{{Short description|Australian director, screenwriter, and producer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Josh Wakely''' is an Australian director, screenwriter, and producer and the founder of the television and film production company Grace: A Storytelling Company. Wakely is principally engaged in the development and production of feature films and series based on the music publishing catalogues of prominent music artists and genres, including The Beatles, Motown, and Bob Dylan and other artists in the Universal Music Group library of recorded master and publishing catalogues.<ref name="Wall Street Journal">{{cite web|last1=Karp|first1=Hannah|title=How Netflix's 'Beat Bugs' Creator Tapped Rights to Beatles Catalog|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-netflixs-beat-bugs-creator-scored-beatles-catalog-rights-1469723183|publisher=Wall Street Journal|date=28 July 2016|ref=3}}</ref><ref name="Variety">{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Chris|title=TV Projects Tap Into Beatles, Motown and Dylan Music Catalogues|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/beatles-motown-dylan-music-tv-shows-1201828779/|publisher=Variety|date=4 August 2016|ref=4}}</ref> Wakely created the Emmy-winning Netflix original animated series ''Beat Bugs'' and ''Motown Magic,'' both on Netflix."<ref name="New York Times">{{cite web|last1=Sisario|first1=Ben|title=Beetles Do Beatles: Music Coup for an Animated Netflix Show|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/28/business/media/beetles-do-beatles-music-coup-for-an-animated-netflix-show.html?_r=0|work=New York Times|date=27 July 2016|ref=1}}</ref><ref name="CBS This Morning">{{cite web|last1=Frazier|first1=Kevin|title=New children's Netflix series puts new twist on Beatles' music|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/beat-bugs-netflix-series-puts-new-twist-on-beatles-music-josh-wakely/|publisher=CBS This Morning|date=24 August 2016|ref=2}}</ref>
==Background== Wakely was raised in Newcastle, a coastal city two hours north of Sydney on the East Coast of Australia. He studied acting at Australia's Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) before transitioning behind the camera and into the world of storytelling.<ref name="TheAustralian">{{cite web|last1=Shedden|first1=Iain|title=Beatles revived for kids TV show Beat Bugs by Daniel Johns, Josh Wakely|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/beatles-revived-for-kids-tv-show-beat-bugs-by-daniel-johns-josh-wakely/news-story/eebe7afff8676dc7112ff500ebdd60dd|publisher=The Australian|date=23 July 2016|ref=5}}</ref>
Wakely is a principal partner at Grace: A Storytelling Company, his film and television production company, based in Sydney and Los Angeles.<ref name="Kidscreen">{{cite web|last1=Dickson|first1=Jeremy|title=Netflix brings on the tunes with new Motown and Beatles toons|url=http://kidscreen.com/2016/07/28/netflix-brings-on-the-tunes-with-new-motown-and-beatles-toons/|publisher=Kidscreen|date=28 July 2016|ref=6}}</ref> He is represented by United Talent Agency.
== ''Beat Bugs'' == Wakely is the creator, director and producer of the children's animated series ''Beat Bugs'', which Netflix premiered globally on August 3, 2016.<ref name="Los Angeles Times">{{cite web|last1=Rodman|first1=Sarah|title=How Netflix's 'Beat Bugs' creator scored so many Beatles tunes and got Sia and Eddie Vedder to sing|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-tca-netflix-beat-bugs-20160802-snap-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=3 August 2016|ref=7}}</ref><ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite web|last1=Porch|first1=Scott|title=How 'Beat Bugs' Sells the Beatles to a New Generation|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/features/how-beat-bugs-sells-the-beatles-to-a-new-generation-w430934|publisher=Rolling Stone|date=3 August 2016|ref=8}}</ref> Australia's Yahoo7 premiered the series on July 25, 2016 on 7Two.<ref name="The Daily Edition">{{cite web|title=Animating The Beatles|url=https://au.tv.yahoo.com/the-daily-edition/video/watch/31903906/animating-the-beatles/#page2|publisher=The Daily Edition|date=23 June 2016|ref=9}}</ref><ref name="Sunrise Australia">{{cite web|title=World's biggest artists team up for new screen project|url=https://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/watch/31901127/worlds-biggest-artists-team-up-for-new-screen-project/#page1|publisher=Sunrise Australia|date=23 June 2016|ref=10}}</ref><ref name="Sydney Morning Herald">{{cite web|last1=Zuel|first1=Bernard|title=Australian filmmaker turns The Beatles into the perfect children's show soundtrack|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/australian-filmmaker-turns-the-beatles-into-the-perfect-childrens-show-soundtrack-20160720-gqaanu.html|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=25 July 2016|ref=11}}</ref><ref name="News Corps Australia">{{cite web|last1=McCabe|first1=Kathy|title=Reinventing the Beatles for kids show Beat Bugs has given Daniel Johns a new lease on life in LA|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/reinventing-the-beatles-for-kids-show-beat-bugs-has-given-daniel-johns-a-new-lease-on-life-in-la/news-story/89d65faf98b1b614f47d4cf9fb27c1c9|publisher=New Corps Australia|date=24 July 2016|ref=12}}</ref><ref name="The West Australian">{{cite web|last1=Williams|first1=Vanessa|title=Bugs belt out Beatles' tunes|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/32083124/beat-bugs-animated-show-to-music-of-the-beatles/|publisher=The West Australian|date=18 July 2016|ref=13}}</ref> Netflix globally premiered Season 2 of the show on November 18, 2016.