Funding approvals
2022-23 Below The Line

Production Crew Skills Training Fund

• Australian Screen Editors (ASE) – Australian Screen Editors is a cultural, professional and educational organisation, dedicated to the pursuit and recognition of excellence in the arts, in Editing and in the science and technology of motion picture film and televisual post production. Project: The First Cut skills development project addresses the chronic shortage of broadcast-and-streaming-ready editors. The program will target well credentialed emerging editors from every background to participate in a paid mentorship program across scripted and factual / documentary, resulting in those editors achieving their first television credit.
• Bunya Entertainment - Bunya Entertainment is a dynamic, commercially driven, internationally focussed Australian drama and comedy production company. The company is part of the Bunya Media Group and was set up by Sophia Zachariou, Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey as Co-Managing Directors to focus on commercially driven screen projects for a wide audience. Bunya Entertainment produced the 2021 six-part comedy series The Moth Effect for Amazon Prime Originals. The series was nominated for best comedy at the 2021 AACTA awards. The Office Australia is the second commission with Amazon and will screen on Prime Video. Bunya Entertainment has developed a strong slate of drama and comedy projects with a yet to be announced six-hour prime time drama currently in pre-production. Bunya Entertainment is part of the Bunya Media Group which produces the Mystery Road television franchise, has a feature film arm (recent projects announced include Prime Facie, The Deb) and has a distribution arm, Dark Matter. Project: With BBC Studios, The Office Production will be supporting mid-level crew members by providing them opportunities to develop new skills and training to progress their careers. A selection of four BTL crew will work alongside The Office Heads of Departments (HODS) for a period of 8 weeks in total through Bunya Entertainment and BBC Studios. The attachments will aim to include the following Departments; 1. Script Supervisor, 2. Production Designer, 3. Grip and 4. Marketing / EPK. This initiative will be delivered in partnership with Prime Video.
• Cheeky Little Media - Is an Australian producer of high quality, internationally award-winning animation for kids and family. Cheeky Little Media creates and develops original animated IP and controls each stage of production, from design right through scripting and storyboarding to animation and visual effects. Project: Cheeky Little is spearheading new animation pipelines and techniques in their use of the gaming software, Unreal Engine for long form animation. This project will allow Cheeky Little to contribute to expanding the UE workforce in Australia by designing and executing a pilot training program for Unreal Engine practitioners, with the aim to establish the training as an ongoing program.
• CJZ - CJZ is one of Australia’s leading independently owned production companies, producing original primetime content for networks and streamers here and across the globe. Project: The Skills Development project will fund a post producer, shooter producer and edit assistant mentorships via CJZ's landmark series Bondi Rescue, an observation documentary following the Lifeguards on Bondi Beach.
• Dreamscreen Australia - Dreamscreen Australia is a state-of-the-art LED Virtual Production studio with a range of dynamic and bespoke spaces, catering for all types of crews and productions. Project: Dreamscreen Australia has designed a trial program in partnership with Media Mentors which has been styled around the Apprenticeship Group Training Organisation model. As part of the program three people will be recruited, for skills, aptitude and diversity that reflects contemporary Australia, with the view that they’ll be in the role of Studio Assistant for a significant amount of time.
• Flying Bark Productions – Flying Bark Productions is a prolific independent producer of family-focused animated content. With studio locations in Sydney and LA and partner studios all around the world, Flying Bark operates as a full-service production facility for award-winning original independent feature films and series as well providing world-class animation services for global clients. Flying Bark continues to grow its world class animation team across CG, 2D and CG/2D hybrid productions. With over 400 employees, Flying Bark has quickly become one of the most sought-after studios around the world for traditional frame-by-frame and CG animation. Flying Bark Productions is wholly owned by media and theme park group Studio 100 which is headquartered in Belgium. Project: Flying Bark has identified four specific areas of training and learning development focus for their Skills Development Officer: New staff in junior positions; newly promoted staff to first time leadership and supervisor roles that require training around a mixture of soft skills; mid-level staff with some leadership experience now wanting to step up into other and/or more senior HOD roles that require individual mentoring, training and support; attract highly-skilled technical people from adjacent industries with transferable skills.
• Jungle Entertainment - Jungle Entertainment produces premium drama and comedy for a worldwide audience. We collaborate with the very best creators and work tirelessly to champion their unique vision. Jungle Entertainment is known for its signature comedic tone, through which it explores the light and the dark in every story. Project: This BTL Skills Development Plan will deliver crew training and skills development on an upcoming production. The training will expand knowledge and skills specifically targeted at access and inclusion.
• Ludo Holdings - Ludo is an independently owned three-time Emmy®, Logie, BAFTA and AACTA Award winning studio and Screen Producers Australia, Business of the Year. Ludo creates and produces original stories from script to screen under one roof in Brisbane, Australia and has a track record of supporting diverse new talent and connecting these artists to global partners, broadcasters and distributors. Project: The training program will be designed to upskill designers and provide training on the design process for Animators and Art Directors. This training will give crew the chance to work across and develop in multiple disciplines at the same time.
• Entertainment Partners, Powered by Moneypenny - Experts in production + post production accounting, entertainment payroll, production finance solutions, offset facilitation and training services to the screen industry. Project: This Skills Development Plan aims to develop at least four skills development participants, two with Payroll Accounting skills and two with Post-Production Accounting skills. Entertainment Partners will engage these participants to work on a wide range of payroll-specific and Post-Production projects. The Skills Development Plan is structured over one-year to provide participants with five foundation and eight advanced work-based learning modules.
• Media Mentors Australia - Media Mentors Australia’s goal is to help people have satisfying and sustainable careers, at any level and in any role, in the screen industry. Run by experienced professionals, who have forged successful careers in the film and television industry, they combine practical expertise with mentoring knowledge, to build the capacity and capability of clients. And in doing so, support the growth of the industry. Project: Screen Careers - Stepping Up provides below-the-line management and leadership training for early career HODs or 2ICS ready to step up. It’s a country-wide, specialist screen industry HOD management training program, delivered and supported by people who understand production. It will be open to 100 people from around Australia via in-person and online formats. 
• NEP Australia - NEP is the world’s leading production partner supporting premiere content producers across the broadcast and live event industries. NEP provides clients with technical services and crew for remote production, studio production, virtual production, video display, host broadcast support, major events, post production and visual effects, uplink services and innovative software-based creative technology solutions. Project: The goal is to train up to eight live audio specialists around Australia who can successfully work on Outside Broadcasts with a particular focus on live sport broadcast technology.
• Screenworks – Screenworks supports and develops the screen industry across regional, rural and remote Australia by creating and delivering innovative training and networking programs for screen industry creatives and crew to help them to progress their careers. Project: Screenworks’ Set for Success has been designed to address national skills gaps in mid to senior level crew roles by seeking out regional crew and supporting them to step up into more senior roles on a production. Screenworks’ Set for Success will identify and train screen industry professionals as the mentors who will provide the guidance and onset training required to set regional crew members up for success in their new roles.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS & RETURNING CREW TRAINING FUND

