How to be a successful screen producer
A two and a ½ day seminar presenting some of Australia’s most successful screen producers.
1pm Thursday 8 March – 4pm Saturday 10 March, 2018
SAE Creative Institute, Byron Bay
tickets on sale now click here
program here
Come along to learn from some of Australia’s most prolific and awarded drama and documentary producers as well as representatives from funding bodies and broadcast executives at Screenworks 2½ day seminar. The guest speakers will give advice on producing successful screen content and comment on industry trends and opportunities.
Highlights include case studies by Helen Bowden (Wake in Fright), Karina Holden (Blue), Lois Randall (Grace Beside Me), and a Q & A with Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film), as well as several Meet the Broadcaster sessions with Steve Bibb (Head of Factual ABC), Rob Gibson (Head of Originals Stan) and Carly Heaton (Executive at Foxtel), and a 1/2 day session on Financially Managing Your Production by Moneypenny Services.
Check out the impressive line up of guest speakers with more to be announced soon!
Some guest speakers will be available for limited pre-booked one-on-one meetings. Watch this space for further details.
Now in its third year, Screenworks popular producing seminar consistently attracts a high calibre of guest speakers who present and network in a small and inclusive environment. This not-to-be missed seminar is ideal for early career screen producers, content creators and anyone seeking a career in the film and television industry.
Previous participants have raved about the Screenworks producing seminars-
- The intimate nature of the whole two days made it feel really inclusive- and the producers that attended were really top notch.
- .. a fantastic look behind the scenes at what two leading producers do to develop their shows with examples from specific shows.
- Amazing to have access to such incredible talent and have them give us insight into their process in a really practical way
Tickets here
Guest speakers include:
Simon & Stacey Baker – Producers at The Bakery Media
Steve Bibb – Head of Factual at ABC TV
Helen Bowden – Partner & Producer at Lingo Pictures
Jane Corden – CEO of Moneypenny
Scott Corfield – Producer at Tojohage Productions
Deb Cox – Partner and Creative Producer at Every Cloud Productions
Dena Curtis – Producer & Director
Matthew Deaner – CEO of Screen Producers Australia
Damon Gameau – Independent Producer
Rob Gibson – Originals Development Stan
Carly Heaton – Drama Executive at Foxtel
Timothy Hobart – Development Executive at Matchbox Pictures
Karina Holden – Producer at Northern Pictures
Catherine Marciniak – Producer at ABC Open
Cate McQuillen – Producer at Mememe Productions
Lois Randall – Producer at Magpie Pictures
Di Roberston – Independent Producer
Sally Regan – Senior Manager, Sector Investment at Create NSW
Tracey Vieira – CEO of Screen Queensland
Deanne Weir – Company Director
Virginia Whitwell – Head of Production at Madman
Program subject to change
6pm Friday 9th March
PRODUCERS DINNER
A sumptuous 3 course meal at the relaxed and intimate 100 Mile Table, a unique networking opportunity.
This is a separated ticketed event with limited places available: Food and beverage included in the ticket price $100 (plus booking fee)
SIMON & STACEY BAKER – Producers at The Bakery Media
The driving force behind The Bakery is Mr. & Mrs. Simon and Stacey Baker.
Having extensive backgrounds in Major Label Music Promotion and London Theatre Production
Management, their lightbulb moment was realising that they’re a classic Producer & Director team to run a Film Production Company. Since then, they’ve never looked back. They’ve now grown the business into specialising in not just Film Production for corporate clients but also Video Marketing. This extends into Workshops, Training and Consultancy for companies to not only produce their own content but understand and appreciate the professional production workflow for those higher value production assets. As the digital landscape for video grows, Simon and Stacey continue to producing high quality content and share their ideas and knowledge to help in growing local digital economies.
STEVE BIBB – Head of Factual at ABC TV
As the Head of Factual at ABC TV, Steve sets the strategy and oversees a team responsible for the development, commissioning, production, delivery and overall excellence of external and internal factual programming.
