CMF Coffee Chat with Mellie Buse

Mellie is a Bafta winning children’s script writer, show runner, head writer, voice director, script editor and development consultant. She has many years’ experience collaborating with British, European and North American companies.

Mellie specializes in pre-school programs, both live action and animation. Her first pre-school writing commission was with the Jim Henson company on Mopatop’s Shop. Adastra Creative, Mellie’s company, Co-owned with Jan Page, earned a reputation for bringing in high production value on extremely competitive budgets with two Bafta winning shows – GRANDPA IN MY POCKET for CBeebies, which sold to 106 territories and HA HA HAIRIES for Turner EMEA. Mellie voice directed all the VO work on both of these properties and she and Jan also wrote the successful GRANDPA IN MY POCKET stage show.

Mellie set up a sister company – Adastra Development with Producer/Director Martin Franks and most recently they created and produced “MIMI’S WORLD” for CH5/Milkshake, a mixed content pre-school show that was nominated for an Irish Animation Award in 2023 and won the International Pulcinella Award at Cartoons on the Bay. They also run a Digital Company – Magic2 Media and run a successful YouTube channel – “Grandpa in my Pocket and Co.” which features Adastra shows as well as licensed properties. The Channel achieves up to 25 million views per month.

Mellie was the script editor on Tiger Aspect’s award- winning animation adaptation of Lauren Child’s CHARLIE & LOLA for CBeebies. She was Co-Creator, Head Writer and Show Runner on Jim Henson’s Bafta winning 250 ep pre-school series THE HOOBS and went on to develop and head write “BAMBALOO” – a Henson show for CH7 in Australia. She has been involved in development and scripting over the years for all the leading kids’ entertainment companies on many well-known brands including ANGELINA BALLERINA, for which she wrote a 50 minute special that won a British Animation Award.

Recently Mellie was the Creative Exec on WISSPER Series Two for CH5/Milkshake. She redeveloped the show, ran the writing and cast and voice directed the 52 ep series. She is very experienced at working with children and is also able to direct vocals, having a strong musical background.

As well as running writing courses, she’s a regular speaker and mentor at the London Screenwriters’ Festival and the Children’s Media Conference.