BTL NEXT STEP PROGRAM 
(STAGE 2 – PLACEE OPPORTUNITIES)

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 – is complete. Following a competitive application process, some of Australia’s leading production companies and screen industry providers (“SIP”) have been selected to provide opportunities for mid-career practitioners in the four identified roles below: 

• Line Producers
• Production Managers
• Location Managers
• Post Production Supervisors

Stage Two – Applications are now open for 11 mid-career practitioners (“Placees”) to participate in the BTL Next Steps program. These are paid opportunities for competitively assessed and selected mid-career practitioners ready to step up into one of the four roles listed.

Applicants may apply for any opportunity regardless of their residential address (applicants do not need to be currently living in the location listed for a particular opportunity). Applicants may select one preferred opportunity that will escalate their career, with the option of selecting one alternative opportunity.

Who CAN APPLY?

To be eligible for this program, applicants must:

• be Australian citizens or residents and meet Screen Australia's Terms of Trade
• have an active ABN at time of application (individual/sole trader or Pty/Ltd as per Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade)
• be a mid-career BTL practitioner. For the purposes of this initiative, a mid-career BTL practitioner is considered to be a practitioner who has 2+years of professional experience, with reportable credits, in a position that will prepare them to step-up into the opportunity as part of this program. (Please see additional information below for applicants from diverse communities regarding this eligibility criteria).
• demonstrate how the BTL Next Step Program will elevate and accelerate their career trajectory.

Those eligible to apply through the above eligibility requirements must also:

• be available for, and commit to the full duration of the placement program;
• enter into an agreement with the production company / screen industry provider and Screen Australia to participate in the program.

Screen Australia recognises the barriers that face diverse communities in securing professional pathways into the screen sector. The BTL Next Step: Stage Two program willconsider applicants from diverse communities who do not have the level of industry experience or reportable credits as outlined above, but who can evidence the relevant skills, potential and experience required.

We strongly encourage applications applicants who identify as 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.

What SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?

Each opportunity will put Placees in the centre of a production and expose them to the relationships, networks, connections and skills enhancing experiences. Placees will be mentored and attain a credit that will create capacity in their career pathway, elevate their consideration for future senior/heads of department leadership positions in their given crew role; and, over time address the skills shortage being experience in these roles. 

The length of each placement is directly related to the nature of the format and schedule of the given production but will cover pre-production, production and some post. Travel/relocation costs will be considered on a case-by-case basis for successful applicants.

Successful applicants will be provided with the following:

• position description including an outline of expectations of the role and a training overview 
• a nominated supervisor and mentor for the duration of the placement
• a credit acknowledgement by the production company.

WHEN AND How CAN APPLICATIONS BE MADE?

Applications close 5pm AEST on Thursday 27 July 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; and,
• CV/Bio (maximum 2 pages) including reportable credits applicable to the required eligibility to apply to this program; and,
• a personal motivation statement (maximum 1 page) that includes:

• why you wish to apply to this program;
• how the opportunity supports your career goals and trajectory;
• why you believe you are ready for this opportunity; and
• what you believe you will contribute by participating in this program.

• a letter of recommendation and/or support (maximum 1 page) from a relevant professional context you have worked in
• a selection of one preferred, with the option to choose one alternate, Placee position from the list below.  Please note that applicants may be asked to consider a different position than the one selected if their experience and career goals match.

Production Company / screen industry provider opportunities

Applicants may select up to two options when applying - one preferred and one alternate (optional), giving strategic consideration to how this opportunity will best support their career.  Placees can only choose opportunities within one role, and are only permitted to submit one application to this program during this round. Details for each opportunity are subject to change.

Line Producer Opportunities:

• EndemolShine Australia
  • Unscripted Drama
  • Sydney, NSW
  • 16 weeks, starting ASAP
• Like a Photon Creative
  • Animation Feature
  • Brisbane, QLD
  • 53 weeks, starting ASAP
• Cheeky Little 
  • Children's TV Show
  • Sydney, NSW
  • 18 weeks, starting ASAP
• Werner Film
  • TV Drama
  • Melbourne, VIC
  • 16 weeks, starting 14 November, 2023

Production Manager Opportunities:

• ModelFarm Production
  • Documentary Feature Film/Animated Feature 
  • Adelaide, SA
  • 43 weeks, starting ASAP
• Ludo
  • Action Adventure, Comedy, Drama,
    Alice Springs, NT
  • 10 weeks, starting ASAP
    First Nations preferred
• Prospero Production
  • Observational Documentary Series 
  • Perth, WA
  • 24 weeks, starting 2 October, 2023

Location Manager Opportunities:

• Jungle Entertainment
  • Drama
  • Adelaide, SA
  • 22 weeks, starting 13 November, 2023
• Ludo 
  • Action Adventure, Comedy, Drama,
    Alice Springs, NT
  • 10 weeks, starting ASAP
    First Nations preferred

Post Production Supervisor Opportunities:

• Cutting Edge
  • Drama, Feature Film, Documentary & Factual
  • Sydney, NSW
  • 48 weeks, starting ASAP
• Wildbear
  • History, Natural History
  • Canberra, ACT
  • 30 weeks, starting 9 September, 2023

Please make note in the application form if you will require travel/relocation expenses for the opportunities you have selected.  Travel will be considered on a case-by-case basis for successful applicants for each opportunity.

assessment process and criteria

Screen Australia executives will assess applications in conjunction with the pertinent production company / screen industry provider against the assessment criteria of BTL Next Step listed below. Short listed applicants will be invited to an interview with the pertinent company and Screen Australia.

Screen Australia will have final approval of successful applicants.

The assessment criteria:

• the strength of the applicant’s credits and suitability for the opportunity 
• appropriateness of motivation of the applicant for the opportunity;
• the strength of the letter of recommendation/support and suitability for the opportunity; and
• the perceived experience and knowledge of the applicant pertinent to the activity.

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 August 2023.

TERMS OF FUNDING

If you are successful, you will need to enter into an agreement issued by Screen Australia and the production company / screen industry provider whose initiative you are applying to, and you will be required to provide two (2) reports on your progress to Screen Australia.

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.