Former participants of Screenworks’ Regional Producer Elevator Program. (Top row:) Tatiana Velasco, Mark George, Poppy Walker, Rebecca Ingram. (Bottom row:) Darius Devas, Nicole Sullivan, Brett Stephens, Jason King.
Screenworks are calling for regional screenwriters, directors and producers to apply for its three Career Pathway Programs designed to make stronger industry connections, build skills and advance their careers.
Through Screenworks’ existing partnerships with organisations and production companies, selected participants will be provided with support and guidance from industry.
Screenworks’ Regional Producer Elevator Program will be expanded in 2020 to provide three selected regional producers (two from NSW and one from WA) with $3,500 and the opportunity to observe a professional working producer in a program partner production company for five days. They will receive career and project advice from a professional producer, attend the 2020 Screenworks Business of Producing Seminar and the 2020 Screen Forever Conference. This program is delivered with support from Screen NSW, Screenwest, Screen Producers Australia, Fremantle, Jungle Entertainment and Matchbox Pictures.
Two regional NSW directors will be granted $3,500 to implement a bespoke professional development program that will help them advance their screen directing career as part of the Directors Pathways Program. Delivered in partnership with Screen NSW, Australian Directors Guild and with support from Fremantle Media.
Finally, three regional NSW screenwriters will be selected to participate in the Inside The Writers Room program, where they will have the opportunity to observe a professional writing team working on television drama at production companies including Cloud Productions, Easy Tiger and Fremantle. Inside the Writers Room is being supported by Screen NSW.
“Screenworks has proudly supported 37 screen practitioners from regional NSW through our Career Pathway Programs since we first introduced them in 2015,” says Screenworks CEO Ken Crouch.
“A number of the programs’ alumni have gone on to receive funding for their own projects, partnered with respected industry professionals and further developed their slate of projects.”
2018 Regional Producer Elevator Program participant Rebecca Ingram has gone on to receive development funding for two of her projects. “Participation in this program has deepened my understanding of producing and provided invaluable access to networks otherwise hard to bridge and the financial assistance to make it happen. I greatly appreciate the doors that the program opened for me and the networks it has helped forge.”
Independent selection panels made up of representatives from Screenworks’ program partners, industry bodies and guilds will assess the applications for each of the programs.
The deadline for applications for each of the programs – Regional Producer Elevator Program, Director Pathways Program and Inside The Writers Room – is November 25.