Essential Media and Entertainment has announced the appointment of Simonne Overend as Vice President of Drama Development in their Los Angeles office.

Essential, executive producers of Rake, the Sony pilot for Fox (with Fedora Ent) and the upcoming Disney feature, Saving Mr Banks (with Ruby Films) starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson have an extensive development slate of quality drama and documentaries in the works.

Overend will be working very closely with Essential CEO Chris Hilton and Head of Drama Ian Collie to establish a full drama slate for the US market.

Prior to joining Essential, Overend held roles in film and television development, production and distribution in Australia, Singapore and Europe. She has worked for a range of companies, including RGM Artist Group, ABC, BBC4, Disney, Roadshow, Film Victoria and United International Pictures.

Essential also produced a series of telemovies, Jack Irish, starring Guy Pearce. They are currently in production on The Broken Shore for ABC Australia, based on Peter Temple’s best-selling novel.

They are part of the Essential Media Group of companies, which also involves Essential 11 Television, currently producing Panic Button for truTV.

About Essential Media and Entertainment

Essential Media and Entertainment is one of Australia’s leading independent production companies with a proven track record in high quality screen and digital content for both local and international audiences.   Based in Sydney, with offices in Los Angeles and Toronto, Essential is currently producing feature films, television drama, lifestyle, documentary and animation.