.

Based on an original concept created by Belinda Chapple, created and written by Ainslie Clouston (Amazing Grace), with writers David Hannam (Darby and Joan), Marieke Hardy (Heartbreak High), Jenna Purcell, Sara Khan (Heartbreak High) and Thomas Wilson-White (Heartbreak High). Paper Dolls is directed by Tenika Smith (The Heights), Nina Buxton (Summer Love) and Erin White (Wellmania), produced by Jessica Carrera (Seriously Red) and Kerrie Mainwaring (Bali 2002), executive produced by Mark Fennessy (Last King of The Cross) and Belinda Chapple, with Alexander Pettaras (Last King of The Cross) as associate producer.

Of joining the Paper Dolls cast, Emma Booth said: “I am thrilled to be back home in Australia and playing the role of Margot. It is such an exciting time in television for female driven storytelling. The creative team behind Paper Dolls has crafted a powerful, nuanced and fascinating story about the perks and perils of fame that I can’t wait to bring to life.”

Thomas Cocquerel said: “I’m so excited to be joining such a talented ensemble for Paper Dolls. The scripts are gripping, and I think audiences are going to be really captivated by this story. It’s also a joy to be filming at home again. I haven’t shot in Sydney since I started working nearly 10 years ago and it’s so nice be back.”

Ditch Davey said: “I’m excited to be working with HELIUM, Network 10 and the fabulous cast on this exciting project. This is a story that peers behind the curtain and shines a spotlight onto the darker and largely unseen corners of the industry. Stories like this are vital for safeguarding the future lives and careers of the artists that are the faces of our entertainment industries.”

Paper Dolls is a HELIUM Pictures production for Network 10 Australia, with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW. Entertainment One (eOne) handles the international distribution for Paper Dolls outside of Australia.

Disclaimer: Paper Dolls is a work of fiction. The story, names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons, places, businesses, and products is intended or should be inferred.

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It’s interesting the latest press release now includes a disclaimer, especially the series is based on an original concept created by a former member of Bardot. Fear of legal action?

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Seems like a prudent disclaimer to have. Especially in this case when it concerns a manufactured girl-group and a reality TV show that some might assume has some connection to real events. I notice they have changed from the original name of the group that was INDIGO to HARLOW.

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Harlow sounds a lot like Bardot.

Bardot was named after iconic actress Brigitte Bardot. So is Harlow named after iconic actress Jean Harlow? Very close parallel again.

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Sounds a like another Wrong Girl / Zoe Foster Blake story.

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According to Inside Film, Emma Booth will play Margot Murray, PR director of the fictional record company Millennium International Music, with Ditch Davey portraying company head Roger Levett, and Thomas Cocquerel on board as Teddy Pearse, the new manager of Harlow.

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Paper Dolls will premiere on Paramount+ on Thursday, December 7, Paramount ANZ announced at its 2024 upfronts this morning.

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Paramount+ Australia Releases Key Art And First Look Trailer For Paramount+ Australian** Original Series Paper Dolls.

Paramount+ Australia has released the key art and first look trailer set to the iconic soundtrack of Irene Cara’s hit song Fame, for the highly-anticipated Paramount+ Australian original series Paper Dolls.

The eight-part scripted drama will stream exclusively on Paramount+ Australia from Sunday, 3 December, dropping new episodes weekly on a Sunday.

Click below to view the Paper Dolls trailer:

At the cusp of the new millennium, five aspiring singers are thrust into the spotlight in pursuit of pop-stardom and fame.

Never far from the watchful eye of the cameras, fans and critics, HARLOW is born out of music reality television show Pop Rush, redefining pop culture in the process. However, the five young women must navigate the dark side of a glamourous industry determined to commodify them.

The superb ensemble cast includes Emma Booth (Glitch), Emalia (Australian Gangster), Naomi Sequeira (Evermoor Chronicles), Miah Madden (Redfern Now), Courtney Clarke (Last King of The Cross) and Courtney Monsma (Frozen the Musical), Thomas Cocquerel (The Gilded Age) and Ditch Davey (Spartacus).

Based on an original concept created by Belinda Chapple, created and written by Ainslie Clouston (Amazing Grace), with writers David Hannam (Darby and Joan), Marieke Hardy (Heartbreak High), Jenna Purcell, Sara Khan (Heartbreak High) and Thomas Wilson-White (Heartbreak High). Paper Dolls is directed by Tenika Smith (The Heights), Nina Buxton (Summer Love) and Erin White (Wellmania), produced by Jessica Carrera (Seriously Red) and Kerrie Mainwaring (Bali 2002), executive produced by Mark Fennessy (Last King of The Cross) and Belinda Chapple, and Sophia Mogford (Paramount+) with Alexander Pettaras (Last King of The Cross) as associate producer.

Paper Dolls is a HELIUM Pictures production for Paramount +, with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW. Entertainment One (eOne) handles the international distribution for Paper Dolls outside Australia.

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So the series premiere has been moved forward by four days to coincide with the first day of summer non-ratings period.

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Looks a lot darker than I was expecting.

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Paramount+ Australian Original Series Paper Dolls. Streaming Now On Paramount+.

Paper Dolls - Emalia, Naomi Sequeira, Miah Madden, Courtney Clarke and Courtney Monsma
Paper Dolls - Emalia, Naomi Sequeira, Miah Madden, Courtney Clarke and Courtney Monsma1920×1280 328 KB

The wait is finally over.

The first three episodes of the highly-anticipated Paramount+ Australian original series, Paper Dolls , is available to stream now. Following the premiere, new episodes of the action-packed, eight-episode season, will drop weekly on Sundays.

Paper Dolls follows five aspiring singers who are thrust into the spotlight in pursuit of pop-stardom and fame.

Never far from the watchful eye of the cameras, fans and critics, HARLOW is born out of music reality television show Pop Rush, redefining pop culture in the process. However, the five young women must navigate the dark side of a glamourous industry determined to commodify them.

The superb ensemble cast includes Emma Booth (Glitch), Emalia (Australian Gangster), Naomi Sequeira (Evermoor Chronicles), Miah Madden (Redfern Now), Courtney Clarke (Last King of The Cross) and Courtney Monsma (Frozen the Musical), Thomas Cocquerel (The Gilded Age) and Ditch Davey (Spartacus).

Based on an original concept created by Belinda Chapple, Paper Dolls is created and written by Ainslie Clouston (Amazing Grace), with writers David Hannam (Darby and Joan), Marieke Hardy (Heartbreak High), Jenna Purcell, Sara Khan (Heartbreak High) and Thomas Wilson-White (Heartbreak High), directed by Tenika Smith (The Heights), Nina Buxton (Summer Love) and Erin White (Wellmania), produced by Jessica Carrera (Seriously Red) and Kerrie Mainwaring (Bali 2002), executive produced by Mark Fennessy (Last King of The Cross) and Belinda Chapple, and Sophia Mogford (Paramount+) with Alexander Pettaras and Jenna Purcell as associate producers.

Paper Dolls is a HELIUM Pictures production for Paramount +, with major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screen NSW. Entertainment One (eOne) handles the international distribution for Paper Dolls outside Australia.

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Paper Dolls will premiere in NZ on WBD Three’s streaming platform ThreeNow in 2024.

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