Screenworks has today announced that it has employed Cairns-based Riannon Belcher as its new North Queensland Projects Coordinator to help oversee the successful delivery of the 3-year Screen Queensland North Queensland Regional Program. Screenworks also announced that it has now entered into an MOU with CQUniversity to work collaboratively to develop screen industry skillsets in North Queensland, with CQUniversity supporting the delivery of the North Queensland Regional Program by providing promotional support and access to facilities, venues and/or other equipment.
In December, Screen Queensland announced that it had appointed specialist regional organisation Screenworks to deliver a full program of workshops, events, and initiatives as part of its North Queensland Regional Program. With a total investment of $675,000 over three years, the program will deliver a range of industry development and up-skilling opportunities to further strengthen the burgeoning screen sector in Far North and North Queensland. The program will be delivered from early 2022 to the end of 2024.
Following a very competitive recruitment process, Screenworks has employed local producer Riannon Belcher as its North Queensland Projects Coordinator. The role will be permanently based in the region and responsible for the successful delivery of the Screen Queensland North Queensland Regional Program to be delivered by Screenworks.
With over 16 years in the screen industry, Riannon has extensive experience in all aspects of content development from pre-production through to delivery. Throughout her career, Riannon has worked with broadcasters Network Seven, Nine Network, ABC and Channel Ten, along with various production companies to produce House Rules, MKR, Travel Guides, Big Brother, Dive Club, Australian Survivor and many more.
After many years living interstate, Riannon moved back to her hometown of Cairns in 2019 and is delighted to become part of the Screenworks team in 2022.
Riannon explained that she “developed a love of video production as a teenager, collaborating with friends at Cairns State High School. With limited resources locally, I moved to Brisbane and then Sydney to fulfil my dream of working in television production. Now back in Cairns, I am thrilled to be offered this position, and am very excited to be a part of the continued expansion of the creative industries in North Queensland. I can’t wait to connect with aspiring and established content creators from the region!”
Screenworks CEO, Ken Crouch said, “We were truly overwhelmed with the number and quality of applications that we received for the North Queensland Projects Coordinator position – we were really spoilt for choice! Our entire team is very excited about Riannon joining our team to help deliver the Screen Queensland North Queensland Regional Program”.
Screenworks also announced that it has now entered into an MOU with CQUniversity focused on supporting the delivery of the North Queensland Regional Program. Screenworks and CQUniversity have collaborated previously in the delivery of screen industry workshops in the Cairns region, most recently for the Screen Queensland Make It In FNQ: Weekend Editing Courses delivered by Screenworks in November.
With campuses across North Queensland including Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns, there was a natural alignment with the scope of work envisaged as part of the Screen Queensland North Queensland Regional Program to be delivered by Screenworks. As part of the MOU, CQUniversity will support the 3-year program by providing promotional support and access to facilities, venues and/or other equipment in order to facilitate pathways between the higher education sector and the industry offerings of Screenworks.
CQUniversity’s aspiration is to develop regional, national and international partnerships that will contribute to the professional and educational growth of our staff and students and in turn, build a stronger base for the local capacity building and screen skills development in the region.
Screen Queensland Acting Chief Creative Officer Belinda Burns said, “Screenworks are true leaders in the regional screen space. They have assembled an expert team and formed strategic partnerships, to inject the local industry in the North and Far North of our state, with invaluable skills, knowledge and opportunity.
Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Far North Queensland Screen Champion Curtis Pitt said, “We are executing this plan with a holistic strategy to support production and producers of every kind.
“Screenworks with CQUniversity are perfectly aligned with Screen Queensland and the Queensland Government’s goal to support local practitioners to build robust industry skills and create high quality content for global audiences.
“This will be further enhanced with permanent screen infrastructure being delivered in Cairns to support the growth of this amazing sector.”
As part of the North Queensland Regional Program, Screenworks will deliver a broad range of workshops and networking events and also plans to expand several of its existing programs to include practitioners and crew living in North Queensland, including the Regional Crew Development Program that Screenworks is currently delivering in Northern NSW in partnership with Netflix and its Career Pathways Programs that support screenwriters, directors and producers.
Screen Queensland’s North Queensland Regional Program is delivered in partnership with Screenworks.
