The Dreamhouse
In this refreshing 6 part series narrated by Adam Hills, 3 young adults with intellectual disabilities fly the nest and move into a new home for 10 weeks. Experiencing life away from parents and learning to live more independently is a dream for all of them. And if it works out, they can stay on and call The Dreamhouse home.
Justin and Sarah have Down syndrome. While Justin is confident and cocky and keen to assert his role as house alpha male, Sarah, is a practising Christian, and more docile and conservative. Kirk, the youngest, is very loud and energetic and hopes to make new friends but his autism means that social relationships can be challenging.
Over 10 weeks these three very different people go on a huge learning curve as they explore how to manage a house and how to live with each other. They party, fight, flirt, and above all grow exponentially in the process, and reveal a vibrant new world that is theirs alone.
The Dreamhouse is life changing for Justin, Sarah and Kirk, and also for their parents who watch their children grow in self confidence and flourish in the most unexpected ways that will affect their lives profoundly. Give people the opportunity and watch them flower.
Bursting with humour, conflict and tenderness. The Dreamhouse provides a bold insight into a world rarely seen before on television.
Episode One: On The Move
3 young adults fly the nest and move into a new home for 10 weeks. Experiencing life away from parents and learning to live more independently is a dream for all of them. And if it works out, they'll be able to stay on and call The Dreamhouse home.
Episode Two: Settling In
Relishing this new found freedom away from parents, Kirk, Justin and Sarah continue to spread their wings and taste a more independent way of living. But for one house mate the road to independence is not always easy.
Episode Three: Cracks in the Curtain
Sarah, Kirk and Justin have been living together for 3 weeks and things are going well. It’s time to celebrate with a housewarming party.
But cracks soon appear. With the planning underway, personal preferences differ. Justin gets upset because Sarah doesn’t like his friends or the thought of what might go on at the party.
Episode Four: The Honeymoon is Over
Justin has invited his family over for a BBQ for the first time. He wants to impress and is clearly stressed, unlike his housemates, who he thinks are shirking their responsibilities.
Episode Five: Dating Mode
Sarah’s 24th birthday is coming up. It’s her turn for a party and she's calling all the shots, enlisting the help of her housemates.
Sophie, Sarah’s fashionista friend decides that Sarah’s wardrobe needs an overhaul and takes her 'op' shopping.
Episode Six: The Wrap
With 2 weeks to go in The Dreamhouse, decisions need to be made about the future. Sarah, Justin & Kirk all want to stay and now it’s up to the parents to work out the mechanics.
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reviews
"We welcome the return of the impeccable Who Do You Think You Are?"
"A documentary that confronts, questions and raises many issues:medical ethics,personal choice and funding priorities - but none more so than the rights of the disabled, and of a mother and father."
"… is full of emotion,heartache,frustration and determination."
"… essentially a story of courage"
‘The filmmaker creates a perceptive, multilayered understanding of the young refugees’ experiences’
‘Delightful’
‘It is hard to remain dry-eyed as the schools multicultural soccer team sings Advance Australia Fair in the bus home from a match.'
"... already acknowledged as the world's most exciting visual and physical theatre company...the reason to go and see Stalker is the way they marry jaw dropping spectacle with real purpose."
"This is engaging and entertaining telly that also has something important to say"
"Set in WA, this is one reality series we all should watch."
"Setting this documentary apart…is the effort it makes to humanise the poachers and explain the circumstances which compels them to hunt."
"A dose of Reality TV without the hype"
"All three groups of fishermen feature in Lobster Tales, an ABC documentary that will change the way you look at these delicious crustaceans forever."
“The great achievement of Lobster Tales, a delightfully oddball WA-made documentary on the lucrative local crayfish industry ... strikes such a lovely balance between the lobsters and fishermen that it’s more like a well-wrought tragi-comedy than a traditional nature doco"
“Even for non-lobster-lovers, this quirky feature provides plenty of interest ... the highlight is the underwater photography by Leighton de Barros which is up-close and stunning."
"shows ordinary people doing extraordinary things ... the program usues the magic of TV to bring an important WA story to life"
“Though it’s not easy to watch a widow finally open up about her murdered husband (nor is it comfortable watching local Iraqis genuinely praise Saddam Hussein), Salam Father is yet another reason why the terms "SBS" and "quality documentary" fit like a hand in glove."
“A sense of reconciliation emerges in the program and there's considerable poignancy as elements of a family torn apart by war, politics and circumstance are reunited…"
“This is the compelling story of a family torn apart by war, envy, corruption and greed and how a quest for answers also helped heal old wounds. It might also help people look beyond the descriptions "refugee" and "asylum seeker" to see the person and their story…A powerful piece of television, made more authentic by Ziusudras' first-hand narration of this tale.”
"This documentary never becomes bogged down in legalese and is a compelling tale of one family's devotion to their son"
"A remarkable story and a clever and affecting piece of storytelling"
"An emotional journey...unflinchingly captured on camera"
Koori queens proudly get out and about in this high-spirited and affirming documentary."
"We get a rare glimpse into the world of indigenous gay men in tonight's Sissy ... an energetic, inventive and occasionally touching Western Australian-made documentary that looks at the lives of three colourful drag queens."
"Considering the double whammy served up by homophobia and racism, Sissy insists on having a good time while handling thought-provoking material."
[Shaun Micallef’s] quest to discover if there is ‘‘greater purpose than being a semi-professional Australian TV personality’’ makes for a funny and watchable journey.
"It's a compelling story and you made a compelling film out of it. Just terrific."
"A fascinating insight into the world of the night"
“Surprising, raunchy, hilarious, crazy! Expect the unexpected!”
"Puppetry most certainly is an art from and some of the performances here will take your breath away"
“I have been directly or indirectly involved in WDYTYA productions in the U.S., Canada and the U.K …I must say that this one [Andrew Denton's episode] of the very best I have seen”
"...it's the most engaging detective series in years"
"... surprising, extraordinary and often moving"
"A compelling, lovely adaption of an excellent British format"
"One of the reliable pleasures of this series is just how great it looks. The production values are always first-class and wherever we are in Australia or the world, you can't quibble with the scenery. Who Do You Think You Are? is about much more than looking pretty, though, blending history and biography to create a package that's accessible, entertaining and educational. (FOUR STARS)"
“It's the perfect mix of history and celebrity..."
"... this program has about it a quiet authenticity that allows the subject’s story to unfold of its own accord."
"The series is more than a peek into the backgrounds of the famous; it also chronicles the social and cultural evolution of our national identities via these celeb family histories. 4/5 stars"
"Each episode is essentially a feature documentary, well-researched and produced, and presented usually with a humorous or deeply emotional touch... This show is seriously habit-forming"
This series is fascinating and so well done...
(pick of the week)
"... explores the family histories of its subjects with class and humour. Verdict: A Hit."