Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo
| Company type | Television miniseries |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television, Entertainment |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television drama |
| Parent | Southern Star Entertainment |
Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo is a 2011 Australian television miniseries presented in two parts, which portrays the inception of Cleo magazine and its creator, Ita Buttrose. The production features Asher Keddie in the role of Buttrose and Rob Carlton as Kerry Packer.
A follow-up miniseries titled Paper Giants: Magazine Wars was broadcast on ABC1 in June 2013, with performances by Rachel Griffiths, Mandy McElhinney, Lucy Holmes, and Alexander England portraying a young James Packer.
Plot
The narrative follows Buttrose’s establishment of the fashion publication Cleo, emphasizing the media environment and fashion scene during that period.
Cast
- Asher Keddie as Ita Buttrose
- Rob Carlton as Kerry Packer
- Matt Day as Daniel Ritchie
- Jessica Tovey as Leslie Carpenter
- Ian Meadows as Andrew Cowell
- Maeve Dermody as Rachel Carr
- Annie Maynard as Annie Woodham
- Tony Barry as Sir Frank Packer
- Cheree Cassidy as Ivana Holbrook
- Octavia Barron-Martin as Pat Nigra
- Olivia Pigeot as Rosina O’Casey
- Charlton Hill as Alan Nye
- Simon Lyndon as Jack Thompson
- Nathan Page as Alasdair 'Mac' MacDonald, husband of Buttrose
- Sahara Jones as Kate, daughter of Buttrose
Reception
The series was met with positive critical acclaim; The Sydney Morning Herald lauded it for steering clear of conventional biopic stereotypes while delivering genuine performances. TV Tonight rated it four out of five stars, highlighting Keddie’s convincing depiction of Buttrose’s perseverance within a predominantly male publishing world.
Legal action was initiated by Buttrose’s ex-spouse, Alasdair Macdonald, due to his portrayal in the series. The ABC resolved the matter through an out-of-court settlement in April 2012, accompanied by an apology for the misrepresentation.
Awards and nominations
| Award | Category | Nominee/Subject | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA Award | Best Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series | Template:Nom | |
| Best Direction in Television | Daina Reid | Template:Nom | |
| Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama | Rob Carlton | Template:Nom | |
| Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama | Asher Keddie | Template:Nom | |
| Switched on Audience Choice Award – Best Performance in a Television Drama | Asher Keddie | Template:Won | |
| Switched on Audience Choice Award – Best Television Program | Template:Nom | ||
| Logie Award | Most Outstanding Drama Series | Template:Nom | |
| Most Outstanding Actor in a Series | Rob Carlton | Template:Won | |
| Most Outstanding Actress in a Series | Asher Keddie | Template:Nom | |
| Most Popular Actress | Asher Keddie | Template:Won |
Christopher Lee received the 2011 Queensland Premier's Literary Award recognizing his screenplay.
Ratings
The miniseries debuted with an audience exceeding 1.2 million viewers nationwide, securing the fifth position for the evening and ranking eighth throughout the week. The second installment attracted 1.346 million viewers across Australia's five primary television markets, making it the week's second most-viewed show and the leading program for that night.
Production
John Edwards (known for Love My Way and Rush) and Karen Radzyner produced the miniseries under Southern Star Entertainment. The project was created in collaboration with Screen NSW, Screen Australia, and ABC TV. Carole Sklan, ABC TV's head of fiction, took on the role of executive producer, while Christopher Lee authored the screenplay.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming
- Historical television series
- Television shows set in New South Wales
- Australian English-language television shows
- 2010s Australian television miniseries
- 2011 Australian television series debuts
- 2011 Australian television series endings
- Television series set in the 1970s