Thomas Duncan-Watt
{{short description|Australian Screenwriter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Thomas Duncan-Watt
| honorific-suffix =
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| birth_name =
| birth_place = Sydney, Australia
| death_date =
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| nationality = Australian
| occupation = Screenwriter, playwright
| years active = 2012−present
| known_for = Dennis & Gnasher
Pirate Express
Winston Steinburger & Sir Dudley Ding-Dong
Beat Bugs
Alien TV
Space Nova
Home and Away
| spouse =
| children =
| awards = Australian Screenwriters Guild Award
John Hinde Award for Excellence in Science Fiction Writing
| website = {{URL|www.thomasduncanwatt.com}}
| footnotes =
}}
Thomas Duncan-Watt is an Australian screenwriter and playwright.{{Cite web|title=Thomas Duncan-Watt - The Screen Guide|url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/p/Thomas-Duncan-Watt/40296/,%20https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/p/Thomas-Duncan-Watt/40296/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Screen Australia}} He has won three AWGIE Awards{{Cite web|date=2020-12-08|title=AWGIE wins for 'Hearts and Bones', 'Penguin Bloom', 'The Hunting', 'Total Control'|url=https://www.if.com.au/awgie-wins-for-hearts-and-bones-penguin-bloom-the-hunting-total-control/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=IF Magazine|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|last=Groves|first=Don|date=2019-07-12|title=Nominees for the 52nd annual AWGIE Awards announced|url=https://if.com.au/nominees-for-52nd-annual-awgie-awards-announced/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=IF Magazine|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|last=Maddox|first=Garry|date=2017-08-25|title=Hacksaw Ridge and Lion win but Leah Purcell's The Drover's Wife dominates Awgies|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/theatre/hacksaw-ridge-and-lion-win-but-leah-purcells-the-drovers-wife-dominates-awgies-20170825-gy46yn.html|access-date=2021-06-12|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}} for his screenplays from five nominations.{{Cite web|title=Mustangs FC, Beat Bugs Writers Win 2019 AWGIE Awards|url=https://actf.com.au/news/16812|access-date=2021-06-12|website=The Australian Children's Television Foundation|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Little J and Big Cuz, Mustangs FC, Space Nova Writers Receive AWGIE Awards|url=https://actf.com.au/news/18039|access-date=2021-06-12|website=The Australian Children's Television Foundation|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=2019 AWGIE Children's Nominees Announced|url=https://actf.com.au/news/16695|access-date=2021-06-12|website=The Australian Children's Television Foundation|language=en}} His work on UK series Dennis & Gnasher earned the series its first BAFTA nomination.{{Cite web|title=Aussie Duo Wins 2016 Pitch This! Competition with 'Owl and Cloud'|url=https://www.awn.com/news/aussie-duo-wins-2016-pitch-competition-owl-and-cloud|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Animation World Network|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2018-10-22|title=Beano: Reinventing the iconic British brand|url=https://www.bafta.org/whats-on/beano-reinventing-the-iconic-british-brand|access-date=2021-06-12|website=www.bafta.org|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Thomas Duncan-Watt - ABOUT|url=https://www.thomasduncanwatt.com/about.html|access-date=2021-06-12|website=www.thomasduncanwatt.com}} In 2017, he was one of the mentors at the Arts/Screen Hackathon, along with Sarah Houbolt and others, which was organized by Australia Council for the Arts.{{Cite web|title=Arts/Screen Hackathon {{!}} Australia Council|url=https://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/programs-and-resources/arts-screen-hackathon/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=www.australiacouncil.gov.au}} In 2021, he won the John Hinde Award for Excellence in Science Fiction Writing for his work on the series Space Nova.{{Cite web |last=Slatter |first=Sean |date=2022-05-16 |title=Thomas Duncan-Watt wins 2021 John Hinde Award for 'Space Nova' |url=https://if.com.au/thomas-duncan-watt-wins-2021-john-hinde-award-for-space-nova/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=IF Magazine |language=en-AU}} In 2022 his original series The Eerie Chapters of Chhaya was announced as the winner of the Kindred co-production initiative between the ABC and CBC networks.{{Cite web |last=Slatter |first=Sean |date=2022-11-15 |title=ABC and Canada's CBC renew agreement, announce Kindred projects |url=https://if.com.au/abc-and-canadas-cbc-renew-agreement-announce-kindred-projects/ |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=IF Magazine |language=en-AU}}
