ADVANCING THE CAREER PATHS OF REGIONALLY-BASED SCREEN PRODUCERS

APPLICATIONS CLOSE  5pm, 3 October 2017

Screenworks Regional Producer Elevator Program provides bespoke professional development opportunities to two emerging producers living in regional NSW.

The program is designed to increase the producers’ skills and industry experience by supporting a tailor-made professional development plan for each participating producer, providing an opportunity for face-to-face meetings with key industry stakeholders in metropolitan centres, and offering attendance to the 2017 Screen Forever Conference where they will be able to participate in selected emerging producer sessions that will take place at the conference.

The program is open to producers of all genres, including (but not limited to) TV drama producers, documentary producers and children’s television producers. This program would best suit early-career producers who have had initial success and are genuinely committed to building their skills as a professional producer in regional NSW and need the support and opportunities to further their career.

Through this program, participants will enhance their producing skills in order to contribute to the growth of the screen industry in regional NSW.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE:

Two producers will undertake the following program:

1. TAILOR-MADE CAREER DEVELOPMENT PLAN

As part of the application process, applicants are required to submit a draft career development plan where proposed activities are to the value of $3,500 (excluding GST). Professional development plans may be made up of any combination of the following (or other opportunities):

  • Conference/event/market attendance (international and/or national) – (not including attendance refer to below)
  • Professional development training, courses or other opportunities
  • Mentorships with recognised production companies, distributors or other organisations
  • Development of early concept project materials (or slate of projects) that may include pitch documents, teasers (where relevant) or treatments (or ‘scriptments’)

Click here to view a sample career plan.

2. FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS WITH INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS

Up to 1 week (4 nights) trip to Sydney or Melbourne to have face-to-face meetings with Fulcrum Media Finance, Screen NSW & Screen Australia, in addition to any other identified stakeholders that would provide benefit to the career development of the selected participants (flights, accommodation, per diems and transfers covered).

3. ATTENDANCE AT THE SCREEN PRODUCERS AUSTRALIA 2017 CONFERENCE – SCREEN FOREVER

The two successful participants will attend Screen Forever 2017 and will be able to participate in selected emerging producer sessions at the conference. This component includes conference tickets, flights, accommodations (up to 4 nights), per diems and ground transfers included.

4. REPORTING & PRESENTATION TO LOCAL PRODUCERS GROUP

Successful participants will be required to deliver a written report to Screenworks on their involvement in the Regional Producer Elevator Program and to present to the local group of members about the outcomes from their involvement in the program (at the completion of the program).

SUPPORT MATERIALS AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:

A  draft career development plan that includes:

  • a professional development statement that outlines your achievements as a producer, as well as your creative and career goals for one year, three years and five years; and
  • an outline of the barriers you face in achieving your career goals and potential ways of overcoming the barriers for example, you may wish to consider potential mentors or attendance at conferences/markets to help overcome the difficulty of access to highly experienced professionals and making industry connections.
  • The draft career development plan should identify proposed activities up to the value of $3,500 (excluding GST).

Click here to view a sample of a draft career development plan.

  1. A sample of your work:

Please provide a link to an online video of your work

  1. Details on your current project (including title, short synopsis, format etc)
  2. An up to date resume/CV
  3. A letter of support from a screen industry professional who has known you for more than 12 months and/or is familiar with your work.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

The following selection criteria will be considered when assessing applicants for participation in Screenworks 2018 Regional Producer Elevator Program (all criteria areas are equally weighted):

  1. The potential effectiveness of the professional development plan to help the applicant build relevant industry skills, overcome identified career barriers to living and working regionally with defined outcomes that help achieve future creative and career goals.
  2. The skills, achievements, experience and track record of the applicant and the quality of their previous work. Applicants must clearly demonstrate how they meet the Initial Success eligibility criteria.
  3. The potential of the applicant to contribute to and enhance the growth of screen production in regional NSW demonstrated by the quality of current projects, previous works and letters of support provided.

Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse people and people living in remote areas of Australia are strongly encouraged.

Screenworks is strongly committed to ensuring equal access to this project – if you require assistance with your application, please contact Screenworks on:
Telephone: (02) 6687 1599.

ASSESSMENT PROCESS & APPLICATION DEADLINES:

ASSESSMENT PROCESS:

All applications will receive an initial eligibility and quality assessment by Screenworks staff. Shortlisted applications will be sent to an assessment panel comprised of highly qualified and experienced screen industry professionals.

The assessment panel will consider how well the eligible applicants meet the selection criteria (listed above).

Applicants will be notified by mid-October 2017 in writing of the outcome of their applications.

Application Deadlines:

Applications to Screenworks’ Regional Producer Elevator Program close 5pm, Tuesday 3 October 2017 (Australian Eastern Daylight Time).

Applications must be submitted using the online application form available via Screenworks website. No late entries will be accepted, no extensions will be granted. Incomplete applications will be deemed ineligible.

Screenworks will advise all applicants in writing of application success or otherwise. No specific feedback will be given on individual applications.

DEFINITIONS/GLOSSARY OF TERMS:

Initial Success” – To demonstrate Initial Success, applicants are asked to identify one of the following:

  • a producer/production credit for a dramatic or factual film or screen work that has achieved broadcast, theatrical release or been commissioned or acquired by a major online content provider; or
  • a producer/production credit for a dramatic or factual film or screen work that has been included in a curated festival, with preference given to the festivals profiled on the Screen Australia website (http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/connect-with-audiences/festival-profiles) or on the 88th (2016) Academy Awards Short Films Qualifying Festivals List (https://www.oscars.org/sites/oscars/files/88aa_shorts_festival_list.pdf).
  • a producer/production credit for a dramatic or factual film or screen work that has attracted an online audience of 500,000 or more views.

A producer may also be considered eligible if they have had recent success in projects currently in development that may meet one of the above criteria.

Regional NSW – Regional NSW includes the Central Coast, Hunter and Illawarra and is defined as the areas or regions outside of Sydney and Western Sydney. Please refer to this document for clarification.


Screenworks Regional Producer Elevator Program is made possible with support from Create NSW and Screen Producers Australia

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