BTL NEXT STEP PROGRAM
STAGE 1 – Production Companies / Screen Industry Providers)
BTL Next Step is a credit springboard and career accelerator for established mid-career practitioners to step up into senior “below-the-line” (“BTL”) crew and leadership roles that have been identified as experiencing shortages.
The program is broken down into two stages:
Stage One – a callout to production companies and screen industry providers (“SIP”) who are able to provide opportunities for mid-career practitioners in the four identified roles below to be mentored, offered a shadow placement and attain a credit that will progress them along their career pathway:
- Line Producers
- Production Managers
- Location Managers
- Post Production Supervisors
Up to 12 production companies/SIP will receive funding of up to $50,000 for each opportunity provided for Placees under this program (funding will be directly related to the length of the opportunity). Applicants may offer to provide multiple opportunities under this program for the same role or across multiple roles.
The placement opportunities may take place any time between 1 July 2023 and 30 May 2024. Applications for Stage One close at 5pm AEST on 25 May 2023.
Stage Two – a future callout to mid-career practitioners who would like to progress their careers in one of the four BTL crew roles that have been identified above as part of this program. More information about this second stage will be announced when applications open in the second half of 2023.
Why?
Australia’s new 5-year Cultural Policy REVIVE, launched in January 2023, stated that “a key issue will be to address crucial skills shortages and long-term skills development, particularly in specialist technical and digital production fields, that are constraining growth across these sectors.”
Referred to as “below-the-line” (BTL) crew members, the crew make up the majority of the screen workforce. Unlike their "above the line” (ATL) counterparts involved in the development process, BTL crew work on the practical realisation of a screen production from pre-production through to post to ensure that each production is delivered on time, on budget, and the highest quality.
The aims of BTL Next Step are to:
- Be a credit springboard & career accelerator for established mid-career practitioners to step up into senior BTL crew and leadership roles in crew roles that have been identified as experiencing shortages;
- Increase the number of experienced and credited Line Producers, Production Managers, Location Managers and Post Production Supervisors working in film, series television or other significant formats, thereby addressing significant current constraints in workforce capacity in these roles.
What?
Through this initiative, Screen Australia will support 8-12 mid-career practitioners (“Placees”) to be mentored and attain a credit that will create capacity in their career pathway, elevate their consideration for future senior/HoD leadership positions in their given crew role; and, over time address the skills shortage being experience in these roles.
Stage One
A callout to production companies and screen industry providers who are able to provide opportunities for mid-career practitioners in the four identified roles (Line Producers, Production Managers, Location Managers and Post Production Supervisors) to be mentored, offered a shadow placement and attain a credit that will progress them along their career pathway.
This program is open to significant productions regardless of if they are receiving production funding from Screen Australia. To be eligible for this program, the opportunities will be required to be either:
- Projects that have already been approved for Screen Australia production funding (for any genre type); OR
- Projects not receiving Screen Australia production funding but are of scale and are well known to Screen Australia AND/OR
- Are skills opportunities provided by production companies with a strong and reputable track record.
Stage Two
A future callout to mid-career practitioners will open in the second half of 2023. It is expected that mid-career crew practitioners would have 2-6 screen credits or 2+ years of professional experience, or be experienced enough to participate and earn a credit, and for whom this credit making scheme will elevate and accelerate their career trajectory.
Each opportunity should put Placees in the centre of a production and exposed to the relationships, networks, connections and skills enhancing experiences.
How much can you apply for?
Screen Australia will generally contribute a maximum of up to $50,000 towards each placement (funding will be directly related to the length of the opportunity). An exception may be made for extended placements where there are significant benefits to the industry. Funds are to be used as a contribution to:
- The costs of employing the practitioner at the applicable recognised industry rate including wage (at least award minimum rates), superannuation, overtime etc excluding host company overheads or capital expenditure,
- The costs of a supervisor/mentor, if required, to mitigate risks involved with engaging a less experienced HOD,
- An allocation for host production company/business to cover on-costs of onboarding and hosting the Placee.
In addition, an allocation is available for carer/support costs and relocation costs on an as-needs-basis – to ensure geographical diversity of Placees and opportunities.
