Selected Participants for Screenworks 2019 Inside the Writers Room

Fleur Ferris from Moama, Riverina NSW – Going to Matchbox Pictures

Fleur is an award-winning, bestselling author of teen thrillers.  She worked in police and ambulance services for sixteen years, and her writing draws from those experiences.Her young adult books include Risk, Black, Wreck and Found, and her first action thriller for the middle grade audience, Nullaboo Hullabaloo, is due for release  in May, 2019.

Fleur introduced herself to screenwriting by completing a short course with AFTRS and she is now turning her focus to that craft. Currently she is co-writing the script for Black and collaborating with Continuance Pictures on a number of other projects

Kimberley Lipschus from Byron Bay, Northern NSW – Going to Werner Film Productions

Kimberley is a writer and director with a longstanding fascination with storytelling and the human condition; she believes stories foster empathy, provide a sense of belonging and can bring healing.

Kimberley has and MA in professional writing. She wrote and directed her first short film about sexual harassment in the NSW Police Force almost twenty years ago, which re-aired recently on ARTE, France. She co-wrote and directed, Hassan and the Djinn, a story about attempted deportation of an asylum seeker (ABC Radio National’s then Radio Eye Programme) and shot, co-wrote and directed Pieces of Me, which aired on ABC TV. She was co-development producer on Well Founded Fear, an SBS documentary.

Raen Fraser from Parkes, Central Western NSW – Going to Goalpost Pictures

Raen lives in the Central West with her young family. She is a communications officer for water infrastructure projects, and can boast making a novelty cake for the Deputy PM amongst her list of professional achievements. Raen previously worked as a reporter for a local paper, and as a question writer for national game shows. Raen has won a clutch of awards for short scripts and films, and has received funding from Screen NSW and Screen Australia.

Her works in development include an historical novel for young readers, a wedding comedy series, and a feature-length script about a cockroach. When she’s not slogging away on her passion projects Raen’s spare time is spent training her brumbies, or chasing her jerk goats out of the garden.

Thomas Baldwin from Nambucca Heads, Mid North Coast NSW – Going to Fremantle

Born from the loins of the seedy underbelly of the east coast hippy movement Thomas Baldwin has managed to spend the best part of his adult life moving around the world getting in adventures, collecting stories and meeting characters.

The last seven years in Australia have seen him writing and shooting short films and small media projects.

He returned to the Mid-North Coast two years ago to focus on writing his first feature and a number of small projects, that he hopes to make next year.

Tracy Richardson from Myocum, Northern Rivers NSW – Going to Every Cloud Productions

Tracy Richardson is an award winning writer and a member of the Australian Writers’ Guild Pathways Program. Her comedy feature film screenplay Lighting Up was optioned and shortlisted for the national INSITE Unproduced Screenplay Competition.

Kristina Ceyton,The Babadook, optioned Tracy’s short, award winning animated comedy Butt with Director, Luke Eve High Life. Tracy has also written two award winning short plays.

 


ADVANCING THE CAREERS OF REGIONALLY-BASED SCREENWRITERS

Inside the Writers Room is a professional development program designed to give four Regional NSW screenwriters the opportunity to sit in and watch professional writers working on the story for a television script in a writers room environment.

Thanks to the ongoing support of some of Australia’s leading production companies, Screenworks is able to offer the selected participants the opportunity to observe writers rooms of highly respected companies:

  • Matchbox Pictures (Glitch, Safe Harbour, The Slap, Nowhere Boys, The Family Law)
  • FremantleMedia Australia (Wentworth, Picnic At Hanging Rock, Neighbours)
  • Every Cloud Productions (Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries, Newtown’s Law)
  • More production companies announced shortly

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 fifth year, Screenworks wants to build the skills of emerging and early-career screenwriters, provide opportunity for people living and/or working in regional NSW and improve our regional screen industry’s capacity and sustainability.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE MIDNIGHT SUNDAY 25th NOVEMBER 2018


PROGRAM STRUCTURE:

Four 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 writers room take place at one of four productions 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 12 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 midnight Sunday November 25th 2018.

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):

  1. 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.
  2. The skills, achievements, experience and track record of the applicant(s) and the quality of their previous work.
  3. 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 script writer.

The assessment panel will consider how well the eligible applicants meet the selection criteria (listed above).

Applicants will be notified by early December 2018 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 MIDNIGHT SUNDAY 25th NOVEMBER 2018


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:

Create NSW

Create 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.

www.create.nsw.gov.au

Matchbox Pictures

Matchbox Pictures is a film and television production company that makes world-class screen content for a global audience. Matchbox produces a diverse slate of programming across television drama, children’s, factual & entertainment, animation and feature films.

Matchbox is one of the most dynamic and innovative production houses in Australia. Since its inception in 2008, Matchbox has enjoyed continued domestic and international acclaim as a result of telling stories that inspire and entertain and has been awarded Media Production Business of the Year three times by the Screen Producer’s of Australia Association.

FremantleMedia Australia

Fremantle’s Australian offices are part of a global entertainment group, and one of the market leaders in the creation and production of entertainment brands. Fremantle has a long and distinguished history in the Australian television industry. For nearly 55 years we have been at the forefront of innovative programming and production. And it all started with one man, Reg Grundy, and his company Grundy Television.

Our Company name may have changed, but the Grundy DNA runs through our veins. Fremantle productions include Take Me OutThe X Factor, Australia’s Got Talent, Great Australian Bake Off, Grand Designs Australia and one of the country’s most-loved formats in Australian Idol; and original drama such as Wentworth, Neighbours, Mary: Making Of A Princess, Wonderland, Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story and Picnic at Hanging Rock.

We’re at the forefront in the creation of original digital media content, brand integration and brand extensions.

www.fremantleaustralia.com

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

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