Special Q&A with Tony McNamara
Special Q&A with Tony McNamara
After finding solace in WA writing...
Special Q&A with Tony McNamara
After finding solace in WA writing the next season of The Great, renowned Australian Writer Tony McNamara is taking time out from his schedule to talk with Screenwest in a special Q&A on Wednesday, 14 October 2020.
Hosted by Screenwest’s Development and Production Executive Franziska Wagenfeld, this session will look at Tony’s fantastic career to date, exploring the craft of writing and Tony’s experience working in the industry in Australia and internationally.
Tony has had a long successful career, with his credits including:
- The Secret Life Of Us (Series 1, 2 & 3)
- Love My Way (Series 1, 2 & 3)
- Spirited (Series 1, 2 & 3)
- Offspring (Series 1 & 2)
- Tangle (Series 1, 2 & 3)
- Rush
- Moving Wallpaper
- Echo Beach
- Happy Life
- Star Wars TV series
- The Favourite
- The Great, and many others.
Screenwest Development and Production Executive Franziska Wagenfeld said, “Tony McNamara is one of Australia’s key writing talents who’s created memorable stories and enduring characters for the Australian and international screen. Screenwest is honoured to introduce Tony to the WA screen industry.”
Drama Development Manager Barbara Connell spoke to the opportunities of the session, stating, “Tony is one of the truly unique voices in our industry and this Q&A is a great opportunity to hear him speak about his own work and professional experiences.”
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, 14 October 2020
Time: 2:30pm – 3:30pm AWST
Where: Online through Zoom
Registration: Please register on the Screenwest Zoom webinar page.
This session has been made possible with the support from Screenwest and Lotterywest.
About Tony McNamara
Tony graduated from the Australian Film Television and Radio School with a BA in Film and Television writing in 1996.
He wrote the feature film screenplay for The Favourite (released in 2018), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Olivia Coleman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone. It premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival (winning Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize), opened the New York Film Festival and screened at many other film festivals including Telluride and the 62nd BFI London Film Festival. Tony received a Best Original Screenplay nomination at 21st Academy Awards and won Best Screenplay at the British Independent Film Awards, BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay and Screenwriter of the Year at London Film Critics’ Awards.
In 2015 he wrote and directed the feature film Ashby (starring Mickey Rourke, Sarah Silverman and Nat Wolff), which screened at Tribeca Film Festival.
In 2002, he wrote and directed the feature film The Rage in Placid Lake (starring Rose Byrne, Miranda Richardson and Ben Lee) which he adapted from his stage play The Café Latte Kid. The film won the Audience Award at the Melbourne International Film Festival, AFI Award for Best Screenplay and two AWGIE Awards being Best Screenplay Adaptation and Gold AWGIE.
Tony has been writing for television since 2001. His series credits include:
- multiple episodes of The Secret Life Of Us (Series 1, 2 & 3)
- Love My Way (Series 1, 2 & 3)
- Spirited (Series 1, 2 & 3)
- Offspring (Series 1 & 2)
- Tangle (Series 1, 2 & 3)
- Rush
- Moving Wallpaper (2007, ITV2/Kudos Productions UK)
- Echo Beach
- Happy Life (2007, ITV2 AND 2013 Kudos Productions UK).
Tony also developed and wrote the TV series of Star Wars for Lucas Film.
In 2012/13 Tony created, wrote multiple episodes and script produced series one and series two of the miniseries Puberty Blues for Channel 10. In 2016 he created the successful series of Doctor Doctor for Channel 9 for which he wrote numerous episodes and produced on series one and two. Doctor Doctor is in its fourth series.
In 2018 Tony wrote and produced a pilot for Hulu, The Great (starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult) which is based on his stage play. The 10 x 1-hour miniseries shot in September 2019 and is now available on Hulu/Stan. Tony was nominated for an Emmy in 2020 for Outstanding Writing on a Comedy Series for the pilot episode. Season 2 is currently in production.
His plays have been performed in Australia and internationally, premiere seasons include:
- The Café Latte Kid Sydney Theatre Company, 1995 and was nominated for the NSW Premier’s Literary Award, the same year Tony won the Phillips Parsons’ Award for Young Playwrights
- The John Wayne Principle Sydney Theatre Company, 1996
- The Recruit Sydney Theatre Company, 2000 and Melbourne Theatre Company, 2002
- The Virgin Mim Sydney Theatre Company, 2002
- The Unlikely Prospect Of Happiness Sydney Theatre Company, 2004
- The Give And Take Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company, 2005
- The Great Sydney Theatre Company, 2008 and
- The Grenade Sydney Theatre Company, 2010.
Contact Screenwest
T: +61 8 6169 2100
E: info@screenwest.com.au
www.screenwest.com.au
www.filminwesternaustralia.com.au
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