A 2 day seminar on the process of screen producing documentary and drama for film and television, with some of Australia’s most outstanding producers and industry executives.

Program highlights include:

  • case studies on best practice from some of Australia’s top drama and documentary producers
  • industry opportunities identified by key industry executives
  • round table and panel discussions
  • networking events

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL PROGRAM

Friday March 24th and Saturday March 25th
SAE Creative Media Institute, Byron Bay

Ticket prices:

2 day pass $150 / $70 Screenworks members
1 day pass $85 / $40 Screenworks members

PRODUCERS DINNER – an exclusive opportunity to meet with the guest speakers in a relaxed and social atmosphere…MORE
6:30pm onwards, Friday March 24th
Tickets $85 includes 3 course meal and beverages


Guest Speakers

Cate McQuillen – Producer, Mememe Productions

Chloe Rickard – Head of Production, Jungle

Dana Michell – Producer, Super Collective

Darius Devas – Producer, Being Films

David Bradbury – Producer, Frontline Films

Emma Madison – Head of Member Services, Screenrights

Graeme Mason – CEO, Screen Australia

Imogen Banks – Producer, Endemol Shine

Lois Randall – Producer, Magpie Pictures

Madeleine Hetherton – Producer & Director, Media Stockade

Matt Deaner – CEO, Screen Producers Australia

Sharon Menzies – Managing Director, Fulcrum Media Finance

Sophia Zachariou – Head of Development and Production Director, Sector Investment Screen NSW

Steven Gardner – Business Development Manager, Media Super

Veronica Fury – Executive Producer, Wildbear TV

Vincent Sheehan – Producer, Porchlight Films

 


Screen Producing Best Practice Program

[Program subject to change]

6:30 pm Friday: PRODUCERS DINNER – A separate ticketed event see details below


THE PRODUCERS DINNER

6:30 Friday 24th March

An intimate and elegant evening including a sumptuous 3 course meal with beverages at the iconic 100 Mile Table in Byron Bay.   Numbers are strictly limited and the Producers Dinner guests will have exclusive use of the venue, providing a unique opportunity to meet with the visiting guest speakers and other producers in a relaxed social atmosphere.

Tickets $85 includes a 3 course meal and beverages (beer, wine and mineral water)


Guest speaker bios

Cate McQuillen, Producer – Mememe Productions

Cate McQuillen is creatively driven.

From her home base in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW, she and her partner Hewey Eustace are mememe productions, creating ‘out there’ children’s programming for a new generation of content seekers. With a myriad of skills and interests, her greatest assets are her approach and attitude and ability to generate ideas, motivate, inspire and see the ‘big picture’. These days she wakes up and pinches herself.

Chloe Rickard, Head of Production – Jungle

Chloe Rickard is one of Australia’s most dynamic and innovative comedy producers. A Partner and Head of Production at Jungle, she has produced two seasons of Here Come the Habibs (Nine Network), No Activity (Stan’s first original commission) and Soul Mates (ABC/NBC Universal), along with The Moodys, A Moody Christmas, Elegant Gentlemen’s Guide to Knife Fighting, and over 200 television commercials.

She is currently developing the feature film The Murderous Urges of Ordinary Women and the dramedy series Holy Cow, both funded by Screen Australia.

Chloe is a recipient of Screen Australia’s Enterprise Growth program with the Van Vuuren Bros and recently gained her Masters of Screen Arts & Business from AFTRS, in which she was awarded the Foxtel New Media Innovation Prize and the Wake In Fright Prize for the best thesis.

Chloe is a member of the Screen Tasmania Advisory Board, as appointed by the Minister for the Arts.

Dana Michell, Producer – Super Collective

Dana has been producing content for networks and production companies around the world for the past 15 years. As a freelancer based in Byron Bay, her contracts across a year could see her producing sensitive subjects from the front line for documentaries or living it up in exotic locales for reality TV. She could also be booked to file local news reports or to cast the crazies for pure entertainment. Whether it be pounding the “shiny floor” on a multi-million dollar studio show or working crazy hours on live outdoor broadcasts, Dana loves it all.  She is passionate about keeping standards high in the industry and mentoring newcomers who understand hard work and being realistic about their expectations. Credits include 7, 9 and 10 News, The Project, The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, Big Brother, The Australian Open, The Olympics right through to Discovery’s Shark Week & ABC’s award winning medical doco “Keeping Australia Alive”. With humour and real talk, Dana delivers a “no BS” presentation on what it’s really like to seek work and stay working in the most competitive industry in the country.

