Charles Firth papers relating to The Chaser

MLMSS 12233
PXA 7902

fonds

1996-2003

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Drawings

9682982

0.32 metres of textual material (2 boxes) - typescript, manuscript
28 drawings - various sizes - ink and watercolour

Charles Firth is a founding member of The Chaser, an Australian satirical comedy group founded by himself, Craig Reucassel, Julian Morrow and Dominic Knight, 1999. The group published The Chaser newspaper while they were students at the University of Sydney.

The Chaser later produced television programmes for the ABC, including 'The Election Chaser', 2001; 'CNNN', 2002-2003, which they won a Logie Award for Most Outstanding Comedy Programme, 2004; The Chaser's War on Everything', which received an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Television Comedy Series, 2006; and others.

The Chaser also coordinated pranks, notably gatecrashing the 2007 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Summit in Sydney, 6 September 2007.

References:
Library acquisition file

THE CHASER NEWSPAPER
BOX 1
FOLDER 1
Minutes of meeting, 1998; notebook titled, '1999', includes Chaser ‘business plan’, projected expenditure, advertising, subscriptions, marketing and promotion, executive summary; black notebook titled, '1999', includes ideas, logistics, brainstorming. Also includes letters seeking 'patrons' to Firth's grandmother via his aunt, Dr Meredith Burgmann and MP Verity Firth, 2000-2004

FOLDER 2
Mockup and final product of flyer for Chaser newspaper; flyers for Chaser newspaper subscription relating to renewal, ‘Subscription Bonus: Family Values Condom’ (free with first edition, 1999). Includes business cards and colour photographs (2) of Chaser members, Craig Reucassel and Charles Firth, circa. 1999

FOLDER 3 [box]
Beer coasters of various Sydney pubs including Forest Lodge Hotel, Nag’s Head, Roxbury Hotel Glebe, Green Park Hotel and Courthouse Hotel Darlinghurst, annotated on reverse with ideas etc, circa. 1999-2001

FOLDER 4
Various papers relating to pitch documents, financial costings, correspondence, NDD Distribution and payment agreements relating to fortnightly newspaper circulation.

FOLDER 5
Newspaper ‘Utter’ 1996, Sydney University (first newspaper by Chaser members); letter of complaint relating to ‘Utter’ newspaper (Sydney University), 1996;
special editions of The Chaser: “The Stacker” Special ALP Conference edition 2000, The Chaser: Striving for matrimony in a world of Exes’ (Charles Firth edition, 2000), newscuttings and media monitors, 2002-2003


ELECTION CHASER
FOLDER 6
Four notebooks including pitch documents, drafts, ideas, scripts, financial costings relating to the creation of the Election Chaser, 2001-2004


ARTWORKS (held at Mitchell Library call number PXA 7902)
28 original cartoons in watercolour and ink for The Chaser newspaper by Mark Cornwall, Fiona Katauskas and Oliver Watts
17 photocopied pages of cartoons for The Chaser newspaper


CNNNN
BOX 2
FOLDER 1
Typed manuscripts of TV show episodes, segment ideas, scripts, rundowns, call sheets eg War on Terror episode, and various emails from Chaser members, Charles Firth, Julian Morrow, Craig Reucassel and Chris Taylor. Includes promotion pack, agreement contract, 5 Aug 2002; media release ABC to launch 24-hour news channel CNNNN, 2002

FOLDER 2
Typed and handwritten manuscripts of TV show episodes, segment ideas, scripts, rundowns, and various emails from Chaser members, Charles Firth, Craig Reucassel and Chris Taylor. Includes letter of complaint from Kris Neill, Director Corp Affairs, News Limited, 21 March 2003 and pitch for new TV show 'Chaser Corp', ca 2004

FOLDER 3
Half-hour war, typed script with annotations in ink, 2003?

FOLDER 4
Spine ideas, typescript with annotations in ink, 2003

FOLDER 5
Esteem, typed script and rundown, 2003

FOLDER 6
O/S, pitches for stories relating to overseas issues including the Nobel Peace Prize, September 11, USA government etc, 2003

FOLDER 7
Local stunts, typed ideas relating to Australian political and social issues, 2003

FOLDER 8
Openers, typed sample opener, June 2003

FOLDER 9
Cadman, typed plan for episode relating to Alan Cadman, 2003

In copyright:
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Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder