(L – R): AiF executive director Peter Ritchie, 2019 Regional Screen In LA Program recipient Joshua Tyler, Australian Consul General LA Chelsey Martin, AiF chair Simonne Overend and Screenworks CEO Ken Crouch.
The second iteration of Screenworks and Australians In Film (AiF)’s Regional Screen in LA Program will take the form of an internship with Animal Logic Entertainment (ALE), offering upcoming or recent grads from regional Australia an opportunity to work out of the company’s LA office.
AiF have run internship programs with ALE for the past five years and recipients have gone onto careers in the Australian and international screen industries, including Melanie Jayne (HBO), Sleena Wilson (Black Bear Pictures) and Lauren Brown (Ludo Studio).
The internship will run for two months in 2020 and cover all aspects of international feature film development, acquisitions, packaging and production. The successful recipient will work with both ALE and its subsidiary live-action production company, Truant Pictures. They’ll also receive USD$10,000 to contribute towards rent and living costs while in Los Angeles, in addition to receiving return flights from Australia to LA, industry support and US networking opportunities. All visa processing fees are covered in the program.
“Internships are integral to launching the careers of aspiring filmmakers and we are thrilled to be partnering this year with Screenworks to recognise storytellers from regional areas,” said Animal Logic CEO Zareh Nalbandian.
“These unique voices are important to upholding diversity in Hollywood and we are proud to support the next generation of regional Australian talent.”
Screenworks CEO Ken Crouch added: “We work in an industry where young people living in regional Australia simply do not have the same opportunities as their colleagues living in the metropolitan centres. This internship will provide an invaluable pathway for a recent graduate to get international experience, make international connections and fast-track an international career which otherwise wouldn’t be possible and will also benefit our industry.”
AiF executive director Peter Ritchie said: “Over the past five years, we have been working with Animal Logic Entertainment on this career-defining opportunity and we are enormously proud to watch all the previous recipients go on to successful careers in the screen industry. This new generation of executives have all benefited from this incredible opportunity and we are excited to be partnering with Screenworks this year to support the career development of a recipient from regional Australia.”
Applications are now open and will close December 9 for an internship which will take place in 2020. More info here.