Different Lens Diversity Mentorship Recipients

Image Credit: Different Lens Storytellers Katrina Barber and Julianne Ryan. Image supplied by the City of Mandurah.

Screenwest and Carers WA announce Rhythm Content as the Successful Recipient of the Different Lens diversity mentoring initiative.

Screenwest and Carers WA are excited to announce Subiaco-based creative production studio Rhythm Content will be provided a $50,000 production grant to produce 12 disability-led, short projects and provide mentoring to four filmmakers with a disability, through the Different Lens initiative.

The Different Lens initiative was created in partnership by Screenwest and Carers WA to offer screen skills development opportunities for Western Australian disability diverse screen practitioners, produce local disability-led content, build capacity within the local screen sector to be more inclusive and promote visibility of disability diverse onscreen talent.

Paul Rogers, Business Development and Disability Service Manager, of Carers WA said, “Carers WA received support from the Department of Communities to deliver outcomes in three areas: Employment, Sport and Arts and Leisure. In partnering with Screenwest we have already achieved numerous positive outcomes, both intended and unintended, and we look forward to seeing storytellers and screen practitioners with disability working with Rhythm Content to deliver the twelve short filmed projects and many more outcomes in the near future.”

Willie Rowe, CEO of Screenwest explained, “Building the capacity of local screen practitioners to work in a more inclusive way and expand and develop the pool of WA disability diverse screen practitioners is exceptionally important for the vibrant WA screen industry, and we look forward to seeing the documentary series come to life.”

Rhythm Content is a creative production studio founded in 2018 by dynamic duo, Adam and Gemma Rule. Rhythm is a different kind of production company in that it offers both creative expertise and production services. The Different Lens initiative will be facilitated by Rhythm and a talented cohort of filmmakers who have been handpicked to act as mentors for the initiative.

“When this opportunity was presented to us we jumped at the chance to work with and support a group of storytellers and filmmakers, led by Screenwest and Carers WA, to produce excellent disability-led content. As a collective of creatives and artists, we each share a passion for telling unique stories about people from all walks of life. The added bonus for our team will be the chance to mentor some up-and-coming talent and grow in our own understanding of what it is like to live with a disability in today’s world. One of Rhythm’s objectives is to be leaders in producing quality, diverse and social impact content, so Different Lens feels like a perfect fit for us,” said Adam and Gemma Rule, Founders of Rhythm Content.

Screenwest and Carers WA were inundated with expressions of interest and are thrilled to announce the following storytellers, filmmakers and mentors have been selected.

Storytellers

• Malcolm Anderson
• Josef Bandera
• Matthew Bartels
• Eleana Bredemeyer
• Sue Edge
• Julia Hales
• Tina Fielding
• Curtis Hatton
• Madison Heady
• Nang Nguyen
• Julianne Ryan & Katrina Barber
• Tayla Stone

Filmmakers

• Rafael Gonzalez – Writer / Director Attachment
• Mitchell Nock – DOP Attachment
• Joe Teakle – Editor Attachment
• David Thai – Sound Attachment

Mentors

• Adam and Gemma Rule – Executive Producers
• Lauren Elliott – Producer
• Frank Carroll – Writer / Director
• Justin Griffiths – DOP
• John McGovarin – Editor
• Richard Hubbard – Sound Recordist
• Justin Braine – Sound Designer

The series kicks off development this week and will be released online at carerswa.asn.au in late 2020.

Media Contact

For more information about this announcement or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Alex Biddle, Communications Manager
Screenwest
T: + 61 8 6169 2106
E:  alexandra.biddle@screenwest.com.au

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