Steve and his team have commissioned a raft of titles including the AACTA winning War on Waste, the Logie award winning Conviction plus Stargazing Live, Anh’s Brush with Fame, Ask the Doctor, Ice Wars, Keeping Australia Alive, Keeping Australia Safe, Brian Cox: Life of a Universe, Housemates and Bullied as well as overseeing the revamp of the science brand, Catalyst, and the upcoming launch of the true crime strand, Unravel.
HELEN BOWDEN – Producer at Lingo Pictures
Helen is one of Australia’s most prolific and awarded drama producers. Her credits include: Wake in Fright, Devil’s Playground, which won the 2015 AACTA and Logie for best miniseries; Underground: The Julian Assange Story, which had its world premiere at Toronto and screened on Network Ten; and The Slap which won five AFI Awards, a Logie and was BAFTA, and Emmy nominated. The Slap also sold to the BBC and was remade for NBC (US).
Helen was a principal and the foundation MD of Matchbox Pictures, which formed in 2008 and sold to NBC Universal in early 2014. The company enjoyed a spectacular rise and by 2011 it was named Australian Independent Producer of the Year. Helen led the transaction with NBCU, sat on the Board of Matchbox post acquisition, and was closely involved in developing a business plan for the factual entertainment division.
In mid-2015 Helen partnered with producer Jason Stephens to launch Lingo Pictures. In 2016 they aired a prestige pilot for Foxtel taking Maggie Beer to Japan. In 2017 they delivered their first drama Wake in Fright to Network Ten and currently have a mini series going into production for Foxtel; a boxing drama going into production for SBS; and a comedy drama in development for Foxtel and Sky Atlantic.
JANE CORDEN – CEO of Moneypenny
Jane Corden is CEO of Moneypenny, the leading Film, TV & Entertainment industry financial and accounting services company in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and now with offices in UK. Jane has worked side by side with Film Makers since 1983 and has been head of the Moneypenny Services group since 1988 growing the company from a supplier of experienced film production accountants to the “one stop financial shop” that it has become today providing services to all types of production large and small. Jane’s own film credits began with a mini series “A Fortunate Life” in 1983 followed by many more and in recent times she went back out on location as Financial Controller on Anthony Minghella’s “No 1 Ladies Detective Agency”.
Currently Jane is based in Sydney but oversees operations in UK and SA. Jane also spends up to four months a year travelling between film markets, festivals and Moneypenny offices in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and UK to support film makers in finding financial solutions.
Jane is also available to do international consulting to governments and regional offices with regard to the successful introduction of incentives and their interaction with co productions, co finanaced or location projects. Jane and her consulting team have provided reports to national and regional governments in Australia, South Africa, Botswana and Serbia and continue to research key structural issues for film producers who want to operate within today’s global environment.
SCOTT CORFIELD – Independent Feature Film Producer
Scott graduated from the Queensland University of Technology film school in 1999 and has since then worked in the film, advertising and entertainment production industry. Scott studied at The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York before starting his own commercials production company in 2004.
In 2007 he produced his first independent feature Crooked Business with IF award-winning writer Chris Nyst. His second feature film Don’t Tell, starring Jack Thompson, Aden Young and Rachel Griffiths was released in Australian cinemas in 2017 and was nominated for a SPA award and received 4 AACTA nominations. The film also won the Audience Award for Best Film at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California where it had its world premiere. Scott holds an MBA from Bond University and is currently developing a slate of film and TV projects through Tojohage Productions.
