Clockwise L-R: Luke Davies, Jacob Elordi, Eva Orner and Dion Beebe.
Australians in Film (AiF) is partnering with Amazon Studios to stage industry panels, roundtable conversations and Q&As designed to foster partnerships between Australian and Hollywood creatives and decision makers.
DOP Dion Beebe, filmmakers Eva Orner and Alethea Jones, producer Tracey Robertson and writers Luke Davies, Alice Bell, Sarah Scheller and Alison Bell will be among the speakers at the AiF Hollywood Sessions presented by Amazon Studios.
Among other industry luminaries who will take part in the sessions at Charlie’s on the Raleigh lot in Hollywood are co-executive producer and writer Aaron Ginsburg (New Amsterdam, The 100), actor Jacob Elordi (Euphoria), director Alma Har’el (Honey Boy), Columbia Pictures director of creative development Jiao Chen, Made Up Stories’ Casey Haver and Truant Pictures’ Toby Nalbandian and Greg Schmidt.
The partnership came about through AiF chair Simonne Overend’s business relationship with Amazon Studios, which wanted to the support the organisation’s work to foster partnerships between the Australian and international screen industries.
Overend said: “AiF is deeply committed to supporting its members and partners working in Los Angeles and Australia. These exclusive sessions are an incredible opportunity to learn and to be motivated by some of the screen industry’s best creatives and professionals. We are excited to be partnering with Amazon Studios and we thank them for their vision and support.”
Sessions are free to AiF members and will be held throughout the year. The first two are:
May 6: A roundtable conversation with Aaron Ginsburg, executive story editors Sabir Pirzada (Roswell, New Mexico, the upcoming Disney+ series Book of Enchantment) and Paula Sabbaga (Dynasty) and writer and showrunner Amy Berg (Counterpart, Person of Interest).
Moderated by Krista Carpenter, who runs management/production company Fictional Entity, the session will focus on “staffing season” – the hiring process, the meetings and challenges – as well as a frank discussion about how best to excel in a writers room.
May 13: A conversation between writers Alice Bell (The Beautiful Lie), Sarah Scheller and Alison Bell (The Letdown). Alice Bell is adapting Janice Y.K. Lee’s novel The Expatriates for Nicole Kidman’s Blossom Films and Amazon Studios. The discussion will cover a range of topics including the difference between the US and Australian writers room, how to handle network notes and working on set.
AiF has launched its spring membership sale, with the annual industry membership fee reduced to $250 and screening membership at $150 for a limited time.
To join go here