THE COMEBACK | A Start Over Documentary Series

THE COMEBACK official poster. A Marco Robinson film. Based on the true story that inspired a global movement. One decision. One life. Thousands inspired. Coming soon to cinemas. — OFFICIAL ARTWORK

01 Who we are
looking for

YOUR STORY MATTERS

You don’t have to be famous.

You don’t need millions of followers.

You don’t need to be an actor, presenter or professional speaker.

And you definitely don’t need a perfect life.

We’re looking for truth.

People who have been knocked down by life and found a way back.

People who lost something they thought they could never replace.

People who had to rebuild when the life they knew disappeared.

People who were told:

“You can’t.”

And eventually answered:

“Watch me.”

02 The shape
of a comeback

WHAT DOES A COMEBACK LOOK LIKE?

There is no single kind of comeback.

Yours might have started with losing a business.

Bankruptcy.

Divorce.

Grief.

Homelessness.

Rejection.

Abuse.

Addiction.

A career collapsing.

Losing everything financially.

A devastating personal setback.

Starting again in another country.

Walking away from a life that looked successful on the outside but was destroying you inside.

Or perhaps there wasn’t one dramatic event.

Maybe one day you simply looked at your life and realised:

THIS CANNOT BE THE REST OF MY STORY.

Your comeback doesn’t have to look extraordinary to everybody else.

It needs to have been extraordinary to you.

Because somewhere in the world, somebody may be living through the chapter you already survived.

03Where this came from

FROM #1 BESTSELLING BOOKS TO THE SCREEN

START OVER was created to give real people a platform to turn adversity into purpose.

Through START OVER: Turn Any Loss Into a Sensational Comeback, people have transformed some of the hardest experiences of their lives into published stories.

Those stories became books.

Those books reached #1 bestseller positions.

And something bigger began happening.

People who thought their worst experience had destroyed their story began discovering that it could become the chapter that changed everything.

A community formed around one powerful idea:

YOU CAN START OVER.

Now we’re taking that idea further.

THE COMEBACK will bring selected real-life stories to the screen.

Not just the polished ending.

We want to discover what really happened.

What did you lose?

What nearly broke you?

What was the moment everything changed?

What did nobody else see?

What decision did you finally make?

And most importantly:

HOW DID YOU TURN YOUR LOSS INTO YOUR COMEBACK?

Marco Robinson with the START OVER book series

The series so far

Start Over Voices Anthology 1 book cover

Start Over Series 2 Volume One book cover

Amazon Best Sellers chart, Women category, with Start Over Volume 1 at number one — **#1 Best Seller**, Amazon Best Sellers, Women. Volume 1

Amazon Best Sellers chart, Women category, with Start Over Volume 1 paperback at number one and hardcover at number three — **#1 and #3 Best Seller**, Women. Volume 1 paperback and hardcover

Amazon Hot New Releases chart, Mental Health category, with Start Over Volume 2 at number one — **#1 Hot New Release**, Mental Health. Volume 2

Amazon Best Sellers chart, Women category, with Start Over Volume 2 at number one and Volume 1 at number three — **#1 and #3 Best Seller**, Women. Volumes 2 and 1 together

Amazon Hot New Releases chart, Indigenous Health and Healing category, with Start Over Volume 3 at number one — **#1 Hot New Release**, Indigenous Health & Healing. Volume 3

Amazon Best Sellers chart, Indigenous Health and Healing eBooks, with Start Over Volume 8 at number one and Volume 7 at number three — **#1 and #3 Best Seller**, Indigenous Health & Healing eBooks. Volumes 8 and 7

Amazon product page for Start Over Volume 8 with the Top New Release badge — **Top New Release badge**, Indigenous Health & Healing eBooks. Volume 8

Amazon Best Sellers chart with Start Over Volume 8 at number one and Volume 7 at number two — **#1 and #2 Best Seller**. Volumes 8 and 7 together

Amazon product page for Start Over Volume 10 with the number one Best Seller badge in Women's Spirituality — **#1 Best Seller badge**, Women's Spirituality. Volume 10

Amazon Hot New Releases chart, Neuropsychology category, with Start Over Volume 10 at number one — **#1 Hot New Release**, Neuropsychology. Volume 10

Amazon listing for the Start Over Volume 10 hardcover with the Bestseller badge — **Bestseller badge**, hardcover listing. Volume 10

