Press release from Screen QLD
Screen Queensland CEO Maureen Barron today announced the five successful applicants to The Writers’ Room; a unique script development programme run by Screen Queensland.
“The Writers’ Room is a year-long, collaborative script development programme which Screen Queensland has invested $250,000 in,” Ms Barron said.
“No other state agency in the country runs an initiative like this and the response to the call for applications was fantastic.”
“Over 100 entries were received and the five successful applicants are Steve Pratt, Brooke Wilson, Matthew Ryan, Timothy Wade and James Greville.”
“Each of the five Queensland writers will receive $40,000 funding for one year to build on their writing skills and produce a script ready to market to potential producers at the end of the programme.”
The writers will participate in a structured programme which commenced this week, receiving feedback and support from Screen Queensland and other industry experts to help develop their feature film projects to their full potential.
Ms Barron said the standard of applications was very high with every script assessed twice and shortlisted scripts read a further four times by both internal and external assessors.
“The shortlist reflected the diversity of scripts submitted, a multiplicity of genres and formats, and is evidence of the burgeoning talent here in Queensland,” Ms Barron said.
Successful applicant Matthew Ryan believed The Writers‘ Room presented many benefits for the emerging writer.
“The Writers’ Room represents an amazing amount of support for a writer through the development process,” Mr Ryan said.
“I have never come across an initiative that offered what writers need as much as this. Screen Queensland has taken a bold step forward in its commitment to Queensland writers.”
The Writers‘ Room will be an ongoing Screen Queensland initiative with applications for the 2011 programme to open later this year.