Darius Devas, Producer – Being Films

Darius Devas is a self taught filmmaker who has never followed a set path, instead always creating opportunity from the world around him. He recently received Screen Australia development funding for his Multi-platform documentary The Afghan Connection. His latest short film Meeting Susan had it’s world premiere at the 2014 Sydney Film Festival. His experimental short Within (narrated by Guy Pearce) at the National Gallery of Victoria as part of Melbourne Now as well as TedXSdyney 2014. In 2013 his interactive documentary series This City Speaks received development funding from Screen Australia. Darius’ interactive documentary series Goa Hippy Tribe (2011), won the 2012 SXSW Interactive award for Film & TV and was selected for IDFA 2011. In 2009, Darius directed his first feature film, Further We Search (2009). The lead actor in the film, Xavier Samuel has since gone on to receive Hollywood fame. Success with his travel film One Revolution (2006), gained him work as a content producer with Lonely Planet TV, working on their online TV channel. Darius began filmmaking straight out of school in 2003, making a series of surf films, and continues to source his inspiration from the ocean.

David Bradbury, Producer – Frontline Films

Two-time Academy Award-nominated director and producer David Bradbury is a documentary legend whose films have taken us around the planet and deep into the heart of individuals with extraordinary stories about war, uprising, injustice and exploitation.

David is the sole creative force behind ground-breaking documentaries such as Frontline about war cinematographer and correspondent Neil Davis who covered the Vietnam war for 11 years, A Hard Rain and Blowin’ in the Wind, both exploring the impact of ‘depleted’ uranium in the Gulf war. And his most recent film, The Crater, about Vietnam War conscript Brian Cleaver’s redemptive journey to locate the missing bodies of 42 enemy soldiers Cleaver’s company killed in one night during the war.

David always operates as a one-man band shooting his own footage and collecting sound as he goes. He has traveled everywhere in search of Story, starting in 1974 as a journalist covering the Spring Revolution in Portugal and the overthrow of the Greek military junta in Athens. He was in Iran for the final days of the Shah. His ferocious need to be at the frontline of the action has led him onto numerous actual battlefields including Nicaragua at the time of the CIA-Contra war, the death squads of El Salvador in the early 1980’s, Iraq and the remote independence struggles in East Timor and West Papua. He was nominated for an Academy award for his film on Pinochet’s Chile, Chile Hasta Quando?

David’s films have been broadcast around the world.  In an independent career spanning 40 years, David’s 25 documentaries are remarkable for their unflinching exposure of uncomfortable truths and his ability to get to the raw, authentic core of the people who often risk all to tell their stories to the world.

Emma Madison, Head of Member Services – Screenrights

Screenrights collects and distributes royalties for rightsholders in film, tv and radio. It has more than 4,000 members across 60+ countries, including producers, writers, directors, distributors, sales agents, broadcasters, studios and other rightsholders in film, tv and radio. Membership is free and Screenrights royalties play an important role in recognising the value of content and sustaining creative businesses.
As Head of Member Services Emma has overseen the distribution of more than $250 million in royalties.
Emma also guides the development of new and existing services for Screenrights members, including Screenrights International which can collect royalties owing from around the world for your programs and Disbursements by Screenrights – a service for Australian producers to facilitate fast and accurate disbursements to investors and other revenue participants.

Graeme Mason, CEO – Screen Australia

Graeme has been CEO of Screen Australia since November 2013. Previously, he worked in both factual and entertainment TV programming in his native Australia before moving to the UK. In Britain he worked across all aspects of film production, sales and acquisitions, and distribution for companies such as Manifesto and Polygram Filmed Entertainment. From 1998 to 2002 he was president of worldwide acquisitions for Universal Studios. He then joined Channel 4 Television as head of media projects and later as managing director of rights before moving to New Zealand to lead the New Zealand Film Commission from 2009 to 2013. With over 20 years of international experience in film, television and multimedia businesses, Mr Mason has an intimate knowledge of the full spectrum of the screen sector, having worked with large US studios, a UK television network, independent producers and government agencies.

Imogen Banks, Producer – Endemol Shine

Imogen is a multi award-winning creator and producer. With a background in Visual Arts and Theatre, Imogen started in the business as an agent representing writers and directors at RGM Associates. This led to a role in the development of the AFI, Logie and ASTRA nominated Foxtel drama Dangerous, which she co-produced with John Edwards in 2006.

