It all begins with an idea, a touch of bravery and sometimes, a post-apocalyptic Panda.

Wastelander Panda was one of the first major Production projects for Flinders Bachelor of Creative Arts (Hons.) alumni Producer Kirsty Stark of Epic Films. With fellow Flinders student, director Victoria Cocks and other Flinders classmates, Victoria’s idea for a web series came to life, in the form of a 3-minute internet only prologue in 2012. Seen more than 100,000 times in 150 countries in less than three days, the team needed to expand on this success.

With the project boosted by funding from the South Australian Film Corporation and supported by future viewers in one of the most successful Australian crowdfunding campaigns of its time, raising more than $25,000, the team were able to complete two subsequent series. Their post-apocalyptic genre fantasy filmed and released in 2012-14 quickly gained industry attention.

Working in a rapidly changing entertainment industry Kirsty embraced the risk of being in a difficult sector by backing herself as a producer, collaborating with industry peers, and using her growing list of awards and recognition to develop a larger slate of projects. “It’s a tough industry but I love the responsibility of making it all work”, she said. “The challenge is finding the right strategy for each project and taking calculated risks”.

Without taking that initial leap into the unknown, Kirsty’s latest project, a six part online comedy called Goober, would never have got off the ground. Funded through a joint SAFC / ABC iview originals initiative and directed by Flinders graduates Brendon Skinner and Simon Williams, Goober follows the trials and tribulations of an Uber driver as he tries to make sense of life through his autism and the everyday oddness of the world.

Created entirely in South Australia, Goober shows what’s possible when you love what you do, “I love working in South Australia, it’s a truly collaborative place that is extremely supportive”, she said. Kirsty is excited by the creative process, “I like the opportunity to influence the story before production begins and I’ll often be working with other Flinders graduates which is fantastic”.

“Being a Producer means you’re never bored”.

It is taking the leap into the unknown that has just won Goober the 2017 Melbourne Webfest award for Best Australian Comedy.

Harnessing the disruption of the entertainment market and seizing opportunities through new crowd sourcing platforms and partnerships in uncertain times for funding has enabled Kirsty to realise her unique vision and to bring vitality and opportunity to the SA film industry.