Screen Queensland and Network 10 have partnered to offer four emerging First Nations film and television practitioners the opportunity to produce their own Community Service Announcements (CSA) – 60-second television segments – in Queensland, followed by a six-month mentorship program.
The program is suitable for graduates and early-career screen professionals. The first phase of the Screen Queensland and Network 10 First Nations Skills Placement and Mentorship will be a paid, four-week placement with executives from Network 10 to write, produce and edit a 60-second CSA about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.
Following the placement, recipients will undertake a remote six-month mentorship with Network 10 experts in the form of monthly support, to provide applicants with invaluable guidance in building a career in the television sector.
Screen Queensland chief creative officer Dr Belinda Burns said the initiative is part of the state screen agency’s delivery of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy, and a commitment to nurturing fresh, diverse talent in the state.
“Providing training and career development opportunities, at all experience levels, is integral to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen practitioners in gaining the skills, networks and credits to launch successful, long-term careers,”
“Screen Queensland and Network 10 are both proud members of the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network (SDIN); which stands as a commitment to address inequity head-on and be proactive changemakers towards achieving a fairer, more representative industry, locally and globally.
“We look forward to seeing these CSA segments broadcast on Network 10, showcasing First Nations talent, stories and perspectives across the nation,” Dr Burns added.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners Queensland-wide are eligible to apply. Screen Queensland will cover costs for travel, accommodation and per diems for recipients to partake in production, as part of the four-week placement. Development, pre-production and post-production will take place remotely.
Daniel Monaghan, Network 10’s senior vice president, programming and content, said the initiative is perfect for filmmakers with a passion for creating and sharing their own stories.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for us at Paramount to discover potential future employees who will make our business and content unique, stronger, and internationally successful, or if not with us, to give candidates the skills they need to progress further along their own career path.
“We want to assist in developing technical skills and on-the-job experiences that will enhance their style and allow them to write and produce content in their own voice – we want to give candidates the tools necessary to strive in a creative industry, and hope this is just the beginning of an ongoing professional partnership,” Monaghan added.
Network 10 production will work with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers to highlight engaging projects and stories from communities around Queensland.
Curtis Pitt, speaker of the Queensland Parliament, member for Mulgrave and Far North Queensland screen champion, said that conducting the placement in Cairns supports the Government’s strategic plan for Far North Queensland, to further grow the region as a national screen production hub.
“The North Queensland Regional Program, which enters its first year in 2022, is about building the local skills, networks and facilities for the region to export our locally-made screen productions nationally and internationally, and attract valuable film and television production here to our picturesque, tropical backyard.
“Construction of the brand-new Screen Queensland Studios: Cairns commences soon, and will be perfectly suited for television production and more when completed next year,” Pitt added.
Screen Queensland is currently developing a three-year Diversity Plan, with the state agency’s Equity & Diversity Taskforce, which will outline key objectives, actions, responsibilities, timeframes and outcomes towards establishing a more inclusive screen industry in Queensland.
Applications for the Screen Queensland and Network 10 First Nations Skills Placement and Mentorship are now open at screenqueensland.com.au. Applications close Friday 17 June, 5pm AEST.