Talent Camp Returns

Screenwest in partnership with AFTRS, AWG and Screen Australia announces the second rendition of TALENT CAMP, an inclusion program for emerging screen talent from diverse backgrounds. Applications close Friday, 31 May 2019.

Screenwest, the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG), Screen Australia and all other seven state and territory screen agencies have announced Talent Camp, a national workshop program to provide skills development opportunities for emerging storytellers and screen content creatives from diverse backgrounds across the country.

In 2017, responding to audience demand for rich and engaging stories and the industry’s concern about the lack of diversity in the Australian screen sector, Talent Camp was launched, providing emerging talent with access to writing and producing skills in a week intensive, followed by mentoring and other industry based experiences.

In 2019, Talent Camp returns in search of new talent, new perspectives and new voices that reflect the richness and depth of contemporary Australian society.

The 2019 Talent Camp focuses on episodic narrative, both short and long form, with pathways for emerging talent to develop their own web series, and find employment in television series. The week long workshops will focus on story development, understanding episodic narrative, producing considerations and career pathways. Workshops will begin in Perth, and continue to Adelaide, Darwin, Melbourne, Hobart, Brisbane and Sydney, with twelve to fifteen participants selected for each state workshop.

The WA workshops will take place Monday 16 to Friday 20 September 2019 in Perth.

Simone Flavelle, Screenwest Diversity Manager said, “The inaugural Talent Camp was a real success and Screenwest is delighted to support the program again. The program provides an opportunity for local creatives to develop their skills through mentoring from renowned professionals. There’s no barrier to joining in – we want to hear from passionate creatives ready to share their stories and explore the next steps.”

Neil Peplow, CEO AFTRS said, “Talent Camp was incredibly successful in its first year, with a number of participants going onto to find paid work in industry, receiving funding from screen agencies and further opportunities to study and develop their skills.

“It’s been a massive boost for increasing diversity in the screen sector. Through consultation and experience we have fine-tuned this edition of Talent Camp to focus on episodic tv and web content development in order to offer more opportunities for the next wave of diverse emerging talent that are aligned to industry.”

AWG is a key project partner through the Scripted Ink program. Scripted Ink incubates and accelerates quality Australian writers and their screenplays through direct development funding; showcasing them to production companies, broadcasters and investors and assisting in brokering commercially and creatively successful partnerships.

Talent Camp is seeking applications from creatives from under-represented communities in screen culture with reference to cultural background, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, geographic and/ or socio-economic circumstance. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives are strongly encouraged to apply. The workshops are free, and regional participants will receive financial support for travel and accommodation.

Applications are open to participants who are passionate about storytelling, with previous work produced across any creative platform, including screen, theatre, spoken word, podcasting, photography, and YouTube.

The state-based Talent Camps will culiminate in a National Talent Camp in March 2020, with Screen Australia a key partner in delivering the national workshop.

Talent Camp is now open for submissions, to apply go to aftrs.edu.au/talent-camp. Applications close Friday, 31 May 2019.

Workshops will run between September and November in each capital city – workshop dates below:

Workshop Dates

Western Australia

Workshop dates: Monday 16 – Friday 20 September, 9:30am – 5:00pm
Workshop location: Perth

South Australia

Workshop dates: Monday 23 – Friday 27 September, 9:30am – 5:00pm
Workshop location: Adelaide

Northern Territory

Workshop dates: Monday 14 – Friday 18 October, 9:30am – 5:00pm
Workshop location: Alice Springs

Victoria

Workshop dates: Monday 21 – Friday 25 October, 9:30am – 5:00pm
Workshop location: Melbourne

Tasmania

Workshop dates: Monday 28 October – Friday 1 November, 9:30am – 5:00pm
Workshop location: Hobart

Queensland

Workshop dates: Monday 1 – Friday 15 November, 9:30am – 5:00pm
Workshop location: Brisbane

New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory

Workshop dates: Monday 18 – Friday 22 November, 9:30am – 5:00pm
Workshop location: Sydney

More Information

For further details, please contact:

Gary Paramanathan
T: 02 9805 6486
E: talentcamp@aftrs.edu.au

Simone Flavelle, Diversity Manager
Screenwest
E: diversity@screenwest.com.au

Eva Di Blasio, Talent Development Manager
Screenwest
T: +61 8 6169 2107
E: eva.diblasio@screenwest.com.au

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