• Media Mentors Australia – Media Mentors Australia’s goal is to help people have satisfying and sustainable careers, at any level and in any role, in the screen industry. Run by experienced professionals, who have forged successful careers in the film and television industry, they combine practical expertise with mentoring knowledge, to build the capacity and capability of clients. And in doing so, support the growth of the industry. Project: Screen Careers NT will connect early-career and returning BTL screen practitioners with employers in the Northern Territory. At the same time, Media Mentors Australia will find potential new entrants into the screen industries with transferable skills to add depth to the local industry.
• Screen Well – Screen Well’s mission is to improve the mental health and wellbeing outcomes of the Australian screen industry. Founded in 2022, Screen Well delivers a range of best practice industry specific resources, initiatives, and workshops that are designed to deliver on our mission. Project: Breaking Down Barriers to Job Sharing, Screen Well’s job-sharing initiative in collaboration with job sharing advocate Racheal Rauch, aims to create a new pathway for screen workers to return to the industry, as well as create opportunities to upskill emerging practitioners and/or enhance the work-life balance of existing experienced practitioners. This initiative also seeks to pair mentor and mentee job sharers to bring workers back into the industry, and to upskill workers, particularly in roles where there are known crew and skills shortages.
• Veterans Film Festival – The Veterans Film Festival is Australia’s premier international film festival devoted to screening films about, for and by veterans, offering screenings, masterclasses, Q&As, workshops, art exhibitions and performances. Through the new Screen Warriors program, the Veterans Film Festival provides skills training, placement opportunities, scholarships as well as project development within the screen industry in partnership with the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). By these means, it will broaden the diversity and inclusiveness of the Australian screen industry, whilst simultaneously supporting and improving the lives of veterans and their families. Their Excellencies General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Mrs Linda Hurley are VFF Co-Patrons. Project: Screen Warriors is a vital new program created through the Veterans Film Festival, providing training and screen career development for current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel. The new funding will help deliver a scale-up in the number of applicants the program can attract as well as serve dozens of currently registered participants through an introductory film and TV course tailored to address key high-demand, below-the-line (BTL) roles. It will also provide follow-up courses for those who wish to enter more specialised BTL roles and enable marketing of the graduates to production companies and Heads of Departments for employment opportunities. This initiative is delivered in an official partnership with the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS).

