Little Diva Rising (2019)

The Plot

Ellie Angelos is a talented nine-year-old actress who initially plays a supporting role on the adult hit drama Keeping it Together.

Inexplicably, Ellie’s character becomes the most popular character on the show, and the scripts are rewritten to exploit her popularity. The newfound success begins to go to Ellie’s head.

Her forty-something mother, Maria, recognises the dangers early, and battles to keep Ellie grounded, and their small family together.

This is when a documentary team decide to make a documentary series about Ellie, charting the trappings of child stardom.

Alternating between straight narrative and documentary-like interviews, Little Diva Rising is a mockumentary satire about success, family, and the darker desires in life.

 

The Concept

Little Diva Rising is intended to be a six-part limited series, each episode approximately half-an-hour long.

We’ve shot the pilot, and are now pursuing avenues for funding to eventually film the rest.

 

The Cast and Crew

Little Diva Rising features a collection of Australia’s best talent on and off the screen, a group of talented individuals who have banded together to create something new and exciting that hasn’t been seen on Australian television before.

 

The Festival Circuit

Accolade Competition 2020

Winner
Award of Excellence
Television – Pilot Program
Les Zig, Maria Tevelis, Vicky Wanless, and Tony Nicholas.
Mockumentary
Les Zig, Maria Tevelis, Vicky Wanless, and Tony Nicholas.

Best Shorts Competition 2020

Winner
Award of Excellence
Television – Pilot Program
Les Zig (director)
Maria Tevelis (producer)
Vicky Wanless (producer)
Tony Nicholas (producer)
Lemato Films

Couch Film Festival 2020

Winner
Best Writer
20:01 to 30 Minutes
Les Zig.
Nominee
Best Cast
Maria Tevelis, Ellie Tevelis, Charlie Tevelis, Vicky Wanless, Cam Faull, Joel Angus King, Ben-Thomas Murphy, Andrea Solonge, Candice Leask, Steve Sammut, Seth Kannof, Ana Isabel, and Maryanne Niceforo.
Nominee
Best Director
Short Film-20:01-30 minutes
Les Zig.
Nominee
Best Long Short Film
30:01 to 60:00 Minutes
Les Zig, Maria Tevelis, Vicky Wanless, and Tony Nicholas.

Independent Shorts Awards International Film Festival 2020

Winner
Gold Award
Best Parody Short
Les Zig, Maria Tevelis, Vicky Wanless, and Tony Nicholas.
Best Child/Young Actress
Ellie Tevelis.

IndieX Film Festival 2020

Winner
Actor Award
Best Child/Young Actress
Ellie Tevelis.
Winner
May/June Award
Best Mockumentary/Docucomedy Short
Les Zig, Maria Tevelis, Vicky Wanless, and Tony Nicholas.

Oniros Film Awards 2020

Winner
April Monthly Edition
Best Series Pilot
Les Zig, Maria Tevelis, Vicky Wanless, and Tony Nicholas.
Best Indie Short
Les Zig, Maria Tevelis, Vicky Wanless, and Tony Nicholas.
Best Mockumentary
Les Zig, Maria Tevelis, Vicky Wanless, and Tony Nicholas.
Best Child Actor
Ellie Tevelis.
Best 1st Time Director
Les Zig.
Best Ensemble
Ellie Tevelis, Maria Tevelis, Cam Faull, Steve Sammut, Vicky Wanless, Ben-Thomas Murphy, Joel Angus King, Seth Kannof, Ana Isabel, Candice Leask, Andrea Solonge, Charlie Tevelis, and Maryanne Niceforo.

Rome International Movie Awards 2020

Winner
July Award
Best Parody
Les Zig, Maria Tevelis, Vicky Wanless, and Tony Nicholas.
Best TV/Web Series
Les Zig, Maria Tevelis, Vicky Wanless, and Tony Nicholas.
Best Young Actress
Ellie Tevelis

Web Series Festival Global 2020

Nominee
Web Series Festival Global
Festival Award