The project: TV archives recut vertically
The Australian soap opera Neighbours is being recut with AI into a microdrama designed for smartphone viewing. The Guardian reports. The project is by RoseBerry Media, a company specialising in vertical television, which has re-adapted original episodes of the series for distribution on the Epis platform using an AI-assisted production tool called RedSnapper.
The first part of the microdrama revolves around Donna Freedman, the character played by Margot Robbie between 2008 and 2011. Two of her storylines are recut into vertical micro-episodes, for a total of about 150 minutes of content. According to the information provided, the series aired more than 9,300 episodes between 1985 and its ending in 2025.
The cast's protest and the safeguards question
The project has sparked debate among performers and the industry over the use of television archives to generate new content. Stefan Dennis, a long-standing face of the soap, described the project in comments to the Herald Sun reported by The Guardian as invasive and morally and legally wrong, adding that he had involved his agent. His agent said he would not comment further.
Matthew Werkmeister, who played Zeke Kinski from 2005 to 2011 and appeared alongside Robbie in a three-way romantic storyline, told Guardian Australia that he had learned of the agreement only when he was contacted for comment. His concern, he explained, was not about the money but about the use of his image via AI on a platform he had not authorised. He added that he had received no communication about any residual payments from either Fremantle, the producer of the series, or RoseBerry Media, and recalled that he had signed the original contracts at age 13, at a time when AI and vertical streaming platforms did not exist.
The companies' responses and requests to legislators
Fremantle defended the project, explaining that it will use only original material, dialogue and performances that have already been broadcast. A spokesperson specified that RedSnapper does not generate new scenes or performances, does not alter faces or likenesses and does not use synthetic voices: it is used for catalogue analysis, editing and vertical framing, with a human editor reviewing and approving every stage. RoseBerry Media said it aligned itself with Fremantle without further additions. Guardian Australia also notes that it has learned that residual payments will be made to writers and actors under the series' agreements, as is standard practice.
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance union confirmed that it is assisting cast members and their representatives. Its interim chief executive, Adam Portellin, urged anyone involved to contact the union to avoid exploitation of labour without knowledge, consent or fair compensation, and asked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and parliament to legislate to protect the sector. The Australian Writers' Guild said it was in negotiations with Fremantle and hoped for a fair solution. Werkmeister argued for stronger AI rules and consent mechanisms. The position of Robbie, who has not yet commented, and the Sag-Aftra initiatives prompted by Sam Clark's agent remain to be verified.