Career
= TV writing =
Duncan-Watt began his career as a writer on Australian comedy series Good News Week.{{Cite web|title=NSW Write Night: TV Comedy Panel|url=https://awg.com.au/events/nsw-write-night-tv-comedy-panel|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Australian Writers' Guild}} His series credits include Dennis & Gnasher, Pirate Express, Winston Steinburger & Sir Dudley Ding-Dong,{{Cite web|title=Winston Steinburger & Sir Dudley Ding Dong (2016) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia|url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/winston-steinburger---sir-dudley-ding-dong-2016/32596/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=www.screenaustralia.gov.au}} Beat Bugs, Alien TV. In 2018, Duncan-Watt was brought on as one of the writers on sci-fi action series Space Nova,{{Cite web|title=Space Nova (2021) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia|url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/space-nova-2021/37600/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=www.screenaustralia.gov.au}} for which he also wrote the pilot.{{Cite web|title=Space Nova's Journey to Screen|url=https://blog-actf.com.au/space-novas-journey-to-screen/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=ACTF Blog|language=en-US}} The series was subsequently nominated for two AWGIE Awards, with Duncan-Watt winning the award for his episode Ghost Station. In 2019, Duncan-Watt, and collaborator, Suren Perera won Best in Show{{Cite web|title=ESCAPE FROM PIRATE ASYLUM. Co Creators Suren Perera and Thomas Duncan-Watt for Pop Family Entertainment.A Image|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/ESCAPE-FROM-PIRATE-ASYLUM.-Co-Creators-Suren-Perera-and-Thomas-Duncan-Watt-for-Pop-Family-Entertainment.A-Image.jpg|access-date=2021-06-12|website=FilmInk|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|title=Escape From Pirate Asylum named Best In Show at 2019 Asian Animation Summit {{!}} CLPR|url=http://clpr.com.au/news/escape-from-pirate-asylum-named-best-in-show-at-2019-asian-animation-summit|access-date=2021-06-12|website=clpr.com.au}} at the Asian Animation Summit in Seoul for their 'original concept', Escape from Pirate Asylum.{{Cite web|title=ESCAPE FROM PIRATE ASYLUM NAMED BEST IN SHOW AT ASIAN ANIMATION SUMMIT 2019|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/public-notice/escape-pirate-asylum-named-best-show-asian-animation-summit-2019/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=FilmInk|language=en-AU}}{{Cite web|last=Knox|first=David|title=Aussies recognised at Asian Animation Summit {{!}} TV Tonight|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/11/aussies-recognised-at-asian-animation-summit.html/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Tvtonight|date=26 November 2019 |language=en-AU}} Duncan-Watt and Perera were also the first international winners of the Ottawa Animation Festival’s ‘Pitch THIS’ competition, for their original series, Owl & Cloud.{{Cite web|title=Aussie Duo Wins 2016 Pitch This! Competition with 'Owl and Cloud'|url=https://www.awn.com/news/aussie-duo-wins-2016-pitch-competition-owl-and-cloud|access-date=2021-06-12|website=Animation World Network|language=en}}{{Cite web|title="Owl and Cloud" wins "Pitch This!" at OIAF 2016|url=https://www.canadiananimationblog.com/2016/10/owl-and-cloud-wins-pitch-this-at-oiaf.html|access-date=2021-06-12|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=OIAF opens submissions for Pitch THIS! competition|url=https://kidscreen.com/2017/08/22/oiaf-opens-submissions-for-pitch-this-competition/|access-date=2021-06-12}}
= Plays =
Duncan-Watt is the co-creator of two comedy plays, Thank You For Being a Friend{{Cite news|last=Webster|first=Andy|date=2014-01-23|title=The Golden Girls, in a Shade of Pink|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/theater/the-golden-girls-in-a-shade-of-pink.html|access-date=2021-06-12|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|title=Thank You for being a Friend {{!}} The American Sitcom: Half an Hour Well Spent|url=https://sites.psu.edu/kfritchmanpassionblog/2013/02/20/thank-you-for-being-a-friend/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=sites.psu.edu}} and That Golden Girls Show: A Puppet Parody,{{Cite web|title=Sex and the Senior Citizens|url=https://www.northernexpress.com/news/feature/sex-and-the-senior-citizens/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=www.northernexpress.com}}{{Cite web|last=Makin|first=Bob|title=Avenel PAC presents puppet parody of 'Golden Girls' TV show|url=https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/things-to-do/2019/10/02/avenel-pac-presents-puppet-parody-golden-girls-tv-show/3824200002/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=MyCentralJersey.com|language=en-US}} both of which use Muppets-style puppets to parody the 1980s television series The Golden Girls.{{Cite web|title=That Golden Girls Show! a puppet parody|url=https://uispac.com/events/that-golden-girls-show-a-puppet-parody|access-date=2021-06-12|website=uispac.com|language=en}} Thank You For Being a Friend toured Canada, where it won ‘Best Independent Theatre Production’ at the Broadway World Awards.{{Cite web|last=Henry|first=Alan|title=Winners Announced For The 2017 BroadwayWorld Toronto Awards; COME FROM AWAY Wins Best Musical!|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/toronto/article/Winners-Announced-For-The-2017-BroadwayWorld-Toronto-Awards-COME-FROM-AWAY-Wins-Best-Musical-20180105|access-date=2021-06-07|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}} That Golden Girls Show: A Puppet Parody debuted in 2016 Off-Broadway. The show commenced a US tour in 2019.{{Cite web|title=StackPath|url=https://www.citybeat.com/arts-culture/theater/blog/21084593/a-golden-girls-puppet-show-is-coming-to-the-aronoff-center-this-fall|access-date=2021-06-12|website=www.citybeat.com}}{{Cite web|last=Runnells|first=Charles|title='The Golden Girls' are back — as puppets! Parody recreates TV sitcom in Bonita Springs|url=https://www.news-press.com/story/entertainment/2020/01/22/golden-girls-puppet-parody-comes-centers-arts-bonita-springs/4528597002/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=The News-Press|language=en-US}}
Awards and accolades
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Award !By !For !Nomination /Won |
| 2014
|The British Academy of Film and Television Arts |{{Nominated}} |
| 2015
|{{Nominated}} |
| 2017
|AWGIE Award for Best Screenplay |Australian Writers' Guild |Winston Steinburger & Sir Dudley Ding-Dong |{{Nominated}} |
| 2017
|AWGIE Award for Best Screenplay, C- Classification |Australian Writers' Guild |{{Won}} |
| 2018
|The British Academy of Film and Television Arts |{{Nominated}} |
| 2019
|AWGIE Award for Best Screenplay, Animation |Australian Writers' Guild |{{Won}} |
| 2020
|AWGIE Award for Best Screenplay, Animation |Australian Writers' Guild |{{Won}} |
| 2021
|John Hinde Award for Excellence in Science Fiction Writing |Australian Writers' Guild |Space Nova (s1, e11, "Ghost Station"){{cite web | last=Knox | first=David | title=Space Nova wins 2021 John Hinde Award for Excellence | website=TV Tonight | date=17 May 2022 | url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/05/space-nova-wins-2021-john-hinde-award-for-excellence.html | access-date=23 December 2023}} |{{Won}} |
Citations
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|5312291|Thomas Duncan-Watt}}
- [https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/bio/Thomas-Duncan-Watt/ Thomas Duncan-Watt] at BroadwayWorld
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan-Watt, Thomas}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Australian television writers
Category:Australian comedy writers