‘The Sender’: A Digital Blackmail Whodunnit For The Social Media Age

The Sender, directed by Liv McClymont (DEGANZ) and edited by fellow member Ben Chesters, is out now on Instagram and TikTok.

The NZ On Air funded web series was created by Liv and producer Jessica Todd to meet young audiences where they are. Shot in a vertical aspect ratio and edited to suit the short form platforms, the series is not only made for social media, it is all about social media.

When six school prefects sneak away to a remote bach for a night of underage drinking and questionable decisions, they expect a chill evening—not total social annihilation. At 10 P.M. their phones light up with messages from @thesender, an anonymous account sending scandalous photos that could destroy their carefully crafted lives.

While filled with classic teen drama hijinks, The Sender also tackles the serious topics of image-based abuse and sextortion. It approaches this serious subject matter with humour and authenticity, making the difficult conversation more accessible to younger audiences.

The first five episodes are out now, with new episodes dropping four times a week.

Congrats to Liv, Ben, and the entire The Sender team!

Last updated on 28 May 2025