Screen Australia will pay the contribution as a grant to the Host.
The length and remuneration of each Placement will be determined by the nature of the format and schedule of the given production but will cover pre-production, production and some post and the production and mentor/host production company must commit to the awarding of a credit for the Placee.
Who?
Applications for Stage One of BTL Next Step will close at 5pm AEST on 25 May, 2023.
- Applicants for Stage One will be from production companies and SIP who are able to provide opportunities for mid-career practitioners in the four identified roles.
- Applicants for Stage One must apply as an Australian entity. You will need to read our Terms of Trade to ensure you are eligible for Screen Australia funding.
- Applicants who are already receiving production funding from Screen Australia may apply for additional support under this program (which will be provided separately as grant funding).
- Applicants who are not already receiving production funding from Screen Australia may also apply for this program if the projects are of scale and are well known to Screen Australia AND/OR are being provided by production companies with a strong and reputable track record.
- Funding can only be used towards the costs associated with this program and cannot be used to fund or substitute a paid crew role on any production. Funding cannot be used for professional attachments that are a requirement of Screen Australia, state screen agency or covered as part of another industry program. Funding cannot be used retrospectively.
Screen Australia is committed to diversity throughout our sector, both in the content that we see on our screens and in the teams who make it.
We want to see applications from companies led by and opportunities being provided for First Nations people; people who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; people who are Deaf, hard of hearing or with disability; people who are female or gender diverse; people who identify as LGBTQIA+; and people located in regional and remote areas.
All applicants should consider diversity, inclusion and equity, with opportunities that support the career development of workers from diverse backgrounds that reflect contemporary Australian life. Application budgets may include expenditure for accessibility, support or other costs for the implementation of the proposed activities to ensure opportunities being provided are culturally safe and accessible.
How?
Applications close 5pm AEST on Thursday 25 May 2023 and can be made through Screen Australia’s online application portal with the following materials:
- fully completed application form including contact details and confirmation of eligibility
- details of the production/s that the BTL crew opportunities could be provided on and which roles the opportunities could be offered
- details of the individual who will be overseeing or mentoring the Placee as part of the opportunity being provided on the production
- details of the company history; structure; and details of principals and key staff.
assessment process and criteria
Screen Australia executives and/or industry specialists will assess all applications against the aims and assessment criteria of BTL Next Step listed below, and the strengths and capabilities of the applicant entity.
The aims:
- To provide credit springboard and career accelerator for established mid-career practitioners to step up into senior BTL crew and leadership roles in crew roles that have been identified as experiencing shortages;
- To increase the number of experienced and credited Line Producers, Production Managers, Location Managers and Post Production Supervisors working in film, series television or other significant formats, thereby addressing significant current constraints in workforce capacity in these roles.
The assessment criteria:
- How well does the BTL crew opportunities and the production/s meet the aims of the program and the roles being targeted?
- How experienced is the individual that will be overseeing or mentoring the Placee?
- How many BTL opportunities will be provided by the applicant and what is the future potential of Placees being hired for future television or film projects in a credited role?
We aim to make the application and assessment processes as transparent as possible, but given the volume of applications we receive, we do not have the resources to provide feedback on each proposal.
Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application in late June 2023.
TERMS OF FUNDING
If you are successful with your application, you will need to enter into a Screen Australia grant agreement with specific non-negotiable core conditions.
Funding will be in the form of a non-recoupable grant.
Drawdowns:
Reporting Obligations:
- It will be a requirement of the funding agreement to maintain and report at regular intervals directly related to the deliverables, KPIs and outcomes of the opportunities.
- Acquittal of funding will include necessary data for the evaluation of the program against program KPIs, in addition to diversity and inclusion reporting.
- Screen Australia will also establish post-plan contact and monitoring of BTL crew who have benefited from the BTL Next Step program for both reporting requirements and career trajectory assistance and progression.
Any personal information collected from Reporting Obligations will be handled in accordance with Screen Australia’s Privacy Policy.
See the FAQs for further information.
If you have any questions after reviewing these guidelines, application form, and the FAQs, please contact Program Operations on 1800 507 901 or via email. Please note that we are unable to provide creative advice or suggestions to strengthen your application.