<ref name="Billboard">{{cite web|last1=Marinucci|first1=Steve|title=Rod Stewart, Jennifer Hudson & More Added to 'Beat Bugs' Beatles Kids Series|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7453530/rod-stewart-jennifer-hudson-beat-bugs-beatles|publisher=Billboard|date=27 July 2016|ref=14}}</ref> The show now airs on Nick Jr. in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dickson|first1=Jeremy|title=Nickelodeon Australia snaps up Beat Bugs|url=http://kidscreen.com/2017/05/26/nickelodeon-australia-snaps-up-beat-bugs/|website=Kidscreen|accessdate=26 May 2017}}</ref>
Inspired by music by The Beatles, the series tells uplifting and life-affirming stories filled with hope and melody. For the show, Wakely acquired the worldwide rights in a deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing to record covers of the entire Lennon/McCartney ‘Northern Songs’ music catalogue.<ref name="Variety"/><ref name="USA Today">{{cite web|last1=Keaveney|first1=Bill|title=Exclusive: Netflix's 'Beat Bugs' has ticket to ride Beatles tunes|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2016/02/10/netflixs-beat-bugs-has-ticket-ride-beatles-tunes/80058328/|publisher=USA Today|date=10 February 2016|ref=15}}</ref> He enlisted featured artists to cover songs in the show who include: Pink, Eddie Vedder, Rod Stewart, Robbie Williams, Aloe Blacc, Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, Sia, The Shins, James Bay, Chris Cornell and Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers.<ref name="Vulture">{{cite web|last1=Ivie|first1=Devon|title=Hear Sia, James Corden, and More Cover the Beatles for Netflix's Animated Show Beat Bugs|url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/the-shins-the-beatles-beat-bugs.html|website=Vulture|date=27 July 2016 |publisher=New York Magazine|accessdate=27 July 2016|ref=16}}</ref><ref name="Entertainment Weekly">{{cite web|last1=Bacle|first1=Ariana|title=Sia and P!nk cover the Beatles for Netflix's Beat Bugs|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/07/31/sia-pink-beatles-covers-beat-bugs|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=31 July 2016|ref=17}}</ref><ref name="Stereogum">{{cite web|last1=Helman|first1=Peter|title=Hear The Shins Cover The Beatles For Netflix's Beat Bugs|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1890788/hear-the-shins-cover-the-beatles-for-netflixs-beat-bugs/video/|publisher=Stereogum|date=27 July 2016|ref=18}}</ref>
Wakely's production company, Grace: A Storytelling Company, produced the series with Beyond Screen Production and Thunderbird. The ''Beat Bugs'' soundtrack is a joint release of Wakely's newly formed label Melodia and Universal Music's Republic Records.<ref name="Billboard melodia">{{cite web|last1=Applefeld Olson|first1=Cathy|title=Netflix Orders Motown-Themed Animated Series for Kids|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7460934/netflix-motown-animated-series-jobete-catalog|publisher=Billboard|date=3 August 2016|ref=19}}</ref>
''Beat Bugs'' won the 2017 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/44th-daytime-creative-arts-emmy-awards-winner-full-list-amazon-netflix-trollhunters-1202079612/|title=Amazon & Netflix Lead Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Winners- Full List|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=2017-04-29|website=Deadline|access-date=2017-05-08}}</ref> and has since been nominated for eight Emmys.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Montgomery |first1=Daniel |title=2018 Daytime Emmy winners: Full list of Creative Arts Awards winners and nominees |url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2018/2018-daytime-emmy-winners-full-list-creative-arts-awards-news-264817359/ |website=Gold Derby |date=28 April 2018 |accessdate=6 April 2019}}</ref> Awarded by the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of British Columbia, ''Beat Bugs'' won the 2017 Leo Award for Best Animation - Program or Series and was nominated twice in the Best Voice Performance in an Animation Program or Series category.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leoawards.com/2017/nominees/by_name.php#Animation_Program_or_Series-Voice_Performance|title=Leo Awards, Nominees by Name 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505120823/http://www.leoawards.com/2017/nominees/by_name.php|archive-date=2017-05-05 |date=2017-05-27 |website=www.leoawards.com|access-date=2017-06-06}}</ref> The show was also nominated for Best Animated Program or Series at the 2017 Canadian Screen Awards<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.academy.ca/2016/beat-bugs/|title=Beat Bugs {{!