Screen Australia Podcast

Screen Australia’s Head of Documentary Alex West talks about available funding, advice for applicants and takeaways from the World Congress of Science & Factual Producers, before AIDC CEO Natasha Gadd gives an insight into the conference this year as well as opportunities and pressure points for the sector.

View documentary funding here

View First Nations Department funding here and First Facts initiative here

Visit the AIDC website here

Screenwriters Pip Karmel and Magda Wozniak join director Corrie Chen in breaking down the making of new Stan television series Bad Behaviour, including the challenges of adaptation, the writers’ rooms, working with composer Caitlin Yeo and sound designer Emma Bortignon, and how they created seamless transitions between the past and present storylines.

Director, producer and writer Robert Connolly (The Dry, Paper Planes, The Turning) on filming the Tim Winton adaptation Blueback in Western Australia, working with cinematographer Andrew Commis ACS and their “analogue” approach, as well as starting the company Arenamedia and their commitment to empowering emerging voices.

Actors, writers, directors and producers Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope have created series such as Upper Middle Bogan, Back in Very Small Business, Little Lunch, and The InBESTigators through their company Gristmill. They discuss developing their latest ABC show Summer Love in the midst of the pandemic, as well as their approach to writing, advice on pitching, identifying your place in the market, and why mentoring is a big focus.

Amy Cater talks about what types of projects work with intimacy coordinators, why it’s important in more contexts than people realise, and her experience working on TV series including Love Me Season 1 on Binge and upcoming Bad Behaviour for Stan and Safe Home for SBS.

ABC crime/thriller Bay of Fires co-creator, producer and star Marta Dusseldorp and the series creator, producer, co-writer and star of YouTube series No Ordinary Love Esther Fwati give an insight into production on their projects, while Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason runs through the newly released 2021/22 Drama Report results.

The Online team at Screen Australia discuss the three types of funding they can provide – development, production and completion funding – as well as what they are and aren’t looking for, what kind of platforms are out there, how to make your application competitive, general advice and more.

Listen to Alyce’s podcast episode on connecting with audiences here

Check out Online funding approvals here

Director Rachel Perkins (Total Control, Mystery Road, First Australians) talks about getting her start in the screen industry and founding Blackfella Films in 1992, her career to date, and her latest project The Australian Wars, a three-part SBS/NITV documentary event, which delves into Australia’s Frontier Wars.

Hear takeaways, learnings and advice from those who were at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. Guests include Screen Australia representatives CEO Graeme Mason, Head of Content Grainne Brunsdon and Head of First Nations Angela Bates, as well as Madman Entertainment CEO Paul Wiegard, We Are Still Here producer Mitchell Stanley from No Coincidence Media, and director Jayden Rathsam Hua, who was selected for the prestigious TIFF Filmmaker Lab.

Want to apply for games funding through Screen Australia? With a second round of Games: Expansion Pack funding now open, Screen Australia’s Head of Online Lee Naimo and Games Investment Manager Amelia Laughlan explain what they are and aren’t looking for in applications and why you need to ensure your project has a clear pathway to audience.

The announcement here 

Guidelines and to apply here