BTL: NEXT STEP STAGE ONE HOST COMPANIES

• Cheeky Little Media – Cheeky Little Media is an Australian producer of high quality, internationally award-winning animation for kids and family. Cheeky Little Media creates and develops original animated IP and controls each stage of production, from design right through scripting and storyboarding to animation and visual effects. Opportunity: Line Producer (Sydney, NSW)
• Cutting Edge Post – Whether it’s Visual Effects, Sound or Picture Post-Production, Cutting Edge has delivered the highest level of creative service on global projects for over 30 years. We do this from our purpose-built studios in New South Wales & Queensland from our Sydney, Brisbane and the Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast. As Australia’s largest turn-key post-production studio working with emergent technologies such as UHD, 4K, Dolby Vision & High Dynamic Range colour, and with major Hollywood studios and a range of streaming services such as Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Paramount+ / Amazon Prime, Hulu, Amazon Studios and Stan. Cutting Edge offers access to the world’s most accomplished VFX, picture and sound professionals, and coordinates them through a seamlessly integrated pipeline. Opportunity: Post Production Supervisor (Sydney, NSW)

• Endemol Shine Australia – Endemol Shine Australia is a part of Banijay, the world’s largest international content producer and distributor spanning 22 territories with over 120 production companies and a multi-genre catalogue boasting over 88,000 hours of original standout programming. Based in Sydney, Endemol Shine Australia’s team comprises proven leaders in television and digital production whose shows have become ratings hits. Endemol Shine Australia’s slate represents the most exciting and popular programming on Australian free-to-air networks and pay TV channels – shows such as MasterChef, Australian Survivor, Big Brother, LEGO Masters, Australian Ninja Warrior, Married at First Sight, Gogglebox Australia and Ambulance Australia as well as acclaimed dramas including Offspring, Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door,and INXS: Never Tear Us Apart. Opportunity: Line Producer (Sydney, NSW)

