EVELYN SAUNDERS
Evelyn Saunders is a freelance writer, researcher and multiplatform strategist for film, television and literary properties.
PAST PROJECTS
Selected Writing & Research Credits
Evelyn has held positions as writer, storyliner and script editor for adult and children’s half-hour drama, education and infotainment shows. She has researched scenarios for crime, military, medical, environmental and political drama and documentary programmes.
CHILD PIE
2019
Writer
Can Hansel & Gretel’s descendants outwitch the witch in the jungles of Papua New Guinea?
A 90-minute family adventure feature script. (optioned)
FIND MY KILLER
2018
Co-Writer
A 17-year-old girl is murdered after a party. Digital technology will help determine the identity of her killer.
A millennial murder mystery in 10 x 10-minute parts.  Streaming on TVNZ OnDemand & 7Plus Australia. Winner, short form content, regional category, Asian Academy Creative Awards 2019.
YARRAMUNDI KIDS
2010
Writer / Script Editor
Yarramundi Kids is a feel-good 13 part series for all Australian children and their families. Commissioned by NITV it was created by Chris Burke. Special guests include: Jessica Mauboy, Deborah Mailman, Sean Choolburra, Jimmy Little, Casey Donovan, Deborah Cheetham, Chris Sarra and David Page.
HIGH FLYERS
1999
Storyliner
The adventures and triumphs of a group of children as they discover and develop their talents in an extraordinary children's circus.
Childrens drama series.
PACIFIC DRIVE
1995 - 1996
Associate Story Editor / Script Editor / Writer (series 1 & 2)
Between endless golden beaches and crystal blue harbours runs Pacific Drive. More a lifestyle than a street, Pacific Drive is Australia's best address but not all that happens takes place in the sun.
Serial.
HANDS ON: ALL MEDIA PRODUCING
2013
Co-Author
A compendium of tips, advice and experiences for producers and filmmakers and aims to provide some key answers to the most pressing question facing screen practitioners today: ‘How do I produce for multiple platforms?’
WIK VS QUEENSLAND
2017
Archival & Research
A powerful insight into the High Court's decision to grant native title co-existence to the Wik people of Cape York in 1996, and the dramatic political and cultural fallout that followed.
Documentary.
STRAIGHT FORWARD
2017
Researcher
A mother attempts to leave her criminal past behind by moving to the other side of the world.Â
Eight-part drama series in post-production.
IN A FLASH
2016
Script Assistant
The story of 6 students and their teacher who died in the 2008 Mangatepopo Gorge flash flood.
Telemovie.
PIKE RIVER
2016
Script Assistant
Docu-Drama about the Pike River Mine and the series of events that led to the death of 29 miners and contractors.
I AM INNOCENT
2015
Researcher
True stories of wrongful convictions. Documentary Series.
BOMBSHELL
2015
Script Assistant
The tragedy of the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior.
Telemovie.
KIWI
2014
Researcher
The story of New Zealand racing legend, Kiwi; the farm horse that ran from last to first to win the 1983 Melbourne Cup.
Telemovie.
BORDERLAND
2014
Archival Researcher
Six people follow in the footsteps of undocumented immigrants who died crossing the US / Mexico border.
Four-part documentary series for Al Jazeera America.
WHITE COLLAR BLUE
2002 - 2003
Researcher (series 1 & 2)
The detectives of the Kingsway Major Crime Squad fight to preserve their Pacific Paradise, while dealing with the personal and professional tensions affecting their work and lives.
Drama series.
WILDSIDE
1997
Researcher
Follow the men and women who work in a downtown police station and a renegade crisis centre in the tough red light district of Sydney, as they deal with the endless array of problems, crimes and triumphs that tumble onto the streets.
Drama series.
BLUE MURDER
1995
Researcher
Detective Sergeant Roger "The Dodger" Rogerson knew how to take care of dangerous and violent criminals -he either shot them or gave them the green light.
Two-part mini-series.
HI-5
1999 - 2000
Script Editor (series 1) / Writer (series 2)
Designed for a pre-school audience, five performers educate and entertain through music, movement and play.
TELSTRA - HELLO, THIS IS AUSTRALIA
2014
Archival Researcher
The story of how communication built Australia.
The documentary was fully-funded branded-content, through Telstra.
THE ISLAND HOUSE
2010
Researcher
Posie Graeme-Evans'Â novel about a young archaeologist who unearths ancient secrets, a tragic romance, and Viking treasure on a remote Scottish island.
THE CAPE
2023
Research & Archive
A chilling documentary about the mysterious tragedies befalling an isolated fishing community in Australia’s frontier-like Cape York Peninsula, as revealed in interviews with family, locals and officials. When a 10-year-old boy and his father vanish while checking their shark nets, it unravels a dynastic alliance between powerful fishing clans. A mother and son are accused of murder, while a love triangle gone horribly wrong raises questions of guilt and complicity that ripple out far beyond the alleged killers.