Next she developed, together with John and writer Fiona Seres, the SHOWTIME showcase series Tangle, the first season of which she produced in 2008, receiving five Logie nominations. Tangle was commissioned for another two series receiving a further sixteen Logie, AFI and ASTRA award nominations, with  four wins.

Imogen co-created (with Debra Oswald and John Edwards), and produced, the Network Ten hit series Offspring, which has garnered many Logie, AFI, and AACTA wins, including multiple Silver Logies for Asher Keddie, and the Gold in 2013.

In 2012 and 2013 she produced two series of the AACTA and Logie Award winning Puberty Blues for Network Ten and Southern Star John Edwards. Imogen and John together developed the ABC mini-series Paper Giants; and in 2014 produced the Asher Keddie and Rodger Corser vehicle Party Tricks as well as the eight-hour mini-series Gallipoli with Robert Connolly for the Nine Network.

In 2015 Imogen produced the highly acclaimed six-part ABC mini-series The Beautiful Lie, which was nominated for multiple AACTA Awards including Best Mini Series. In the same year Imogen was a recipient of an InStyle and Audi Women Of Style award in the Entertainment category.

In early 2016 Imogen launched Endemol Shine Banks, a division of Endemol Shine Australia, under which banner she produced the highly anticipated sixth series of Offspring. Recently she was the recipient of Screen Australia funding as part of the Gender Matters initiative, and with writer Alice Bell, has launched Smart For A Girl: Roar, a program to foster emerging female writers for television.

In 2017 Imogen will produce the seventh series of Offspring and a new seven part series Sisters, both for Network Ten.

Lois Randall, Producer – Magpie Pictures

Lois Randall is a Screen Producer with extensive experience in screen and arts production and industry development. Lois was Producer of the six-episode mini-series The Gods of Wheat Street (ABC), awarded Miniseries of the Year at the 2014 Screen Producers Australia Awards. She is currently in pre-production on Grace Beside Me, a 13 episode children’s television series co-commissioned by NITV and ABC Me, through her locally based production company Magpie Pictures. Credits include line producer of East of Everything drama series (ABC); production manager on John Weiley’s international Imax documentary Solarmax, and producer of short films including Last Drinks at Frida’s (ABC), Nan and a whole lot of Trouble (ABC, Flickerfest), Air (animation, SBS, Dendy Awards) and The New Boots (Sydney Film Festival). Professional experience includes Executive Officer at Australian Screen Directors Association (now ADG), CEO and RADO at Arts Northern Rivers, and Manager of Metro Screen. Lois is a member of the NSW Film and Television Industry Advisory Committee and a board member of Screenworks.

Madeleine Hetherton, Producer, Director – Media Stockade

Madeleine is an experienced Producer and Director. She works across a wide range of documentary and top rating factual programs. In 2012 she co-founded the independent production company Media Stockade www.mediastockade.com with Rebecca Barry.

Her filmmaking has taken her around the world from diamond diving in Africa to wildlife trafficking in Burma and through the remote Australian outback. Most recently, Madeleine has been in West Africa, Series Producing ‘The Surgery Ship’ for National Geographic Channel. The series, based on the earlier single documentary, follows stories aboard the world’s largest civilian hospital ship as it roams the coast of Africa. It will broadcast globally in 2017.

Her other long form directing includes the documentary series ‘Making Babies’ (SBS) reviewed as ‘fascinating and moving’, ‘Beats Across Borders’ (ABC /Cirque du Soleil) and feature doc  ‘Love In Our Own Time’. Her films have won and been nominated for a number of awards including Best Film – Sarasota Film, Best Directing by the Australian Directors Guild and the Association of International Broadcasters for Best Contemporary Documentary

She has extensive experience in television documentary and factual programs shooting and producing for major production companies such as Endemol Southern Star, IMG Media, ITVS & Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder. She has produced and shot on over 60 episodes of the top rating ‘Bondi Rescue’ (Ch10/Nat Geo) as well as popular series such as ‘The Nest’ (SBS), ‘Last Chance Surgery’ (Ch7/Discovery) ‘The Poker Star’ (Ch10), the popular ‘Outback Truckers’ (Ch 7) and Keeping Australia Alive (ABC/ITVS).

She is a accomplished observational documentary camera operator and photographer. Madeleine also holds a degree in Architecture which does not really help her filmmaking but does make her handy with assembling IKEA furniture.

Matthew Deaner, CEO –  Screen Producers of Australia

Matthew Deaner is the Chief Executive Office of the Screen Producers of Australia and sits across all advocacy work, industrial negotiations, events and operational issues. He also works closely with the Screen Producers Council to set the strategic direction of the organisation as well as identify and execute new business development opportunities.