Amazon Hot New Releases chart, Neuropsychology category, with Start Over Voices Anthology 1 at number one — **#1 Hot New Release**, Neuropsychology. Voices Anthology 1

Amazon listing for Start Over Voices Anthology 1 with the Best Seller badge — **Best Seller badge**. Voices Anthology 1

Amazon Hot New Releases chart, Self-Employment category, with Start Over Voices Anthology 1 at number one — **#1 Hot New Release**, Self-Employment. Voices Anthology 1

Amazon Best Sellers chart, Small Business category, with Start Over Voices Anthology 1 at number one ahead of 100M Leads — **#1 Best Seller**, Small Business. Voices Anthology 1

Amazon Australia search result for Start Over Voices Anthology 1 carrying the Best Seller badge — **Best Seller badge**, Amazon Australia. Voices Anthology 1

04 What we are
casting for

THIS IS NOT A TALENT SHOW

There are no judges deciding whether your life is worthy.

This isn’t about becoming famous.

And we’re not searching for the person with the most dramatic tragedy.

We’re searching for stories that can move people.

Truth. Humanity. Vulnerability. Courage. Transformation. Hope.

Because someone could watch your story while believing their own life is over.

And your comeback could show them that it isn’t.

05 Wherever you
are right now

YOU DON’T NEED TO HAVE FINISHED YOUR COMEBACK

This matters.

Maybe you’re already on the other side.

Maybe you’ve rebuilt your business.

Found love again.

Changed careers.

Recovered financially.

Found your purpose.

Created the life everybody told you was impossible.

But maybe you’re still in it.

Maybe you’re rebuilding right now.

That could be powerful too.

Because THE COMEBACK isn’t only interested in the finish line.

Sometimes the most extraordinary part of the story is watching somebody decide they’re going to get there.

06 Who can
apply

COULD YOU BE PART OF THE COMEBACK?

We want to hear from people who have experienced genuine adversity and have made, or are making, a meaningful comeback.

You do not need previous television experience.

You do not need to have written a START OVER book.

You do not need a massive audience.

YOU SIMPLY NEED A REAL STORY.

If your application is shortlisted, you may be invited to share more of your story with our production team and be considered for participation in THE COMEBACK.

YOUR STORY COULD BE THE ONE SOMEBODY ELSE NEEDS TO SEE.

APPLY FOR THE TV DOCUMENTARY

07 Your
application

TELL US YOUR STORY

When you apply, don’t give us the polished biography.

Don’t give us the Instagram version.

Give us the truth.

We want to know:

1.WHO ARE YOU?

Tell us a little about you and your life.

2.WHAT HAPPENED?

What event, loss or period changed everything?

3.WHAT DID IT REALLY COST YOU?

Financially, physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually, what was at stake?

4.WHAT WAS ROCK BOTTOM?

Was there a moment when you realised something had to change?

5.WHAT DID YOU DO NEXT?

What decision or action started your comeback?

6.WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

What has changed? What are you still fighting for?

7.WHY DOES YOUR STORY NEED TO BE SEEN?

Who could it help? What do you want somebody experiencing the same thing to know?

8.LET US MEET YOU.

We may ask for a simple 60–90 second video introducing yourself and telling us why you’re ready to share your story.

BEFORE YOU APPLY

You must be 18 or over to apply.

In your own words. Take as long as you need.

TELL US YOUR COMEBACK

How we use your application: read the Casting Application Privacy Notice. You can withdraw your application, and your consent, at any time.

08 The founder

WHY START OVER?

START OVER was founded by entrepreneur, author, television personality and filmmaker Marco Robinson around a belief that has shaped his own life:

YOUR PAST IS INFORMATION.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE YOUR DESTINATION.

Marco’s own journey has taken him from adversity and homelessness into entrepreneurship, publishing, television and film.

But THE COMEBACK isn’t about Marco’s story.

It’s about yours.

START OVER exists to find extraordinary stories hidden inside ordinary people, and give those stories somewhere to go.

A book.

A stage.

A community.

And now potentially…

THE SCREEN.

Marco Robinson at a book signing table with Start Over books — A book

Marco Robinson on stage in front of a standing audience — A stage

Networking at a Start Over live event — A community

09 Why it
matters

WHY YOUR STORY COULD MATTER TO SOMEONE YOU’LL NEVER MEET

Somewhere, somebody believes it’s too late.