}} Best Animated Series {{!}} Canadian Screen Awards|date=2016-12-30|work=Academy.ca|access-date=2017-05-08|language=en-US}}</ref> and Most Outstanding Children's Program at Australia's TV Week Logie Awards.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/04/23/logies-2017-all-the-winners_a_22051561/|title=Logies 2017: All The Award Winners|last=Whitehead|first=Mat|date=2017-04-23|work=Huffington Post|access-date=2017-05-08|language=en-AU}}</ref> In addition, the 'Yellow Submarine' episode won the 2016 AWGIE Award in Animation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/10/awgie-awards-2016-winners.html|title=AWGIE Awards 2016: winners|date=2016-10-14|work=TV Tonight|access-date=2017-05-08|language=en-AU}}</ref> Awarded by The Australian Writers' Guild, the AWGIE Awards recognize and reward excellence in performance writing. ''Beat Bugs'' also won the 2016 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) award for Best Children's Television Series.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/12/aacta-awards-2016-winners.html|title=AACTA Awards 2016: winners|date=2016-12-07|work=TV Tonight|access-date=2017-05-08|language=en-AU}}</ref>
''Beat Bugs'' also inspired a line of merchandise that is exclusively available at Target in the U.S. and Tesco in the U.K.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Kid's Show Inspired By Beatles Tunes? Yes, Please! Here's the Only Way to Nab Beat Bugs Toys|url=https://corporate.target.com/article/2017/07/beat-bugs|website=A Bullseye View|accessdate=6 July 2017}}</ref>
== ''Motown Magic'' == Wakely is the creator, director and producer of the children's animated series ''Motown Magic'', which Netflix premiered globally on November 20, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.multichannel.com/video/netflix-sets-november-premiere-motown-themed-childrens-series|title=Netflix Sets November Premiere for Motown-Themed Children's Series|last=Unstead|first=Thomas|date=2018-10-19|website=Multichannel News}}</ref> For the series, Wakely secured the rights to the Jobete and Stone Diamond catalogues that comprise hundreds of Motown's greatest hits.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/streaming/music-fueled-kids-series-motown-magic-grooves-to-netflix/|title=Music-Fueled Kids' Series 'Motown Magic' Grooves to Netflix|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|date=2018-10-25|website=Animation Magazine}}</ref>
Motown singer Smokey Robinson serves as executive music producer on the animated series.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/netflix-series-motown-magic-smokey-robinson-soul-music-760785/|title=With 'Motown Magic', Netflix Brings Soul Music to a New Generation|last=Leight|first=Elias|date=2018-12-04|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> ''Motown Magic'' features newly recorded versions of songs by Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Lionel Richie, The Supremes, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and many more. Each 11-minute episode incorporates a plot line inspired by the themes and characters of a classic Motown song, and an original version of that song covered by contemporary artists including Ne-Yo, Becky G, BJ The Chicago Kid, Skylar Grey, Calum Scott, and Trombone Shorty.
''Motown Magic'' is a story about music, magic and the power of imagination, told through the sounds of one of the world's most iconic, and culturally important music catalogues, Motown. Colorful and family-friendly, this groundbreaking animated series follows Ben, a wide-eyed eight-year-old with a big heart, and an amazing imagination, who uses his magic paintbrush to bring the street-art decorating his city, Motown, to life.
Melodia/Motown Records released the ''Motown Magic'' Original Soundtrack, a 13-song collection of classic Motown hits newly recorded for the show, on November 16.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8484138/netflix-reveals-motown-magic-soundtrack-becky-g-for-once-in-my-life|title=Motown Reveals 'Motown Magic' Soundtrack Track List, Previews Becky G's 'For Once in My Life' (Exclusive)|last=Weeks|first=Isaac|date=2018-11-09|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
In 2019, ''Motown Magic'' was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in the "Outstanding Children's Program" category.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Hilary |title=NAACP Image Awards: 'Black Panther' Tops Film Nominations |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2019-naacp-image-awards-nominations-complete-list-1174374 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=13 February 2019 |accessdate=6 April 2019}}</ref>
==Other TV Projects== Wakely is currently developing multiple television projects based on various other music catalogues for which he has acquired the rights.