DEB COX – Partner and Creative Producer at Every Cloud Productions
Deb Cox began writing and editing for television in the 1980’s at Crawford Productions in Melbourne. Her early freelance career included a stint as Project Officer for the Australian Film Commission and as Head of Drama for Artist Services Pty Ltd, where she developed a range of feature film and television projects, including the ABC Miniseries, Simone de Beauvoir’s Babies (Creator, Writer, Co-Producer) and the feature film, Dead Letter Office (Creator, Writer, Co-Producer). As part of CoxKnight Productions, with Andrew Knight, she developed three series of the ABC series, Sea Change (Co-creator, Co-writer and Co-Producer) the Ten Network series, Crash Burn (Co-creator, Co-Writer, Co-Executive Producer) and the Children’s Series, Worst Best Friends (Co-Executive Producer, Story Editor).
In 2006 she wrote one of Australia’s first long-run online narratives, PS Trixi, for Hoodlum Entertainment in Brisbane, then co-created, co-wrote and produced two series of the ABC series ‘East of Everything’ , filmed entirely in the Northern Rivers. Joining forces with producer, Fiona Eagger, to form Every Cloud Productions, she went on to Co-create, co-producer and head the writing team on two series of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, screening on the ABC in 2011 and 2013.
DENA CURTIS – Director & Producer
Dena Curtis is a Producer and Director from Central Australia who now lives in Brisbane and has just completed producing the NITV/ABC children’s television series Grace Beside Me with Lois Randall.
Her short film Hush won the audience award for Best Foreign Short Film at the Films de Femmes, Créteil France, whilst her documentary, Cheeky Dog, premiered at the Sydney Film Festival. In 2009 Dena premiered multi-award winning short film, Jacob, at Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival. After a short stint at NITV, Dena joined the ABC as the Series Producer on Message Sticks then later became the Commissioning Editor for Indigenous overseeing development and production on Warwick Thornton’s The Darkside, Yagan, 88, The Redfern Story, Outside Chance and Wild Kitchen.
Dena directed the Comedy Series, 8MMM Aboriginal Radio, as well as the short film Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble, which premiered at 2016 Flickerfest. Other recent credits include director and co-producer on the documentary series, Shadow Trackers, co-producer on feature documentary, Ella, directed by Douglas Watkins, writer on series one of NITV’s Family Rules, and director of the latest Colour Theory Series
MATTHEW DEANER – CEO, SCREEN PRODUCERS AUSTRALIA
Matthew Deaner is the Chief Executive Officer of Screen Producers Australia (SPA), a national organization that unites the screen industry to campaign for a healthy commercial
environment. SPA support the interests of businesses, large and small, in their production of feature films, television programs, interactive content and games across all genres and formats. Matthew oversees all aspects of SPA’s advocacy work, industrial negotiations, events and operational issues. He also works closely with SPA’s Council to set the strategic direction of the organisation as well as identify and execute new business development opportunities. Matthew brings a wealth of knowledge to SPA with his experience as a lawyer in
both Sydney and London and in senior policy and strategy positions with Screen Australia and the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association.
In July 2015 Matthew was appointed to the board of Media Super.
DAMON GAMEAU – Actor/Director/Producer
Damon Gameau is an award-winning actor who has appeared in a range of productions. As a director, he was the winner of Tropfest in 2011 and That Sugar Film marked his first feature-length film. The film is now the highest-grossing Australian documentary of all time and has had major releases across New Zealand, the UK, Canada, South Africa and the United States across Europe & Asia. The film also won the 2015 AACTA award for Best Feature Documentary.
Following on from the release of the film, the journey has continued to evolve with Damon addressing the UK and New Zealand Parliaments, met with the LA Lakers, screened for the Royal College of Medicine in London and appeared on television via the BBC, The Today Show and Dr Oz in the US.
On the back of the enormous success of That Sugar Film and the best seller ‘That Sugar Book’, Damon recently brought us That Sugar Guide which he has co-written with his wife Zoe. He is currently working on his new documentary ‘2040’ – a vision board of how the world could look if we were to act on the good ideas available to us right now. It crosses subjects of climate change, economics, wellbeing, design and innovation, education and more.
