Screenwest Presents: The Other Film Festival Panels
Screenwest is partnering with DADAA to present engaging panels as part of this...
Screenwest is partnering with DADAA to present engaging panels as part of this weekend’s The Other Film Festival.
The panels will debate all aspects of disability screen culture, with leading representatives from the film sector.
Free tickets are available through The Other Film Festival Eventbrite page.
PANEL | AUTHENTIC CASTING: WILL WE EVER GET THERE?
The Other Film Festival | Session 2
Date: Saturday, 6 October 2018
Time: 2:00pm – 3:45pm
Register: Book your free ticket through The Other Film Festival Eventbrite page.
Panelists:
- Julia Hales
- Warren Clarke
- Caroline Bowditch
- Fiona Tuomy
About Authentic Casting
Working towards a true representation of our society across all screens, the WA screen industry is beginning to join the national and international conversation around authentic casting of disability diverse actors.
The portrayals of disability in the long- running serials largely appear to be built into storylines for dramatic effect and to help drive ongoing storylines, rather than characters with disability being a ‘normal’ part of the program’s world.
“I feel passionately about [authentic casting], not only because I’m a struggling actor with a disability, but also because the more disabled actors we have on our screens, the greater impact we can have on people with disabilities in our society.
“…If there had been more positive depictions of people with disability in the media when I acquired my disability as an 11 year old, I believe I wouldn’t have struggled with my self-worth as a disabled person as much.” – Daniel Monks, actor, writer, producer, Seeing Ourselves, Screen Australia.
About the Panelists
Warren Clarke will discuss casting decisions made for THE HEIGHTS, a 30-episode program that completed production in Perth in September. THE HEIGHTS is produced by Matchbox Pictures and For Pete’s Sake Productions for ABC. It was developed and produced with the assistance of ABC in association with Screenwest, Lotterywest and NBCUniversal.
Warren is joined by:
- Julia Hales, an actress with Down syndrome who has been motivated in her acting career by early observations about her favourite television show, Home & Away
- Fiona Tuomy who is committed to authentic representation of disability diversity on our screens, and
- Caroline Bowditch, performer, maker, teacher, speaker and mosquito buzzing in the ears of the arts industry in the UK and further afield
PANEL | STORY DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE FOR AGENCY IN STORYTELLING
The Other Film Festival | Session 5
Date: Sunday, 7 October 2018
Time: 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Register: Book your free ticket through The Other Film Festival Eventbrite page.
Panelists:
- Ross Grayson Bell
- Tina Fielding
- Jacqueline Pelczar
- Fiona Tuomy
- Caroline Bowditch
About Agency in Storytelling
A panel comprised of industry professionals, mentor and a disability diverse creative discuss story development and agency during the delicate process of creating screen concepts and screenplays.
“Authentic stories and characters can inspire mainstream audiences to identify with ‘heroes’ of diverse background, in the same way that viewers of diverse background are accustomed to identifying with conventional Australian protagonists.
“In this way, diversity not only has the potential to deliver large audiences and commercial returns, it can also generate connection and empathy, and shift perceptions of ‘otherness’ within the Australian the community.” – Seeing Ourselves, Screen Australia
About the Panelists
After a successful career in Hollywood as a producer, Australian-born Ross Grayson Bell went on to find success as a screenwriter in London before returning to Australia in 2009 to take up a position as the Head of Screenwriting at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. Ross is currently Scripted Executive at Screenwest.
Ross is joined on this panel by Tina Fielding, Jacqueline Pelczer, Fiona Tuomy and Caroline Bowditch.
Tina is an aspiring screenwriter, director and actor with Down syndrome who has written a short screenplay with support from her mentor, emerging producer and director, Jacqueline Pelczer. They will discuss elements of their mentoring process including the ongoing challenge to retain agency in the story.
From 2012 to 2017, Fiona was Mentor-in-Residence on the award winning and international best practice model Write-ability program for writers with disability (Writers Victoria and Arts Access Victoria). A recipient of 2017 Screen Australia initiative Seeing Ourselves: Developing the Developer, Fiona is now working as a Script Developer and Screen Inclusivity Consultant and is developing an innovative slate of disability-led screen projects.
Caroline is best known as a performer, maker, teacher, speaker and mosquito buzzing in the ears of the arts industry in the UK and further afield and is currently Executive Director of Arts Access Victoria.
More Info
For more information about The Other Film Festival, please contact DADAA:
E: info@dadaa.org.au
T: +61 8 9430 6616.
