THIS WEBPAGE RELATES TO AN OLD PROGRAM – PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2017 INSIDE THE WRITERS ROOM PROGRAM
PROGRAM UPDATE: 11 December 2015
Today, Northern Rivers Screenworks named the five writers selected to work with some of the best television screenwriters and production houses in Australia as part of our unique Inside the Writers Room program.
Congratulations to Carly Lorente, Jesse Blackadder, Rebecca Ingram, Anne Shepperson and Andy Bambach for being selected for the Inside the Writers Rooms 2016 program.
Read more about the announcement here.
PROGRAM UPDATE: 24 November 2015
Hear from the 2015 Inside the Writers Room program participants in this great new video. In its pilot year, we had an impressive line up of production companies and productions that we sent participants to – these included Matchbox Pictures, Channel 7’s Home & Away and Playmaker Media.
“Inside the Writers Room was an amazing opportunity to witness some of Australia’s top television writers at work. It was a great opportunity also to create connections with industry professionals and begin an ongoing relationship that I hope will ultimately lead to me evolving into a fully fledged and respected writer myself”
– Jonathan Gilbert, Inside the Writers Room participant 2015
ABOUT THE 2016 PROGRAM
Inside the Writers Room is a professional development program designed to give four Northern Rivers screenwriters the opportunity to sit in and watch professional writers working on the story of a television script, in a writers room environment.
Thanks to the ongoing support of leading Australian production companies, Screenworks is able to offer the selected participants the opportunity to be placed in highly respected writers rooms of the following companies:
- FreemantleMedia Australia (Neighbours);
- Matchbox Pictures (Old School, The Slap);
- Jungle (The Moodys, Elegant Gentleman’s Guide To Knife Fighting); and
- Ambience Entertainment (Tomorrow When The War Began).
These four opportunities are most relevant to writers of television content, and more specifically TV drama or comedy series. There may also be an opportunity for the participants to receive advice or a market appraisal on their own scripts.
Inside the Writers Room is designed to help regionally-based emerging writers understand writers room best practice and to create connections between local content creators and established production houses.
By delivering the program for a second year, Screenworks wants to build the capacity of local emerging screenwriters, provide opportunity for people living and/or working in regional NSW, and improve our local industry’s capacity and sustainability.
ELIGIBILITY & ASSESMENT CRITERIA
To apply for Inside the Writers Room, applicants must meet the eligibility and assessment criteria set out below.
Applicants are asked to complete the online application form, and attach both a treatment / extract from a sample script (maximum 5 pages) in addition to providing at least one letter supporting their application to the program.
Following is the program’s eligibility and assessment criteria:
- Applicant must be a resident of the Northern Rivers region.
- Applicant must be a Screenworks Member.
- Applicant must be able to demonstrate a high-level writing ability by providing an example of writing for TV, especially drama or comedy
- Applicant must be able to demonstrate a commitment to a career in the industry with significant relevant screenwriting experience.
Participants will be selected by a panel of local industry professionals, based on the quality of their application and the potential of their work. Up to 4 participants will be selected.
Travel, accommodation and some expenses for the successful participants will be covered by the Inside the Writers Room program funding.
For more information contact Screenworks 02 6687 1599.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants are required to complete an online application form and must address how they meet the eligibility and assessment criteria listed above.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.
DEADLINE: Applications for Inside the Writers Room must be received by: 5pm, Thursday 26 November 2015.
Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted. Applications can only be submitted online using the form provided.
ENQUIRIES OR MORE INFORMATION:
If you have any questions about the Inside the Writers Room or require information about the application process, please contact:
Melitta Firth (Screenworks Projects Co-ordinator) |
Email: [email protected] | Phone: (02) 6687 1599
Ken Crouch (Screenworks General Manager) |
Email: [email protected] | Phone: (02) 6687 1599
Screenworks’ Inside the Writers Room is supported by
Screen NSW
Screen NSW is the statutory authority established to assist, promote and strengthen the screen industry in NSW so as to promote Australia’s cultural identity, encourage employment in all aspects of screen production, encourage investment in the industry, enhance the industry’s export potential, encourage innovation and enhance quality in the industry.
FreemantleMedia Australia (Neighbours)
FremantleMedia Australia is the country’s market leader in the creation and production of entertainment brands.
Iconic Neighbours is Australia’s longest-running serial drama, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Screened across the world and having employed an estimated 25,000 cast members, production crew and writers over three decades, Neighbours has firmly entrenched itself into the hearts of millions of Australians. It has helped propel names like Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Holly Valance, Jesse Spencer, Alan Dale, Russell Crowe, Margot Robbie and Guy Pearce to global fame.
www.fremantlemedia.com.au/shows/neighbours
Matchbox Pictures
Matchbox Pictures develops and produces scripted and non-scripted television programs and feature films for audiences throughout the world.
Formed in 2008 by Tony Ayres, Penny Chapman, Helen Bowden, Michael McMahon and Helen Panckhurst, Matchbox is one of the most dynamic production houses in Australia.
In May 2011, NBCUniversal took a majority stake in Matchbox Pictures and consequently acquired full ownership of the company in January 2014. With a diverse output, the business produces television drama, children’s programming, factual and entertainment content, animation and feature films for the domestic and international marketplace. Matchbox has also developed games and apps to enhance its programs across all available platforms.
Matchbox works with some of the most exciting writers, directors and producers in Australia to deliver content that is internationally renowned.
Jungle
Jungle is one of the top comedy production companies in the country, working across television, film and advertising.
Its productions include the ABC comedy series The Moodys, A Moody Christmas and The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting, as well as Stan’s first original series No Activity and the upcoming Channel 9 series Here Come The Habibs. They have also produced documentaries including Between a Frock and a Hard Place and As You Dreamt It.
The company has only recently branched out into feature films and are currently in development on two Screen Australia backed projects – The Murderous Urges of Ordinary Women and Death is For the Living.
Jungle is also one of the top television commercial production companies in Australia and have produced work for all of its biggest advertising agencies.
Ambience Entertainment
Ambience Entertainment was founded in 1989 and is an award winning production company and industry leader specialising in entertainment content.
Ambience Entertainment has feature film, television drama and children’s live action focused divisions with a highly experienced team who bring the qualifications and speciality backgrounds with the ability to be able to create, finance, produce and distribute entertainment content that is cutting edge and of the highest quality. This reputation has earned Ambience Entertainment recognition as an industry leader.
Past feature films include the action packed KILLER ELITE starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro. The page to screen adaptation of John Marsden’s beloved novel TOMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN, THE LOVED ONES and DYING BREED.
Ambience Entertainment has the unique ability to create and produce children’s TV in their studio and distribute among Australia’s free to air television networks. Some of the award winning programs they are responsible for include: JAY’S JUNGLE, KITCHEN WHIZ, MOVE IT, MAGICAL TALES, SURPRISES, FLUSHED and IMAGINATION TRAIN.
Ambience Entertainment is proud to announce that they are currently in production on TOMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN – THE TV SERIES which will air on ABC3 in 2016.