Rob Gibson – Head of Originals Development Stan
Rob Gibson is head of Originals Development for Stan, where he is working on the development and production of original programs for the platform. Stan’s current slate includes the comedy series NO ACTIVITY, produced by Jungle Entertainment, and WOLF CREEK, a long form TV drama adaptation of the Greg McLean movies.
Prior to working at Stan, Rob worked as a producer in LA with production company Circle of Confusion (STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, THE WALKING DEAD) and as an independent producer in Australia. Previously, he was a media and entertainment lawyer, working for Allens Linklaters, Foxtel, Festival Records and Fairfax Media.
CARLY HEATON – Drama Executive at Foxtel
Carly has worked at Foxtel for 10 years first as a Creative Director with a talented bunch who created some of the most awarded work in the country. Two years ago she made the leap from Creative Director to Drama Executive. She now gets to work developing and producing Australia’s most outstanding dramas with some of the best creatives in the country. She has worked across Wentworth, A Place to Call Home, The Kettering Incident, Secret City, Fighting Season and the 4 shows Foxtel currently has in development.
TIMOTHY HOBART – Development Executive at Matchbox Pictures
Timothy Hobart is a drama development executive at Matchbox Pictures – an affiliate of Comcast NBC Universal. In this capacity he conceives, develops, writes and produces television dramas for local and international markets. Timothy’s credits include, amongst others; Killing Time, Better Man, Wentworth and the Emmy nominated Wanted.
KARINA HOLDEN – Producer at Northern Pictures
Karina is known as a dynamic industry leader working in both the independent sector as Head of Production, Creative Producer and Writer/Director, as well as within the national broadcaster as Commissioning Editor and Head of Factual for ABC TV. She has been a key creative and executive on break out series such as Go Back to Where You Came From, Redesign My Brain, First Footprints, Life on the Reef, Luke Warm Sex and Changing Minds.
In 2017, Karina directed her first theatrical film, Blue, which premiered at the United Nations before its global cinema release. The crux of her creative work is to create change, truth tell and find unlikely heroes who challenge our perception.
CATHERINE MARCINIAK – ABC Open Producer
Catherine has had a 35-year career as a documentary and digital storyteller. In 2010 she was appointed to the position of ABC Open North Coast Producer and 2014/15 was seconded to and Executive Producer position overseeing video production by ABC regional digital producers. She works as a digital storytelling mentor and facilitator within the North Coast community teaching photography, writing and video, and assisting people to share their stories across the ABC. Prior to this role, Catherine as an independent documentary filmmaker, co-developed and was the originating director of “The Life Series: Life at 1 and Life at 3” following 11 young Australians. Until 2010, she was the lead director on the Australian series of “Who Do You Think You Are”. In addition to these recent projects Catherine has created over 40 hours of national and international television programming covering a broad range of topics and issues, including: Steel City, Grey Voyagers, Hospital – an Unhealthy Business, Stories from a Children’s Hospital, Beyond the Royal Veil and The Gamblers. From 2005-6 Catherine was the Series Producer of ABC TV’s Religion and Ethics program, COMPASS.
CATE MCQUILLEN – Producer at Mememe Productions
From her home base in the Northern Rivers Region of NSW, Cate McQuillen and her partner Hewey Eustace are mememe productions, creating ‘out there’ content for the instalife generation. These changemakers have produced the visually distinctive animation series dirtgirlworld and the nature driven live action series, Get Grubby TV for the ABC in Australia and 128 other countries around the globe. Big believers in the power of a story, this hothouse of innovation has scooped up awards, including an Emmy, AFI, Green Globe, ADG, SPAA digital producer and the prestigious NSW Service to the Community award in 2017. They have infiltrated Australian homes with their Handle with Care projects, their web series- Compost Rocks and a fleet of branded rubbish trucks, In 2017 Cate travelled across the top of Australia, producing a 6 part documentary series about our Indigenous rangers Country -handle with care and now she is passionate about Breaking Up with Plastic, inspiring
LOIS RANDALL – Producer at Magpie Pictures
Lois Randall has extensive experience in screen and arts production and industry development. Lois was Producer and Executive Producer of the thirteen-episode live action children’s series Grace Beside Me, screening on NITV and ABC in 2018, and Producer of the six-episode mini-series The Gods of Wheat Street (Every Cloud Productions for ABC), awarded Miniseries of the Year at the 2014 Screen Producers Australia Awards. She was also an Executive Producer on the Every Cloud Productions web series Deadlock in 2017, and previous 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 (Sydney Film Festival, ABC, ImagineNative), 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 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.