• Jungle Entertainment - Jungle Entertainment produces premium drama and comedy for a worldwide audience. We collaborate with the very best creators and work tirelessly to champion their unique vision. Jungle Entertainment is known for its signature comedic tone, through which it explores the light and the dark in every story. Opportunity: Location Manager (Adelaide, SA)
• Like A Photon Creative – Founded and led by Nadine Bates and Kristen Souvlis, multi award winning studio Like A Photon Creative (LAPC) has created and produced original IP for the biggest names in the media world, including Disney (Balloon Barnyard, 2016), Sesame Street (2014 - 2020), ABC and
  Universal Content Group. Since 2017, LAPC has financed and produced seven 3D animated feature films for worldwide theatrical release, including the Tale From Sanctuary City multiverse for Universal Content Group. The titles include The Wishmas Tree (2020), Combat Wombat (2020), Daisy Quokka: World’s Scariest Animal (2021). LAPC is also currently wrapping up production for the theatrical feature film Scarygirl (2023) which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in June 2023 and will go to cinemas across Australia in October 2023. LAPC is a proudly female-owned company run by savvy media entrepreneurs that know how to create exceptional content while pioneering exciting new business models. Opportunity: Line Producer (Brisbane, QLD)
• Ludo Studio – Ludo is an independently owned three-time Emmy®, Logie, BAFTA and AACTA Award studio and Screen Producers Australia, Business of the Year. Ludo creates and produces original stories from script to screen under one roof in Brisbane, Australia and has a track record of supporting diverse new talent and connecting these artists to global partners, broadcasters and distributors. Opportunity: Location Manager & Production Manager (x 2 positions) (Alice Springs, NT)
• ModelFarm Studio – Established in 2017, with studios in both Adelaide and Brisbane, ModelFarm’s team has extensive expertise in Feature Film Effects, VFX-based environments, and Virtual Production. Recently, ModelFarm has completed a wide range of VFX shots for The Equalizer 3, The Pope’s Exorcist, The Teen Wolf Movie, Master Gardener and Virtual Production environments for La Brea. Opportunity: Production Manager (Adelaide, SA)
• Prospero Productions – Prospero Productions is one of Australia's leading independent documentary production companies. We have made quality, multi-award-winning documentaries and documentary series for over 30 years. The Prospero signature is strong narrative-driven documentaries that appeal to a wide range of viewers. Prospero has an outstanding track record of introducing emerging personnel into the Western Australian film industry and from the outset, we have been a dedicated and proven proponent of knowledge-sharing. We have a great commitment to quality film making. This commitment extends not only to providing high-quality work for film and television production staff throughout the production and post production cycle, but also to mentoring and training our staff. Opportunity: Production Manager (Perth, WA)
• Werner Film Productions – Melbourne based Werner Film Productions (WFP) is an award-winning film and television Production Company specialising in the creative development and production of high-quality live action drama. Recent productions include The Newsreader - Seasons One & Two, Surviving Summer - Seasons One and Two for ZDFS & Netflix and Crazy Fun Park for ABC ME and the ACTF. Other productions include three hugely successful seasons of Dance Academyand its follow up feature Film, Dance Academy The Movie, the Telemovie Riot, Secret City produced in association with Matchbox and Ready For This, a co-venture with Blackfella Films. WFP continues to expand its production partnerships locally and globally. Opportunity: Line Producer (Melbourne, VIC)
• WildBear Entertainment – WildBear Entertainment is an integrated factual entertainment company, working across television, theatrical, corporate, education and government communications. With offices in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane & Melbourne, as well as Dunedin, Aotearoa (New Zealand), WildBear produces over 120 hours of documentary content per year across multiple genres and formats, for a wide base of clients both domestically and internationally. Opportunity: Post Production Supervisor (x 2 positions) (Canberra, ACT)
• Easy Tiger Productions – Easy Tiger Productions, headed by Founder/Producer Ian Collie and CEO/Producer Rob Gibson, is an award winning and talent friendly production company based in Sydney, Australia, and working internationally. Renowned for its creative rigour and producing compelling series with high production values, its recent credits include the upcoming series One Night and Scrublands, The Twelve, the smash hit comedy Colin From Accounts, five seasons of Rake and Doctor Doctor (aka The Heart Guy) and three seasons and three telemovies of Jack Irish. Opportunity: Production Manager (Perth, WA - filled early)
• Magpie Productions – Magpie Pictures is a NSW Northern Rivers based production company established by award winning Producer Lois Randall, with a slate of distinctive scripted projects in development and production. Known for its acclaimed and long running children’s series Grace Beside Me (NITV/ABC/Disney Channel) Magpie Pictures is now in production in Melbourne on Swift Street, an 8 x 30-minute drama series for SBS in association with Fifth Season, with investment from Screen Australia, Vic Screen and Screen NSW. Swift Street is created by Writer/Director Tig Terera, working with EP/Producer Lois Randall, Producer Ivy Mak, Script Producer/Writer Sam Carroll, Writers Briar Grace Smith and Nicole Reddy, Director Nick Verso and an exciting cast and crew - more details to be announced shortly. Magpie Pictures is thrilled to be hosting Post Production Supervisor Semih Özköseoğlu through the BTL Next Step program, under the expert mentorship of Henry Karjalainen. Opportunity: Post Production Supervisor on Swift Street (Melbourne, VIC - filled early)

