McDonald’s Gets Grilled is a groundbreaking television documentary which targets one of the world’s most famous, but equally controversial companies.
But not only has McDonald’s Australia taken the unprecedented step of agreeing to participate, it has also allowed independent production company, WTFN, unfettered access to all areas.
Cameras followed six average Australians during an intensive seven days of amateur investigating. They were up at dawn seeing first-hand how lettuce, potatoes and tomatoes destined for McDonald’s are grown. Farmers faced probing questions about pesticides and food miles.
At the lettuce processing plant chlorine proved to be an issue, and at the dairy plant, sugar in the shakes. The teams inspected beef and poultry farms where hormones in stock feeds were the main concerns. They saw beef being made into burgers, and chicken meat into nuggets, and demanded to know about preservatives and phosphates.
At the McDonald’s stores the teams saw the finished products being assembled with the company’s trademark military precision. There they wanted to know about staff exploitation, cleanliness, food holding periods, and for the biggest skeptics among them, how the food tastes.
Ultimately as we all follow this intriguing journey it will be more than a program about fast food and McDonalds. It’s a social experiment that tests whether people, faced with overwhelming evidence challenging their long-held prejudices, can ever accept the truth.
Broadcast 2 April 2012.
On average, people spend a third of their lives at work. Yet many are unhappy with the job they’re in.
In this series, psychologist Sabina Read is on a mission to take brave volunteers on a life changing journey, where each must step out of their comfort zone and road test their dream job.
You’ll meet a senior executive who wants to throw it all in for a job in doggy daycare, a devoted single mother with three sons who dreams of being a patisserie chef and a sales manager who wants to make a difference as a nurse.
Sixteen candidates of all ages and from all walks of life embark on an emotional journey, as they confront their own fears and search for genuine fulfilment.
Dream Job is produced by WTFN, is inspired by an original Clemenger BBDO campaign and supported under commercial arrangement by SEEK. In Australia, the series airs on the Nine Network and available for international distribution through Fred Media.
First broadcast 27 January 2018.
An extraordinary team of real-life medical heroes fight to save desperate patients suffering life-threatening injuries, in one of Australia’s biggest and busiest emergency hospitals, The Royal Melbourne.
From victims of vicious assaults to car crash survivors, these dedicated doctors and nurses work tirelessly to help those in need of urgent care.
This series offers unprecedented behind-the-scenes access, with roving and fixed-rig cameras in the trauma bays, examination rooms and triage. From the moment they’re rushed into the hospital, each step of a patient’s dramatic journey is captured. As events unfold, personal interviews with doctors and nurses tell the gripping story of each compelling case. They reveal the challenging procedures, critical decision-making, and emotional toll it all takes.
The patients and their families open up about the harrowing and often heartbreaking circumstances that led them to the emergency department. All are cared for by the compassionate and highly skilled medical staff, who make a real difference to people’s lives, every day.
First broadcast 8 July 2019.
This Australian factual series features exclusive behind-the-scenes access to one of the planet’s largest and oldest zoos.
Across three diverse Zoos Victoria sites, 800 dedicated staff look after more than 5000 extraordinary animals – from Melbourne Zoo in the heart of the city, to Werribee Open Range Zoo’s magnificent savannah, and the stunning bushland setting of Healesville Sanctuary.
The series follows a passionate group of keepers and veterinarians as they care for an amazing menagerie of creatures. Using innovative training methods, state-of-the-art facilities and the latest medical technology, they show what it takes to run a busy modern zoo at the forefront of fighting wildlife extinction.
Mega Zoo reveals the daily rollercoaster of drama, emotion and humour with heart-warming and inspirational stories.
First broadcast 4 March 2021.
Everyday families are trapped in a clutter nightmare they’re desperate to escape.
Decluttering guru Peter Walsh frees them from the physical and emotional baggage that has overwhelmed their homes and strained relationships.
Renovation queen Cherie Barber takes on ambitious two-day renovations, creating spectacular spaces that leave the homeowners awestruck.
While treasure hunter Angie Kent uncovers hidden gems and finds inspiring new ways to bring cherished items back to life.
The compassionate Space Invaders team support families to lighten their homes and hearts, turning rooms full of mess into beautiful spaces, while giving practical tips to declutter and renovate, creating organised and harmonious lives.
First broadcast 27 February 2021.
Teen Mom Australia follows the lives of young mothers navigating the trials and tribulations of the first years of motherhood.
It’s a rollercoaster of emotions as the young mums desperately try to manage the challenges of everyday adolescent life with the huge responsibilities that come with being a new parent. From relationship breakups, family fights, post-baby body issues, financial woes and shock surprises; this access all areas documentary series explores a myriad of issues faced by our three Aussie mums.
Produced by WTFN and broadcast by MTV, Teen Mom Australia is based on the highly successful American reality television series, Teen Mom.
First screened 7 July 2019.
A little dog with a big heart . . . and a girl’s giant imagination.
Get ready for Larry the Wonderpup, one super cute pooch who will win kids’ hearts with his irresistible tales and fantastic antics.
Rescued from the streets, little Larry is ‘living large’ with his new family. Every day, Larry and his eight-year-old owner Sasha embark on adventures exploring the wonders of the real world and the realms of make-believe.
With the use of ‘dog-cam’ we see life from Larry’s point of view, filled with excitement and curiosity. This in turn sees Sasha’s creativity take over, as the story transitions from live action to animation. In Sasha’s imagination, Larry can soar like a superhero, become a spy or battle aliens.
The mixture of live action and 2D animation in this charming show encourages everyone to face their challenges. After all, even if you’re small, you can still reach for the stars.
2 October 2018.
This gripping factual series goes on the frontline with Australia’s ambulance crews as they fight to save lives.
From heart-stopping drama to heart-warming moments, the dedicated paramedics win the admiration of their patients through bravery, compassion and humour.
Cameras across Melbourne and Adelaide capture unprecedented insights into the daily lives of these emergency service heroes.
First broadcast 4 October 2018.
Jade Hameister is an unassuming Australian teenager on a bold quest to become the youngest person in history to conquer the world’s three largest ice caps.
Battling bitter cold, tears, exhaustion, self-doubt and life-threatening dangers she sets out to ski to the north and south poles and across Greenland, hoping to inspire other young girls to follow their dreams.
During her ambitious three-year mission Jade develops a deep love for the fragile polar environments threatened by climate change, and an intense desire to convince her generation of the urgent need to tackle global warming.
Accompanied by her Mount-Everest-conquering father and mentored by one of the world’s most experienced polar guides, Jade discovers the true value of life through her suffering and triumphs in this remarkable coming-of-age story.
First broadcast 14 October 2018.
Presented by actor and wine maker Sam Neill, this one-hour documentary recounts the early history of wine-making in Australia and how the industry took the world by storm in a relatively short time.
Featuring interviews with notable wine writers, critics, reviewers, collectors, investors and winemakers from around the globe, the program unravels the secrets behind the success story that has transformed a maligned industry into Australia becoming the fifth-largest wine exporting nation on earth.
The program dissects the culture of innovation, experimentation and derring-do that underpins the Australian wine industry as well as the clever, often left-of-centre, marketing bravado that eventually turned around international attitudes towards wines produced in the Antipodes.
As Sam Neill probes this unlikely reversal of fortunes we gain an insight into the Australian character and find out how, after working hard to become a modern-day market leader in an ancient industry, Australian winemakers are planning even greater overseas conquests.
Viewers will gain an insight into the fascinating story of Australia’s most famous wine, Penfolds Grange, which survived a turbulent birth to become one of the great wines of the world.
First screened 18 October 2018.