SALLY REGAN – Senior Manager, Screen Investment at Create NSW
Sally Regan is Senior Manager, Screen Investment at Create NSW and has over 30 years experience working in the screen production sector. She has produced film and television in Australia, Europe, Asia and America and was Drama Investment Manager at Screen Australia.
Previously, Sally worked as a Development and Production Executive at Screen NSW working across documentary, features and television drama and she was, from 1999 to 2003, Business Affairs Manager of Documentary Production at Film Australia, responsible for over production of over $6 million a year.
Her producer credits include the multi-award winning theatrical feature documentary thriller Forbidden Lie$ and she also co-produced the international Russell Crowe-featured series The Colour Of War, and produced the ABC documentaries National Treasures, Korean ANZAC, Peter Berner’s Loaded Brush, Road To Tokyo and Nerves of Steel, amongst others.
In 2007 Sally was awarded The Screen Producers Association Independent Documentary Producer of the Year Award and she was also awarded the Kenneth Myer Fellowship upon graduation from the Australian Film Television and Radio School (BA 1994).
DI ROBERTSON – Independent Producer
Di’s interest and career in film and TV began in her early 20’s while working as a production assistant at Scottish Screen Locations and being exposed to films such as Braveheart, Shallow Grave and Trainspotting.
Upon her return to Australia Di worked as a Production Manager on the documentary Waves of Change in Indonesia (aired ABC, director Bill Leimbach), Producer for SBS Croc Eisteddfod Festival in Northern Australia, as a Producer for the pilot program for Channel 9, What Do you do? and as the Art Department Coordinator for the US feature film Airtight.
Di was then invited to join Cherub Pictures by Executive Producer Michele Bennett (Chopper, 2000) as an in-house Producer. During her 10 years at Cherub Di worked with a variety of writer/directors including Luke Shanahan (Rabbit), Justin Kurzel (Snowtown, Macbeth, Assassin’s Creed) and Samantha Lang (The Monkey’s Mask, Carlotta, The Killing Field). Her production skills were honed through producing dozens of award winning TVCs’ for some of the world’s largest brands, music videos and short films. Highlights were script editing and producing the highly acclaimed dark comedy short It Takes Two to Tango, which screened at Palm Springs, LA shorts festival, MIFF and The News which was a finalist at Tropfest 2010. Both shorts went on to be selected for numerous festivals screening worldwide. During this time Di was attached as script editor and producer on the feature Talk Fast (in development). Di has worked as an associate producer and script consultant on the feature film Rabbit (Director Luke Shanahan) which premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August 2017. Working alongside Writer/Director Hattie Dalton (Third Star), Di recently produced Summer’s Day for ABC ME and Screen Australia.
TRACEY VIEIRA – CEO of Screen Queensland
Tracey Vieira was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Screen Queensland in 2014, the latest role in a stellar career promoting the Australian screen industry in Queensland and the United States. Tracey worked with the Pacific Film and Television Commission and then moved to Los Angeles in 2004 where for the next ten years she took on senior roles at Ausfilm, the industry-government partnership that connects the international screen industry with Australia’s screen incentives, talent and facilities.
