An Inspirational Story
Catch Up Kids all began with a chance encounter. At a conference in Newcastle we met Storm McGrath, then CEO of Kip McGrath Education, which his father founded nearly 50 years ago. Over breakfast in Wickham, we quickly hit it off — and a simple conversation sparked the idea for a documentary about kids who fall through the cracks of the education system.
These are the Catch Up Kids: students whose potential is often overlooked by a system built for another era. This series and feature aim to tell their extraordinary personal stories, weaving together expert voices, celebrity involvement, and even 2D animation to dramatize the challenges and triumphs of real young people.
Challenge
Education documentaries aren't easy to commission. While the need for stories like Catch Up Kids is pressing, the market is risk-averse and dominated by other genres. Our challenge was to build enough proof of concept to show the power of these stories — while navigating shifting commissioning trends that weren't leaning toward this type of project.
Our Approach
We started by building trust with Kip McGrath Education, who generously funded our first production effort. With their backing, we focused on Amy's story: a deeply personal journey that anchored our pilot.
We produced a 36-minute pilot episode, shot and cut as a proof of concept for a potential docu-series. Along the way, we brought in remarkable experts like David Gillespie and Dr. Anna Lembke, as well as animated dramatizations to visualize moments no camera could capture.
To give the project visibility, we partnered with Event Cinemas for a Sydney launch, generating both community support and industry attention.
Results
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Delivered a 36-minute pilot episode, screened at Event Cinemas.
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Secured the support of Kip McGrath Education and prominent experts.
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Created a trailer used to attract additional partners and resources.
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Generated strong interest, though feedback from the market indicated that broadcasters weren't commissioning docu-series in this space right now.
That feedback became a turning point. Instead of shelving the work, we pivoted: re-envisioning Catch Up Kids as a 75-minute feature documentary.
Why This Matters
This project sits right at the heart of our purpose at Resonant Blue: telling meaningful stories that make a difference.
For us, Catch Up Kids isn't just another production. It's an exploration of how personal stories, expert insight, and creative storytelling can shine a light on systemic challenges — and inspire hope for change. It's proof that when one pathway closes (the series model), another can open (the feature format), if you stay committed to the story.
