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Scroz announces Enterprise funding for Screenworks, Guesswork, Made Up Stories, StartVR

Made Up Stories’ Bruna Papandrea and Jodi Matterson will be supported to build commercial partnerships between Oz and the US. 

Nineteen companies, whittled down from 122 applications, will share in $2.9 million worth of Enterprise funding from Screen Australia.

The federal funding agency rejigged its Enterprise program at the start of this financial year, introducing a new strand, Enterprise Ideas, which replaced Enterprise Industry, and expanded on the existing Enterprise People program.

Screen Australia’s head of business and audience Richard Harris said that agency was pleased with the competitive response to the new Ideas round.

“These will benefit the broader industry by targeting the development of diverse screen voices, looking into untapped sources of international finance, and seeking new audiences for Australian content.”

“Similarly, the revised People program saw a significant increase in both the quantity and quality of applications from across the country, and we have no doubt these successful individuals will make an impact on the future of the sector.”

The seven successful Enterprise Ideas applicants, who will share in $1.5 million, are:

  • Alice Springs’ Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA), which specialises in developing Indigenous voices and talent, will be supported to produce an organisational direction and plan to prepare for its next phase of development.
  • Guesswork Distribution will be backed to develop its global development and distribution strategy, designed to increase the level of offshore finance available for Australian production.
  • Made Up Stories, led Bruna Papandrea and Jodi Matterson, will be supported to build commercial partnerships between Australia and the US industry. They aim to develop a slate of six to eight projects by optioning content with international potential from female Australian authors, with a focus on complex female leads.
  • Community-based company CuriousWorks’ has received funding develop the ‘Behind Closed Doors’ initiative, which will connect culturally diverse storytellers from Western Sydney with experienced industry professionals, including screenwriter Blake Ayshford and Emerald Productions.
  • Start VR will be funded to develop the ‘VR Artist Residency’, which will see two leading practitioners from traditional screen media and creative industries invited to develop a VR project over a 12-month period. The residents will be immersed in the latest VR technology, production techniques and creative processes in order to develop a new VR property, and will be provided with assistance to pitch and secure production finance.
  • Film Outreach Australia will received funding to take their film festivals and events model – developed in regional NSW – to other areas around Australia, ensuring that Australian content reaches regional audiences who have not had easy access to conventional cinemas.
  • Regional screen industry service provider Screenworks will be backed to upscale its operations as it expands to become a national service provider for regional practitioners. It aims to work with city-based production companies to deliver script development workshops for three new projects that are regional in location, in order to broaden opportunities for local talent and boost Screenwork’s outreach.

The Enterprise People program sees $1.4 million go towards 12 salaried positions. Successful applicants are:

  • Creative producer Melissa Sawyer will be mentored by Tim McGahan at Queensland-based production company Black Lab Entertainment Pty Ltd.
  • Paul Moran will join Tasmanian animation company Blue Rocketwhere he will be mentored as a creative producer by principals Alicia Rackett and David Gurney.
  • Creative producer Kristy Fuller, will work with Barry Hennesseyat Bunim/Murray Productions.
  • Rachele Wiggins will be mentored by Enzo Tedeschi at NSW-based production company Deadhouse Films.
  • Writer Ben Crisp will join Kirsty Stark’s South Australian company Epic Films Pty Ltd where he will be mentored by Stuart Beattie, Louise Fox and Ian Collie.
  • Creative producer Samantha Dinning will be mentored by Philippa Campey at her Victorian-based production company Film Camp.
  • Ludo Studio will be supported to employ Daniel Schultz as a business affairs manager
  • Writer/director Tosca Looby will work alongside mentor Karina Holden at NSW-based Northern Pictureswhere she will be developed into a creative producer
  • Producer Jodie Bell will develop the independent production company Ramu Productions, based in Broome, WA.
  • Writer Martine Delaney will join Tasmanian company Roar Films where she will be mentored by Steve Thomas
  • Briege Whitehead will undergo a placement at commercial, factual and entertainment company Blizzard Road Productionswhere she will be mentored by Ray Pedretti.
  • Charlotte McConaghy, who will join writer/producer Kris Wyld at Victorian-based Wyld FGA Pty Ltd.