At Ausfilm and later Screen Queensland she has played an integral role in attracting more than $1.5 billion in production investment in Australia, including Warner Bros. Aquaman, Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok and Disney’s, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Since returning Tracey has launched new initiatives for the industry including the first feature film with SVOD company Stan, a creative partnership initiative with YouTube, a business building program, Australia’s first VR series with a broadcaster and led significant cultural change within the organisation. Tracey also introduced the organisations first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategic Plan and a Gender Equity Policy to drive change both behind and in front of the screen.
DEANNE WEIR – Company Director
Deanne is passionate about community engagement and the power of story-telling to help influence social change. She is a member of the global philanthropic community, Women Moving Millions, and was previously the chair of the Australian Women Donors Network – both of which seek to increase the amount of social investment that reaches women and girls. Deanne is currently the chair of the Sydney Film Festival and Hoodlum.
A frequent guest speaker at corporate and philanthropic events, Deanne also provides informal mentoring support to a number of women in the media.
VIRGINIA WHITWELL – Head of Production at Madman
Virginia Whitwell is Head of Production at Madman Production Company, Melbourne. She has produced and co-produced several feature length documentaries including the award winning That Sugar Film and scripted features including Save Your Legs! (London Film Festival) and A Month Of Sundays (Toronto International Film Festival).
Hailing from the UK, she has worked on numerous productions all over the world. Her extensive production experience includes projects for Warner Bros, HBO, Lucasfilm, EON, 20th Century Fox and Universal.
Virginia is currently producing feature documentary 2040, Damon Gameau’s follow up to That Sugar Film while developing projects across documentary, TV and feature format.
EVENT PARTNERS:
Principle Partner: Media Super
As an industry fund run only to benefit members on a not-for-profit model, we are active in our industries, promoting many things that will benefit members and employers. We support a variety of professional development programs, workplace education sessions and the development of financial literacy and understanding, as well as sponsoring a number of industry awards. We also provide a cash flow loan facility and access to a pre-sale advance loan to help finance film and TV productions.
Government Partner: Create NSW
Create NSW is the NSW Government’s new arts and cultural driver, which brings together arts, screen and culture functions in a new integrated entity. Create NSW was established on 1 April 2017, and has responsibility for many of the functions previously undertaken by Arts NSW and Screen NSW.
Venue Partner: SAE Creative Media Institute
SAE Creative Media Institute offers Diploma and Bachelor courses in Film, Animation, Audio, Design and Games. SAE delivers creative programs in world-class facilities, with hands-on education, internationally recognised qualifications, and industry-relevant skills. Turn your passion into a creative career with SAE Byron Bay. sae.edu.au
Event Supporter: Byron Bay Coffee Company
Byron Bay Coffee Company was established in 1989. It is a family business dedicated to excellent service, professionalism and the production of great tasting coffee. They believe that the essential ingredients for the finest coffee are quality beans, expert roasting and blending, freshness and consistency. Byron Bay Coffee Company is at the cutting edge of the Australian Coffee industry.
Event Supporter: Moneypenny Services
Money penny provide a complete range of financial management solutions to creative industries worldwide. Our modus operandi in working with film and TV producers is about providing project-based financial management software and production accounting services; payroll, rebate facilitation and advisory services. Increasingly our specialised skills-set extends to theatre, events, commercials, and other project-oriented creative businesses.
Accommodation Supporter: Byron Bay Hotel & Apartments
Byron Bay Hotel and Apartments: right in the heart of Byron Bay, surrounded by cafes, restaurants and fashion boutiques, with glorious Main Beach just 150 meters away. Park your car – free – right under the hotel. WiFi to your room is free too. And a beautiful lap pool with sun lounges awaits your arrival. Choose from among our range of accommodation options, from King hotel-style rooms to spacious one, two, or three bedroom apartments equipped with gourmet kitchen, dishwasher, oven, fridge, flat-screen TV’s and private balcony. Toiletries and linen provided.