Wakely secured for Grace the rights to international music icon Bob Dylan’s entire 600-plus song catalogue, and is creating a television drama series based on his music.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Karp|first1=Hannah|title=Amazon Developing TV Series From Bob Dylan Songs|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-developing-tv-series-from-bob-dylan-songs-1460626381|website=Wall Street Journal|date=14 April 2016 |accessdate=14 April 2016}}</ref>
Building on the popularity of ''Beat Bugs'' and the added success of the Dylan deal, Wakely secured additional groundbreaking deals for Grace, locking in the rights to the Jobete and Stone Diamond catalogues that comprise hundreds of Motown's greatest hits and Universal Music Group’s (UMG) vast collection of recorded master and publishing catalogues to create scripted entertainment based on the characters and themes found within these hallowed songbooks.<ref name="variety.com">{{cite web|last1=Otterson|first1=Joe|title=Universal Music Group Partners With 'Beat Bugs' Producers for Three New Music-Based Series (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/universal-music-group-beat-bugs-producers-music-based-series-1202533347/|website=Variety|date=21 August 2017 |accessdate=21 August 2017}}</ref>
With extensive access to UMG's illustrious collection of catalogues, Wakely is also currently developing three television series: ''27'', ''Tropical Melody Island,'' and ''Mixtape'' (all working titles), all based on the music found within these catalogues.<ref name="variety.com"/>
In 2010, Wakely served as a writer on the acclaimed family series ''Lockie Leonard'', which was nominated for a BAFTA and won an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Children's Drama.<ref name="The Australian">{{cite web|last1=Shedden|first1=Iain|title=Beatles revived for kids TV show Beat Bugs by Daniel Johns, Josh Wakely|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/beatles-revived-for-kids-tv-show-beat-bugs-by-daniel-johns-josh-wakely/news-story/eebe7afff8676dc7112ff500ebdd60dd|publisher=The Australian|date=23 July 2016|ref=23}}</ref>
==Film Projects==
Wakely wrote and directed ''My Mind’s Own Melody'', a cinematic modern musical that came out in 2011 and was accepted into the 2013 New York Film Festival.<ref name="Rolling Stone Australia">{{cite web|last1=Yates|first1=Rod|title='Beat Bugs' Brings the Beatles' Music to Life|url=http://rollingstoneaus.com/culture/post/beat-bugs-brings-the-beatles-music-to-life/4632|publisher=Rolling Stone Australia|date=24 August 2016|ref=23}}</ref><ref name="Indiewood">{{cite web|title=THE FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER Announces HBO On Cinema Conversations, NYFF Emerging Artists & NYFF Shorts Selections at the 2013 NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL|url=http://indienyc.com/the-film-society-of-lincoln-center-announces-hbo-on-cinema-conversations-nyff-emerging-artists-nyff-shorts-selections-at-the-2013-new-york-film-festival/|website=Indiewood|date=8 September 2013|ref=24}}</ref> The short film featured original music and lyrics by former Silverchair front-man Daniel Johns and stars Golden Globe Award winner Lisa Gerrard.
Wakely has optioned the rights to Darin Strauss' best-selling memoir ''Half a Life'', which tells the haunting story of one man's 20-year struggle with the accidental death of his high school classmate.<ref name="Mediaweek">{{cite web|last1=Manning|first1=James|title=Beat Bugs: How a young Aussie writer landed rights to 300+ Beatles songs|url=http://www.mediaweek.com.au/network-ten-promising-viewers-plenty-to-enjoy-in-august/|website=Mediaweek|date=19 July 2016|ref=25}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|1452285}} * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-tc1vyoeBc TEDxSydney - Daniel Johns & Josh Wakely - My Mind's Own Melody] * [http://www.graceinc.com/ Grace: A Storytelling Company ] * [http://www.beatbugs.com Beat Bugs] * [http://www.melodiamusic.com Melodia Music]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wakely, Josh}} Category:Australian television directors Category:Australian television producers Category:Australian screenwriters Category:Showrunners Category:Australian male television writers Category:Living people Category:People from Newcastle, New South Wales Category:Australian film producers Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Australian television writers