BTL: NEXT STEP STAGE TWO RECIPIENTS

• Arkeena Zepur Mouradian (NSW): A production manager with a background in screen and sound production and film studies. She recently worked as a production manager on the documentary feature, Married to the Music for London-based production company Rebel Republic Films and has worked on productions supported by Sundance and presented by IDFA and HotDocs. She has held positions as a post-production technician, producer at SBS Radio, and led on artist support initiatives for Documentary Australia. Mouradian will undertake her placement with WildBear Entertainment as a Post Production Supervisor in Canberra, ACT.
• Cat Sanders (SA): Has production and post-production experience on award-winning television broadcasting shows, feature film and episodic, including Visual Effects Production on Marvel Studios’ feature film Ant-Man and The Wasp – Quantamania and TV series adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, and is now working on the production of an animated feature film set to be released in 2024. Sanders has a placement as a Visual Effects Production Manager at ModelFarm Studios in Adelaide, SA.
• Chloe Taylor (VIC): A television production coordinator with four years’ experience in television production with a number of production companies including Warner Brothers and Werner Film Productions. Taylor is undertaking a Junior Studio Production Manager placement with EndemolShine in Melbourne, VIC.
• Deborah French (NSW): An international TV Producer and Production Manager who has developed a number of award-winning productions through from start to finish. From series producing to casting, French has been delivering award-winning content for over 15 years across a variety of genres. French is currently undertaking her placement with Cheeky Little Media as a Line Producer in Sydney, NSW.
• Jeremy Woodcock (NSW): Starting in the film industry in South Australia working out of SAFC with Triptych Pictures, Woodcock is an experienced practitioner in overseeing production management, providing technical support and building client relationships. Woodcock gained experience working in technical roles with gear houses, becoming a post coordinator in the commercial space, and then as an Assistant Producer with Imagination. Woodcock is undertaking his placement with Cutting Edge Post as a Post Production Supervisor in Sydney, NSW.
• John Macdonald (QLD): An experienced Production Manager who has worked on projects such as Scarygirl, Combat Wombat 2 and The Sloth Lane. He has worked at Like a Photon Creative as a Production Manager and the Head of Production at Robot Films. Macdonald is currently undertaking his placement with Like a Photon Creative as a Line Producer in Brisbane, QLD.
• Karen Illesca (NSW): Currently working as a creative freelancer moving between Media Project Management and creative industry opportunities while developing a series of projects in partnership with Phillippa Webb at 2Kats Productions. Illesca is known for Whirld web series, Shot Open and Invisible. Illesca will be undertaking her placement with Jungle Entertainment as a Location Manager in Adelaide, SA.
• Laura Faulkner (VIC): An experienced producer, production manager and production accountant, Faulkner is known for Blacklight, A Perfect Pairing and Shayda. Faulkner holds a Master of Film and Television (Producing) from the Victorian College of the Arts. Faulkner is currently undertaking her placement with Werner Film Productions as Line Producer on The Newsreader, in Melbourne, VIC.
• Melisa Daly (SA): Throughout her career in production, Daly alternates between various positions including Production Coordinator, Facilities Manager, Extras Coordinator, Covid Coordinator and Producer’s Assistant. Daly continues to develop her slate and produce projects through her production company Kickass Chick Flicks, which she founded in 2018 together with writer/director Johan Bosma. Daly is undertaking her placement as a Production Manager with Ludo Holdings in Alice Springs, NT.
• Nicole Acworth (ACT): Acworth has gained experience on several acclaimed productions as a Post Coordinator including Harrow and Tidelands for Hoodlum Entertainment. Her skills in post-production have recently earned her pivotal roles as Post Supervisor for NBCUniversal's Joe Vs Carole, Jaggi Entertainment’s A Royal in Paradise, and Fremantle Media Australia in collaboration with Nickelodeon Network's Rock Island Mysteries Season 2. Acworth will be undertaking her placement as Post Production Supervisor for WildBear Entertainment in Canberra, ACT.
• Sarah Brims (WA): An experienced production coordinator with experience on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Alien: Covenant and The Lego Ninjago Movie. Brims’ career includes roles at Animal Logic, Moving Picture Company (London), and most recently as a production manager for Guru Productions. She is currently undertaking her placement with Prospero Productions as a Production Manager in Perth, WA.
• Semih Özköseoglu (NSW): A skilled mid-career post-production professional with a career that has developed over the past 10 years from Assistant Editor to Visual Effects Editor. His experience includes Post-Production Supervisor on the feature film Three Thousand Years of Longing for Kennedy Miller Mitchell. Özköseoglu is undertaking a role at Magpie Pictures as Post Production Supervisor on Swift Street in Melbourne, VIC.
• Tasha Trebeck (SA): An experienced producer and editor, Trebeck is known for Talk to Me, Unleash  and First Day. Trebeck completed the Mercury CX Mentorship in 2021 for Locations, produced the short film Izzy Roar on the Sunday Floor and directed two short documentaries, Punch in Pink and Clipper Ship, City of Adelaide. Trebeck is undertaking a placement as a Location Manager with Ludo Holdings in Alice Springs, NT.
• Xanthe Heubel (NSW): An experienced Costume Designer for film, television, and theatre. She has been nominated for AACTA Awards for The Twelve, The Commons, Riot and The Outlaw Michael Howe. In 2019 Heubel won the AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Television for her work on Lambs of God. She has also received five nominations from the Australian Production Design Guild Awards. Her recent work includes The Artful Dodger, and Ten Pound Poms. Xanthe is undertaking a placement with Easy Tiger Productions as a Production Manager in Perth, WA.