Sharon Menzies- Managing Director Fulcrum Media Finance

Sharon is a specialist film and television finance company, providing cashflow for the Australian Producer Offset, PDV Offset, the New Zealand Screen Production Grant, the New Zealand PDV Grant and the United Kingdom Tax Credit. Fulcrum also provides cashflow for distribution guarantees, pre-sales, sales agent advances. Fulcrum has become the leading provider of cashflow loans in Australasia and has contributed to over 130 feature films, television productions, and documentaries. Recent projects include Lion, One Thousand Ropes, Berlin Syndrome, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Dance Academy: The Comeback, The Secret River, The Principal, Jack Irish Series, The New Adventures Of Figaro Pho, The Dressmaker, Last Cab To Darwin, Oddball and Holding The Man, Deep Water (Drama And Documentary), Lister: Adventure, Painter, Servant Or Slave? and Motorkite Dreaming.

Sophia Zachariou  – Head of Development and Production, Director, Sector Investment, Screen NSW

Prior to joining Screen NSW Sophia Zachariou was Deputy Head of Entertainment at ABC TV and was the network EP on some of the highest rating programs on the ABC, including all of the Gruen programs, Kitchen Cabinet with Annabel Crabb, The Checkout, Judith Lucy’s Spiritual Journey and All WomanThe Chasers Media CircusHungry Beast, Agony Uncles and AuntsWednesday Night Fever, Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife fighting, The Chaser’s War on Everything, the Saturday Night Crack Up and the ABC’s Live New Year’s Eve broadcast.

Sophia also developed unique digital formats for iView such as the hit comedy series, Fresh Blood and Canberra al desko with Annabel Crabb.

“I’ve been immensely proud of the shows I’ve been able to offer up to Australian audiences whilst at the ABC and I am thrilled to be joining the executive team at Screen NSW to again bring innovative, risk taking and unique stories to Australian screens.”

Steven Gardner, Business Development Manager – Media Super

Steven Gardner is the Business Development Manager for Media Super in Queensland. Media Super is the Industry Superannuation Fund for Creative People in Media, Arts, Entertainment and Print.

Steven has been working for Print/Media Super for 12 years in Relationship and Business Development roles.

Steven has been in the superannuation industry for over 25 years and has worked for both corporate and industry superannuation funds and believes in the industry fund ethos of profit to members and no bonuses or commissions.

Steven is passionate about all people being aware of their superannuation entitlements and gaining education so they make the most of something that is part of everyone’s salary package. He speaks to members of all ages and in various forums to ensure that as many people as possible can gain further knowledge.

 

Veronica Fury, Executive Producer – WildBear Entertainment

Veronica Fury is a Principal and Executive Producer at WildBear Entertainment. Veronica is an award-winning producer with over 60 hours of screen credits both here and abroad. Fury has produced TV for ABC, SBS, Nat Geo, Discovery, ZDF/Arte, TG4 and Arte France to name a few. Her recent television successes include Big Art (Sky Vision, 2015), Snake Boss (Animal Planet, 2015), Baby Animals In The Wild (DRG, 2015), and Shadow Trackers (NITV, 2016) Veronica Fury also has a broad feature documentary slate, including Electric Boogaloo which she co-produced with RatPac Documentary Films in 2014, and Ella (Ronin Films, 2016). Veronica is currently producing a broad range of factual television series and feature documentary productions.

Vincent Sheehan,  Producer – Porchlight Films

Vincent Sheehan is a film and television producer and co-founder of Porchlight Films an independent production company based in Sydney. His producing credits include the feature films Mullet with writer director David Caesar, Little Fish directed by Rowan Woods and starring Cate Blanchett and The Hunter an adaptation of Julia Leigh’s acclaimed novel directed by Daniel Nettheim and starring Willem Dafoe. Vincent was an executive producer on the TV series Laid, Cate Shorland’s LORE and David Michod’s debut feature Animal Kingdom as well as The Rover starring Robert Pattinson and Guy Pearce. Vincent is the co-creator and producer of The Kettering Incident, an 8-part mystery drama series starring Elizabeth Debicki and Matthew LeNevez. His latest production is the adaptation of Craig Silvey’s best selling novel Jasper Jones. Directed by Rachel Perkins and starring Toni Collette, Hugo Weaving and Levi Miller, Jasper Jones is due for release in early 2017.

And more to come…


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