Sci-fi sells. Internet savvy audiences, high spending demographics, brand loyalists. Carefully tending their blogs, turning DVD box sets into best sellers, early adopters of e-tech, eager to unearth the new, and responsive to low cost street, underground and viral marketing.

But sci-fi is expensive, niche audience, geographically dispersed and the label itself scares networks and viewers alike. “I’m not a Trekkie” we hear. Did you like Blade Runner? Yes. Did you like Matrix? Loved it. Best film for the last 30 years? Star Wars. But you’re not into sci-fi?

Three years ago. A typical cobalt winter sky hangs over a low, modern building in Canberra, Australia. At Inventive Entertainment’s offices execs Dean Toovey and Mal Cumpston are thrashing out how to engage with the current US TV Series commissioning and business model.

Sure, the US know how to make sci-fi on big budgets. But how many pilots never see light of day, series canned mid-take? Risks as big as the investments. Meanwhile, our head of post Andy Marriott works CGI magic on ads and HD docos using G5s and software used for features just two years ago. And new writer Pete Ford puts in a draft for veteran Everett de Roche to hone.

If Inventive can just channel some of that US money down-under. Harness the same type of Australian talent that made Matrix, Star Wars and Farscape. Cut US network risk in half, give hardcore sci-fans and fringe addicts stories never seen on TV before at half the price.

Fast forward to current day. Four concepts for TV series later. Each project a step to the next.

The first is LOVE ACROSS TIME. Short stories from Australian novelist Sean McMullen. 14 novels to his name, published world over. Each awarded story chosen for manageable production logistics. Romance. Chivalry. Tech. Values. Just a six by 1 hour anthology. Start nice and gentle.

Michael Rymer is E.P., hot-off BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, with two Emmys. He wants to come home, do quality drama: tough, real AND commercial. Build the bridge to Oz from the US.

Inventive call this The Pipeline.

And most importantly, the Writers. Old with young. Mentors. Tortured, grizzled. Battle-scarred. Thrown in with the raw, pent-up X, Y and Zeds writing stuff they want to watch. Greg Tannahill. Mark Shirrefs. Pete Ford. Everett de Roche. Sean McMullen. Anthony Fitzgerald. Hugh Fleming.

Projects. Get LOVE ACROSS TIME in the can, then tackle SILICON SPIES. Two dangerous women, Robin Hood data thieves in a future where the weather verges on total collapse, the world flooded decades earlier. BRIGHTSEA next. Two galleons on a suicidal quest across the Brightsea to save a Kingdom. Dark magic. Rising terror in the waters. Pilot script and bible ready.

And onto ICEKEEPER. Simple recipe: Romans developed the Oil of Frosts, a human antifreeze, then kept the best minds on ice for times of crisis and took the Empire across 400 years. Then it all went wrong. Centurion Vitellan defrosts in the 21st century. And it’s still going wrong.

Inventive call this The Factory. Starting to get the picture?

It’s infectious. Fun, big-looking TV projects, commercial. Written hand in glove with brand and merchandise plans. Managed risks. Original material. Drama. Talented people. Cost-effective CGI lets imaginations soar. Bravely tackling themes. Pulling the rug. Entertain as you change the world. Inventive. Join in. Take the leap.