CAIRNS – APRIL 5 & 6
Screen Queensland is calling on storytellers in Far North Queensland to take part in the first of a series of workshops aimed at unlocking the potential of regional creators.
The Concept Development, Pitching and Networking Workshop is free-of-charge and offers practical skills and advice that will enable content creators in Far North Queensland to become competitive when seeking commercial interest in their stories.
The two-day workshop, delivered by Screenworks, will work with talented voices from the region to shape and pitch stories for the Australian and international markets.
The workshop is open to all and will include expert guidance from established producers in the fields of documentary and drama.
Far North Queensland is home to many great untold stories and this workshop will help storytellers understand the screen industry market and how their content can be shaped to find audiences, finance, buyers and commissioners.
DEVELOPING DRAMA – WITH BRIDGET CALLOW-WRIGHT
Bridget Callow-Wright will draw on her experience as a successful producer of scripted narrative for film and as a Senior Lecturer in Producing at SAE to deliver a practical workshop on how to produce narrative content for film and television. Through case studies and examples of her work, she will cover processes and strategies on budgeting and funding, script development, casting, the production process and distribution.
The workshop will cover
- identifying and understanding industry opportunity – knowing how and where to research
- what to include in a project outline
- treatments and mini bible
- script drafts
- the importance of audience
- the importance of your team
- where to next
Bridget is an award-winning screen producer with a focus on scripted narrative film and television.
She most recently produced a special No Activity: The Night before Christmas for STAN and Jungle Entertainment, directed by Trent O’Donnell. Prior to that, she produced the theatrical feature film The Butterfly Tree written and directed by Priscilla Cameron, starring Melissa George, Ewen Leslie, Ed Oxenbould and Sophie Lowe. The Butterfly Tree premiered internationally at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival and was nominated for 3 AACTAS and was awarded Best Film and Best Actress at CAIFF.
Bridget is currently developing and financing a slate of feature and television projects under her own company Midwinter with a number of partners that include Jungle, XYZ, Field Theory and Whoa Flamingo. She is supported for development on these projects by Screen Australia and Screen Queensland.
DEVELOPING DOCUMENTARIES – WITH CATHERINE SCOTT
Catherine will run a two hour workshop on the making of a documentary including developing the concept, financing and distribution.
The workshop will cover
- identifying and understanding industry opportunity – knowing how and where to research
- what to include in a project outline
- scripting your documentary project
- the importance of audience
- the importance of your team
- where to next
Catherine has worked as a documentary filmmaker for over 20 years. Her most recent production is the multi-award winning documentary feature film Back Track Boys. Prior to that she was Senior Producer SBS Dateline and then a freelance video journalist for the program.
Catherine has been a director and producer on documentaries broadcast internationally including SBS TV, ABC TV, CBC Canada, PBS Television, Channel 4, Arte and France 2. Her credits include Producer – Unconquered – The Invictus Games (ABC TV) Shooter Producer – Not everyone Wants a Goat –Foreign Correspondent (ABC TV) Producer, Being Me – Four Corners (ABC TV), Director/Co-producer of Scarlet Road(SBS TV) Director/Co-writer of Selling Sickness (SBS TV) and Director/Co-producer of the Walkley Award-winning Business Behind Bars and Profits of Punishment (SBS TV).
Catherine was a member of the Paper Tiger TV collective co-producing over 30 productions including Breathless and Drawing the Line at Pittston. Catherine was also co-producer/director for Deep Dish TV including Who’s Afraid of the Little Yellow School Bus?, The Last Graduation, Lock Down USA and The Gulf Crisis TV Project
PREPARING TO PITCH WITH LISA O’MEARA
In this fast-paced, practical 2 hour workshop Screenworks’ Programs & Operations Manager, Lisa O’Meara will explain how to prepare yourself and the key elements that you need to think about before you start pitching your project.
You will learn how to develop successful pitch documents to attract interest from broadcasters, producers and funding bodies and you will leave with strategies and tools to apply to your own production ideas.
Lisa O’Meara is the Programs and Operations Manager for Screenworks, responsible for planning, organising and running all professional development and screen culture events at Screenworks. Lisa combines qualifications and experience in education and marketing communications within the arts, to identifying talent and industry opportunities in order to develop relevant programs and facilitate screen industry connections and career development.
She has worked internationally across a range of industries including screen, publishing, software and entertainment distribution and as well as Arts Festival management. As a Marketing Executive for Film Australia and for the ABC, Lisa regularly prepared pitch documents for the international sales and distribution of Australian content. Helping screen content creators bring their stories to life is her current passion.
ONE ON ONE MEETINGS
Each of the guest speakers will be available for 2 hours during the two-day workshop and participants can apply to book in for a 15 or 30 minute. Please email [email protected] with the name/s of the consult that you want to meet with and what you want to cover in your meeting.
NETWORKING EVENT
A drinks and networking event for participants with the guest speakers, Regional Development Officers and key local council representatives. Finger food and a beverage will be included in the price of a ticket.
DRAFT EVENT PROGRAM:
Day 1
9:00 Welcome and introductions Screenworks and Screen Queensland
9:30am – 11:30am Developing a drama
11:30 MORNING TEA
12 noon – 1pm Screen Queensland
1pm – 2pm LUNCH
2pm – 4pm Developing a documentary
5pm – 7pm NETWORKING EVENT
Day 2
9:30 – 11:30 Pitching your Project
11:30 MORNING TEA
12 noon – 1pm One on one meetings
1pm – 2pm LUNCH
2pm – 4pm One on one meetings
EVENT PARTNERS:
SCREEN QUEENSLAND
Screen Queensland recognises the screen industry’s vital contribution to the nation’s cultural landscape including its ability to showcase Queensland’s rich, cultural diversity, facilitate cultural engagement, stimulate cultural tourism and reflect the national voice and identity on screen.
CAIRNS REGIONAL COUNCIL
Cairns Regional Council’s Strategy for Culture and the Arts 2022 provides a framework for Council to prioritise, coordinate and manage the city’s resources, and deliver ongoing programming and provision of grants and infrastructure that will stimulate and sustain the cultural and creative vitality of the region.
