See-Saw & Samantha Strauss’s Picking Scabs prodco hires Screen Australia head of production

Slow Horses

Slow Horses producer See-Saw Films and Samantha Strauss’s joint venture prodco, Picking Scabs, has expanded its senior staff with the addition of a Screen Australia exec.

Louise Gough becomes executive producer at Australia-based Picking Scabs, which was launched in 2020 by Slow Horses producer See-Saw and The End writer-producer Strauss.

Gough will report to Strauss and See-Saw’s head of film & TV in Oz Liz Watts, to work across the JV’s slate.

Louise Gough

She was most recently head of development at Screen Australia and has developed projects across Australia, New Zealand, the US and Europe. Prior to Screen Australia, she held roles as head of development at Arenamedia and was editorial manager at ABC TV Drama.

Gough has also freelanced with companies including Matchbox, Roadshow, Felix Media, Easy Tiger, Fremantle, Hoodlum and Blackfella Films.

Her arrival follows the hires of executive producers Moss Barclay, Ann Phillips and Julian Stevens, who joined in 2022, working out of the UK office.

Strauss said: “Louise Gough’s story instincts are second to none. After every script session I feel as if my head has been opened and my life changed.”

Watts added: “Louise is exceptionally talented at working with writers and shepherding scripts through development right through into production. She has had a long and distinguished career and most recently highly regarded in her role as Head of Development at Screen Australia.”

See-Saw has also promoted Maria Nicholson, previously development coordinator, to become development producer. She was part of the development team responsible for originating Heartstopper and Slow Horses.