The Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS) has unveiled a new scholarship with Orion Lee’s Constellation Creatives to support and develop the career of an individual from Asian descent in the Australian screen industry.
The Constellation Creatives Scholarship will provide financial support for living expenses, educational resources or other related costs of at least $15,000. An additional, one-off payment of $5000 will be available to the recipient in the third year of the course if they choose the industry placement elective, which provides on-the-job experience.
Orion Lee has appeared in films such as First Cow, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Skyfall , as well as voicing the character of Jin Lee in the animated Oscar-nominated Pixar film Turning Red . He has also appeared in stage productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Court.
“Constellation Creatives is a charity dedicated to promoting greater understanding of our shared humanity,” Constellation Creatives founder Orion Lee said.
“Film and television are a medium by which we connect and gain understanding and compassion for other people’s lives. We are proud to support this scholarship with AFTRS to promote diversity in Australian crews and increase Asian Australian representation in Australian media. We look forward to helping with the cost of your studies and seeing your future career grow.”
A recent Screen Australia study found a lack of cultural diversity among main characters in Australian TV drama. It found the South‑East Asian group (most commonly represented in Australia by Filipino and Vietnamese communities) made up only 1.7 per cent of main characters despite accounting for 4.6 per cent of the population. The Southern and Central Asian group (most commonly represented in Australia by Indian and Sri Lankan communities) made up only 2.8 per cent of main characters despite representing 7 per cent of the population.
European and non‑European representation among main
characters compared to the Australian population
The successful applicant for the Constellation Creatives Scholarship, will be selected based on creative excellence and the impact that the scholarship would have on their education.
“This scholarship will be a real game changer for a prospective student out there and we’re so grateful to Orion and the team for their generosity and their support of Asian Australian creative representation in our cultural landscape,” AFTRS CEO Dr. Nell Greenwood said.
AFTRS offers more than 35 scholarships each year that prioritise access and equity.