They’re too old.

Too broke.

Too damaged.

Too embarrassed.

Too frightened.

They’ve made too many mistakes.

They’ve lost too much.

They’ve wasted too many years.

They think everybody else got their chance…

…and they missed theirs.

Then they see you.

Not because you’re perfect.

Because you weren’t.

Not because you never fell.

Because you got back up.

Not because your life was easy.

Because you decided it wasn’t over.

That’s the power of a comeback story.

It doesn’t simply tell somebody what happened to you.

IT CAN CHANGE WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS STILL POSSIBLE FOR THEM.

10 The receipts

AND WE KNOW HOW TO TAKE STORIES TO THE SCREEN.

This is important.

THE COMEBACK isn’t where our journey into television, documentary and film begins.

Behind START OVER is experience creating and participating in projects that have reached audiences through some of the world’s most recognised television and streaming platforms.

There are receipts.

OUR SCREEN TRACK RECORD

Marco hosting ‘Get a House for Free’ on Channel 4

CHANNEL 4 DOCUMENTARY

GET A HOUSE FOR FREE

Marco Robinson became the subject of Channel 4’s Get a House for Free, following his decision to give away a three-bedroom property in Preston to somebody who desperately needed an opportunity to start again.

Thousands applied.

The programme became a nationally discussed television story and attracted coverage from major British publications including The Guardian, The Independent and The Standard.

At its heart was an idea that remains central to START OVER:

SOMETIMES ONE OPPORTUNITY CAN CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF A LIFE.

BROADCAST ON: CHANNEL 4

Channel 4

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

LEGACY OF LIES

Marco subsequently appeared in the international action thriller Legacy of Lies, starring Scott Adkins.

The film reached international audiences and later climbed to #2 in the U.S. Movies ranking on Netflix during its October 2021 run, according to the ranking evidence preserved in our archive.

STREAMING / DISTRIBUTION: NETFLIX

#2 U.S. MOVIES

Netflix

REALITY TELEVISION SERIES

TEQUILA EMPIRE

Tequila Empire follows the Fitzpatrick family and the extraordinary journey behind building Naked Diablo into an international tequila brand.

It’s entrepreneurship without the PowerPoint.

Family.

Money.

Risk.

Personality.

Pressure.

And the reality of trying to build something enormous while the cameras are watching.

The eight-episode first season has current listings on major streaming platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV and Tubi.

WATCH / FIND TEQUILA EMPIRE

Prime Video Apple TV Tubi

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

HOW TO BUILD A BILLION DOLLAR BRAND

How to Build a Billion Dollar Brand: The Naked Diablo Story goes behind the ambition, decisions and personalities involved in attempting to build a global premium brand.

It isn’t simply about the finished product.

It’s about what happens when an audacious idea meets the reality of execution.

The documentary has current listings through Prime Video, Apple TV and Tubi.

WATCH / FIND THE DOCUMENTARY

Prime Video Apple TV Tubi

FROM AN IDEA TO AN AUDIENCE

Different projects.

Different formats.

Different stories.

But one common thread:

WE CREATE THINGS PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY WATCH.

Books have become #1 bestsellers.

Ideas have become television.

Projects have reached international streaming platforms.

Stories have travelled around the world.

And now we’re looking for another kind of story.

YOURS.

The next chapter

THE NEXT STORY COULD BE YOURS.

We’ve created books.

We’ve built brands.

We’ve worked in television.

We’ve worked in film.

We’ve taken projects from an idea to audiences around the world.

Now START OVER is searching for people whose real-life comeback stories deserve to be seen.

You don’t need television experience.

You don’t need to be famous.

You don’t need to know somebody in the industry.

YOU NEED A STORY THAT MATTERS.

Your worst chapter could become somebody else’s reason to start again.

YOUR COMEBACK STARTS HERE.

APPLY FOR THE TV DOCUMENTARY

CASTING & PARTICIPATION NOTICE

Applications are subject to review and selection. Submission does not guarantee participation, filming, broadcast, distribution or inclusion in a completed production. Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for further information, interviews and casting conversations. Successful applicants will receive appropriate participation, consent, production and filming information before taking part.

START OVER

Turn Any Loss Into a Sensational Comeback.

THE BOOKS WERE THE BEGINNING.

Now we’re taking the stories to the screen.

TELL US YOUR STORY