More Than This is a six-episode series following five diverse Year 12 students; Charlotte, Alex, Zali, Jamie and Leon and their teacher Mr E, who are thrown together in an English extension class together. In an authentically raw and true tone, More Than This explores the contemporary global issues surrounding teen life that is identity and belonging, gender identity and sexuality, relationships, family and academic pressures and taking risks.
About More Than This
The Making Of More Than This
Creator, writer, and lead actor Olivia Deeble first had the idea for More Than This after completing a pilot season in the US. After playing the same schoolgirl stereotype over and over in auditions, she was desperate to see a story with characters that truly represented a teen life like hers and her peers; a series that does not depict teenagers' lives as a Hollywood fantasy but rather portrays the raw emotions and challenges this generation are facing in an authentic and empathetic way.
More Than This was written by Olivia when she was 17 years old. It is a show that is always from the teenagers’ point of view and is not an adult exercise in objectifying youth. While developing the series, Olivia took the idea to her childhood best friend, non-binary student filmmaker and actor Luka Gracie. Luka loved the idea and gave the feedback that the series must have a non-binary character and other LGBTQI+ characters. Luka joined the series as co-creator of LGBTQI+ characters, helped develop these characters and also took on the role of Jamie.
As creators, Olivia and Luka wanted to make sure the series represents a diverse mix of real-life teen characters and featured talented, young teen actors, and NOT have much older actors playing the lives of high school students. This desire for authenticity and a belief that it was completely viable for a teenager to make a series about teenagers, has driven Olivia to create stories that are told in the most honest and engaging way possible. Olivia wanted the audience to be able to see themselves and their friends in the characters on screen.
Characters
Additional Characters
Episode Synopses
Credits
More Than This is a Baby Banksia production in association with Big Finish Creative, Shapeshifter Studios and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.