The Zoo (Web Series)

The Zoo is an original Australian web series romanticising the centre of our universe, the good old fashioned pub. Laughs flow as freely as the beer does at the infamous ‘The White Lion’, or as it’s known it’s the cast of weird and wonderful regulars, the “Zoo”.

The episodic web series follows the trials and tribulations of the staff and locals who inhabit a typical, rundown, old working man’s pub. From battling an insect plague, fending off rebelling locals, throwing together the pub quiz, to the most challenging of all, navigating the weekly staff meeting! This series emptomises the backbone of every Aussie community, the pub. This web series looks like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia while feeling like the quirky comedy of Scrubs. The Zoo is an upbeat comedy centred around the central aspect of Australiana, the classic pub we have all had a parma in.

  • Michael Gosden
    Director
    Watch The Sunset
  • Chris Huntly-Turner
    Writer
    Buschranger
  • Chris Huntly-Turner
    Producer
  • Dinitha Senevirathne
    Key Cast
    "Liam"
  • Project Type:
    Web / New Media
  • Genres:
    Comedy
  • Runtime:
    28 minutes
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Michael Gosden

For close to a decade, Mick’s been spinning yarns into short and feature-length films, documentaries, commercials, and music videos. After graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts, Mick co-created fear+love theatre company, as well as, Australia's first one-shot feature film, "Watch the Sunset" (currently streaming on Stan).
All this before going back to study filmmaking at the New York Film Academy, where he won Uber's national creators competition and dropped the viral mic with 'You're Wonderful,' before graduating.

From there, he found himself as head creative producer at GoodChat TV, where he produced, wrote & directed
over 100 video campaigns.
 
He then went on to creatively lead the FYI Film Festival, spotlighting the narratives of 20 young storytellers in regional Victoria. Against the backdrop of outback landscapes, Mick captured the unique talent of these budding storytellers. And in 2023, Mick joined the directing roster at Helium Films.
 
Mick's passion for storytelling is palpable. Inspired by innovative creators across all mediums, he strives to bring innovative, compassionate, and lasting stories to both the Australian and international film industries.

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Director Statement

Australians have a deep-rooted affection for the Aussie bush and the resilient communities that call it home. Love it or hate it, the Aussie bush helped define who we are today.

My family hail from a tiny, blink-and-you-miss-it, kinda town called Wee Waa (Pronounced Wee - War) and the hardships, sense of community and wicked sense of humour that shaped them helped shape me.

As creators, we know these communities intimately—their rare humour, their resilience, and their fierce sense of belonging. While our comedy is heightened, the characters and stories are grounded in reality, honouring the people who continue to breathe life into these forgotten parts of Australia.

Though centred around a pub, The Zoo is about much more: it’s an outrageous and heartfelt underdog story celebrating the larrikinism and unbreakable bonds that make rural Australia extraordinary.

I hope that watching The Zoo feels like meeting a group of quirky, lovable friends you want to get to know and root for. Through its humour and heart, our show aims to offer a deeper appreciation for the unique resilience of rural Australia, its vibrant communities and the crazy silly buggers that live in the bush.