25 September 2009

ENTERPRISE PROGRAM

Screen Australia today announced $9 million in support over three years for 12 production companies under its Enterprise Program.

The companies to be funded span features, television, documentary and interactive digital platforms, and include both experienced entrepreneurs and newer players. Their business plans incorporate strategies for development including diversification, new revenue streams, new alliances, innovative approaches to distribution, strategies for raising private equity, and expansion across states and into international markets. Mentorship and opportunities for talent renewal are also represented.

The 12 successful companies are (in alphabetical order):

• Cordell Jigsaw Productions (Michael Cordell, Nick Murray)
• Essential Media & Entertainment (Chris Hilton, Ian Collie, Sonja Armstrong, Carmel Travers)
• Goalpost Pictures Australia (Rosemary Blight, Kylie du Fresne, Ben Grant, Cass O’Connor)
• Hoodlum (Tracey Robertson, Nathan Mayfield)
• Hopscotch Features (Troy Lum, Andrew Mason, John Collee, Frank Cox)
• Matchbox Pictures (Helen Bowden, Penny Chapman, Tony Ayres, Michael McMahon, Helen Panckhurst)
• Prospero Productions (Ed Punchard, Julia Redwood)
• Renegade Films (Australia) (Joe Connor, Ken Connor)
• Roar Film (Stephen Thomas, Kath Symmons, Craig J Dow Sainter)
• Scarlett Pictures (Kath Shelper)
• Waking Dream Productions (Jan Chapman)
• Warp Films Australia (Anna McLeish, Mark Herbert, Robin Gutch)

"These are exciting proposals, involving some very skilled and talented people," said Screen Australia Chief Executive Ruth Harley. "They represent a diverse group of companies with diverse ambitions, but what they have in common is a strong vision of what they want to achieve, and clear, carefully considered and well documented plans for the next stage of their development. The slates of projects already on the table are very promising but most importantly, this is about building capacity and ongoing business viability."

The companies were selected from a shortlist of 24 by a panel that included screen business development consultants Jonathan Olsberg and Ian Jones as well as Ruth Harley and Screen Australia’s Senior Manager, State and Industry Partnerships, Chris Oliver. Applications were assessed against criteria relating to business plan, track record, slate of projects and resources. In addition, the panel considered whether proposals would contribute to the Enterprise Program's aim of supporting a diverse range of companies, budget levels and production genres.

"The standard of applications was very high," added Dr Harley, "and we hope those companies we were unable to fund in this round will still be able to benefit from the thinking and analysis that went into their business plan proposals."

Funding for the inaugural Enterprise recipients will span three years, from 2009/10 to 2011/12. Further funds will be available for new intakes in 2010/11 and 2011/12. The timing for the next round will be announced early in the new year.

Read the media release and find out more about the companies.

LATEST PRODUCTION INVESTMENT APPROVALS

Following yesterday's Board meeting, Screen Australia has confirmed it will provide production finance for the feature The Cup, the true story of the 2002 Melbourne Cup and young jockey Damien Oliver's emotion-charged win. It has also announced support for four documentaries under the National Documentary Program, and five contemporary projects from young documentary makers under the Triple J TV Docs initiative with the ABC. Budgets for all these projects total $20.4 million.

Read the media release.

NEW DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Andy Cox will join Screen Australia's team of Development Managers, contracted for six months until March 2010.

Andy has worked in theatre, documentary and feature film over the last 20 years in the UK, Europe, Australia and the US, as a developer, writer, rewriter and script editor. This has involved close connections with state and central government development agencies, private development organisations and major national and international producers. He has also had a long involvement in journalism and academia and is the inventor of an award-winning strategic board game.

Andy will work out of Screen Australia's Melbourne office, alongside the organisation's other Development Managers, Mike Cowap in Melbourne, and Susan Boehm and Veronica Gleeson in Sydney.

Information about Screen Australia's development programs, including video interviews with Martha, Mike, Susan and Veronica, is available from www.screenaustralia.gov.au/development

PROGRAM DEADLINES

Talent Escalator - Springboard: Short Film Initiative - 28 September
Talent Escalator - Screen Australia/Film4 Producer Internship - 23 October
Short Animation Production - 30 October

Special Documentary Fund - 2 October
Feature Production (deadline for December board meeting): 5 October
Television Drama Production - 16 October
Children's Television Drama Production - 16 October

National Indigenous Documentary Fund 12 (NIDF 12) - 2 October

Market Escalator (finance to stage workshops, masterclasses, seminars, conferences or special events) - 30 October

Please note: many Screen Australia funding programs do not have deadlines and are not assessed in rounds. Please check the website for application details for specific programs. 

CURRENT POSITIONS VACANT

Please see the jobs page of the website. 

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