ADVANCING THE CAREERS OF REGIONALLY-BASED SCREENWRITERS
Inside the Writers Room is a professional development program designed to give three regional NSW screenwriters the opportunity to sit in and watch professional writers working on the story for a television script in a writer’s room environment.
Thanks to the support of our partners – Screen NSW, Fremantle, Every Cloud Productions and Easy Tiger – Screenworks is able to offer the selected participants an opportunity to observe writers’ rooms in these highly respected production companies.
These opportunities are most relevant to emerging or early-career 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 projects or scripts.
By delivering the program for a sixth year, Screenworks wants to build the skills of emerging and early-career screenwriters, provide an opportunity for people living and/or working in regional NSW and improve our regional screen industry’s capacity and sustainability.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE 9am AEDST, MONDAY 25th NOVEMBER 2019
PROGRAM STRUCTURE:
Three emerging or early-career screenwriters will be offered the following opportunities:
1. OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE A WRITERS ROOM IN ACTION
Up to 1 week trip to Sydney or Melbourne to observe a professional writer’s room take place at one of three production companies. This component includes flights, accommodation (up to 5 nights), per diems and ground transfers included.
2. PRESENTATION TO LOCAL SCREENWRITERS GROUP
Successful participants will be required to provide a written report and a presentation to the local Screenwriters Group on the experience and outcomes from their involvement in the program (at the completion of the program). This can be delivered in person or via video.
ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA:
Screenworks will conduct an online application process and will establish a panel of industry professionals to help select the four emerging or early-career screenwriters to take part in the project.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
To apply for Screenworks Inside the Writers Room you must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Must be able to demonstrate a high-level writing ability by providing an example of writing for TV, especially drama or comedy and demonstrate a commitment to pursuing a long-term career as a screenwriter;
- Demonstrate that you have been living in Regional NSW* for a minimum period of 6 months prior to submitting your application (* refer to definitions below);
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
- Must be a Screenworks member
- Complete all sections of the online application form and submit the application prior to 9am AEDST, Monday November 25th 2019.
SUPPORT MATERIALS AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED:
1. Details on your current project (including title, short synopsis, potential format etc)
2. A sample of your work – a treatment or script extract (up to 5 pages maximum)
3. An up-to-date resume/CV
4. 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 Inside the Writers Room program (all criteria areas are equally weighted):
- The potential for the writers room opportunity to help the applicant build relevant industry skills and potential to establish a career as a screenwriter living and working regionally.
- The skills, achievements, experience and track record of the applicant(s) and the quality of their previous work.
- The potential of the applicant to contribute to and enhance the growth of screen production in regional NSW demonstrated by the quality of sample works and support documentation provided with the application.
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) 6681 1188
ASSESSMENT PROCESS & APPLICATION DEADLINES:
Assessment Process:
All applications will receive an initial eligibility, quality and relevance assessment by Screenworks staff. Shortlisted applications will be sent to an independent assessment panel that will include Create NSW and an experienced scriptwriter.
The assessment panel will consider how well the eligible applicants meet the selection criteria (listed above).
Applicants will be notified by early December 2019 in writing of the outcome of their application.
Application Deadlines:
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.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE 9am AEDST, MONDAY 25th NOVEMBER 2019
DEFINITIONS/GLOSSARY OF TERMS:
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.
PARTNERS:
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.
Fremantle
Fremantle is one of the largest and most successful creators, producers and distributors of scripted and unscripted content in the world. A global entertainment powerhouse, Fremantle has an outstanding international network of production teams, companies and labels in over 30 countries. We produce in excess of 12,000 hours of original programming, roll out more than 70 formats and air 400 programmes a year worldwide. The group distributes over 20,000 hours of content in more than 200 territories. We are also a world leader in digital and branded entertainment, with more than 370 million subscribers across 1,500 social channels and over 100 billion views across all platforms.
In Australia, Fremantle are leaders in original drama such as Wentworth, Picnic at Hanging Rock and Neighbours. It produces the hugely successful Australia’s Got Talent, Celebrity Name Game, Great Australian Bake Off, Grand Designs Australia, Escape from the City, The Recording Studio and Restoration Australia. Fremantle is also at the forefront in the creation and production of digital media content, brand integration and brand extensions including the popular Grand Designs Magazine and Australia’s number one selling board game, Family Feud.
We are part of RTL Group, a global leader across broadcast, content and digital, itself a division of the international media giant Bertelsmann.
For more information, visit www.fremantle.com, or follow us @FremantleHQ and visit our LinkedIn and Facebook pages
Every Cloud Productions 
Every Cloud Productions is an independent, Australian production company producing distinctive, high-quality television drama for domestic and international markets. Masters of crime, mystery and female-led content, Every Cloud Productions know how to deliver finely crafted, high-quality scripted drama for the global market. We bring together key creatives with vivid imaginations to take audiences on adventures across contemporary spaces & historical timelines. Our characters are bold, entertaining, rebellious, charming, generous & vulnerable; igniting fan-bases globally.
Founded in 2009 by leading television industry creatives, Fiona Eagger and Deb Cox, the company balances strong storytelling and high production values with astute producing expertise.
Every Cloud Productions is focused on fostering Australian talent, supporting co-operative alliances with creative producers across various media formats, and engaging with development opportunities within the industry.
Possessing established relationships with international sales agents and distributors, the company continues to focus on making exceptional drama productions for domestic and international audiences.
www.everycloudproductions.com.au
Easy Tiger
Easy Tiger is a boutique, award-winning, talent friendly Australian production company, established in 2017 under the global Fremantle banner by producer Ian Collie who previously ran the Drama division of Essential Media.
Easy Tiger’s credits include the ABC drama-comedy Rake (5 seasons, plus a US format), starring Richard Roxburgh, Jack Irish (2 seasons, plus three telemovies) starring Guy Pearce and based on the award-winning crime novels of Peter Temple, and a further Peter Temple adaptation the telemovie The Broken Shore.
It is also the producer of Nine Network top-rating drama-comedy Doctor Doctor (four seasons), distributed internationally (Sky Germany and others) as The Heart Guy.
Easy Tiger received international acclaim for its 4-part SBS dramas Sunshine – which opened the inaugural Melbourne chapter of Séries Mania in 2017 which features Anthony la Paglia , Melanie Lynskey and a fine array of new actors form the South Sudanese community of Australia, and The Principal starring Alex Demetriades and Aden Young.
Easy Tiger is renowned for our creative rigour and for producing compelling series with high production values. We collaborate regularly with Australia’s finest writers including Andrew Knight, Peter Duncan, Tony McNamara, Sarah Lambert, Kris Mrska, Alice Addison, Liz Doran and Matt Cameron amongst others. We work with high pedigree directing talent including Jessica Hobbs, Jeffrey Walker, Kate Dennis, Jonathan Teplitzky, Daniel Nettheim, Kriv Stenders, Peter Duncan, Rowan Woods, Daina Reid and Mark Joffe.
