General Drama Production 

Screen Australia aims to support the creation of a diverse slate of quality, innovative, original, culturally significant small-screen storytelling that resonates with contemporary audiences.

We are mindful that new online platforms are entering the commissioned arena and recognise that accessibility to content on a wide variety of platforms provides strong opportunities for audience engagement.

Accordingly it is expected that appropriate consideration be paid to each platform (as outlined below in Marketplace Attachments).

The following guidelines apply to all productions made primarily for broadcast or subscription television, VOD platform or similar (with or without an associated catch up service), but specifically excludes theatrical projects qualifying for the 40 per cent Producer Offset and productions which fit under the parameters of Screen Australia’s Online Production Guidelines.

For the purpose of these Guidelines the term Commissioning Platform includes a free-to-air (FTA) or subscription television broadcaster/FTA streaming service and/or newer online platforms such as subscription video on demand (SVOD).

All projects must have a Commissioning Platform attached at the time of application.

For projects to be considered eligible for Screen Australia funding, the agreement with the Commissioning Platform must reflect the terms and conditions in these guidelines, including minimum licence fee requirements.

Investment and slate management principles

In an environment where the Producer Offset provides the primary means of Government support for projects with commercial potential, Screen Australia’s investment and slate management principles are governed by its enabling legislation, the Screen Australia Act 2008, to:

"ensure the development of a diverse range of Australian programs that deal with matters of national interest or importance to Australians, or that illustrate or interpret aspects of Australia or the life and activities of Australian people."

In this context, and given the need to allocate its limited funds fairly and effectively, Screen Australia manages its slate in collaboration with producers and Commissioning Platforms, according to the following principles:

• Ongoing consultation with producers and Commissioning Platforms about the year’s slate and upcoming priorities
• Recognition of Commissioning Platforms’ expertise in connecting with audiences as part of their commissioning processes
• Reserving the right to make investment decisions based on published criteria that reflect the requirements of the Screen Australia Act, including placing an emphasis on programs with a high level of artistic and cultural merit and promoting the development of commercially focused screen production businesses.

Screen Australia will not finance programs where the project has been developed by a Commissioning Platform and sub-contracted at a later stage to a producer, except where chain of title resides with the producer.

In addition, Screen Australia expects key creatives (producer, writer, director, director of photography, editor) to be sourced from the freelance market and not from the staff of the Commissioning Platform.

These guidelines encapsulate what Screen Australia refers to as General drama and Children’s programs.

Note: Children’s programs can be animation or live action, preschool, drama or factual and do not have to be a ‘P’ or ‘C’ program as classified by the ACMA. However, the primary audience for the content must be children, as opposed to families generally. Given the particular challenges and opportunities involved in producing television programs for children (including the difficulties Commissioning Platforms have in monetising content) both funding strands have discrete eligibility requirements – including different licence fees and funding caps.

Funding for Season 2s of Drama

Screen Australia is currently working towards unifying its guideline format across all programs.

In the interim, these guidelines specifically address Screen Australia’s funding of Season 2s of General and Children’s Drama. 

Due to pressure on its funds, Screen Australia was only able to support a limited amount of Season 2s in 2018/2019, with a focus on continuing supporting for Indigenous and Children’s Drama.

Whilst Screen Australia will prioritize new Intellectual Property over Season 2s, it does recognize the value of returnable Series and of Season 2s in many instances and, until further notice, will fund Season 2s taking into consideration the additional factors outlined on page 8.

General drama

General drama is any drama other than children’s drama.

What funding is available?

Screen Australia will not contribute more than 40 per cent of the total budget, inclusive of any Producer Offset amount, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Further, Screen Australia investment is capped at $2 million in any one general drama, other than in exceptional circumstances. If a project is a co-production, this cap will normally be reduced pro rata according to the percentage of the non-Australian co- production partner(s)’ contribution. So, for example if the co-production is a 60/40 Australian majority co-production, the cap would be $1.2 million.

For official co-productions the 40 per cent cap applies only to the Australian component of the budget.

Please refer to the website for further information on the General drama program and application deadlines.

Who can apply?

General drama of any broadcast format is eligible for this program, including telemovies, telemovie packages and series (no distinction is drawn between series and mini-series).

A compelling case must be demonstrated for Screen Australia to fund more than 26 viewing hours of any one project, including multiple series (whether or not they have been funded by Screen Australia).

This program is not open for episodic drama with total budgets of A$25 million or more.  These higher budget projects will normally have the benefit of the Producer Offset and should attract enough other financing without requiring funding from Screen Australia’s limited direct funding programs.

Funding for Season 2s will be by assessment, taking into consideration the additional factors outlined on page 8.

Applicants and projects must meet the general eligibility requirements set out in Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade, as well as the specific requirements of these guidelines. With the exception of official Co-Productions, it is Screen Australia’s expectation that applications for direct funding will demonstrate that the project is written and directed by Australian citizens or permanent residents. Please notify your Investment Manager before applying if this is not the case.

Specific requirements apply to projects where there is Indigenous community participation or content involved. Please refer to our website for further information. Applications for retrospective funding (for monies already spent) are not eligible.

Marketplace attachments

Given that new online platforms are entering the commissioned drama arena, Screen Australia is open to engaging with producers should any of these platforms seek to directly commission Australian content.

Domestic

Screen Australia requires a local presale of at least $440,000 per broadcast hour from a Commissioning Platform on terms agreeable to Screen Australia and otherwise in accordance with all relevant industry agreements.

A presale at the minimum licence fee must not include:

• any equity component for the Commissioning Platform;
• broadcast rights for New Zealand or another Rest of World (ROW) territory;
• subscription television rights (if the presale is to a free-to-air broadcaster), or free-to-air rights (if the presale is to subscription television) transmission via another platform - for example SVOD, transactional video on demand or other online platforms if they are not the originating Commissioning Platform;
• distribution rights for Australia or a ROW territory;

It can include a genuine ‘catch up’ service associated with a broadcaster.

If a Commissioning Platform wishes to exploit additional rights such as SVOD, Screen Australia expects the parties to negotiate in good faith for a payment to the producer which is reasonable in all the circumstances.

The Commissioning Platform must not enter into any agreements with the producer (or a related entity) that has the effect of undermining the minimum licence fee requirement.

The producer will also need to be able to demonstrate that they are able to engage cast to match the requirements of the Commissioning Platform.

International

In addition to the local presale, Screen Australia will normally require a recognised and appropriate sales agent for ROW to be attached on all projects financed under the General drama program.

Producer Offset and Co-production provisional approvals must not be more than two years old (from the date of your application for Production Investment). If approvals were granted over two years ago, a reassessment by the POCU will be required. See Producer Offset & co-production Programs for further information.

Foreign actors - Screen Australia encourages producers to engage with the Foreign Actor Certification Scheme (FACS) process early if they intend to bring foreign actors into Australia to be a part of any production. Separate to any requirement from Screen Australia, a production must meet the requirements of this scheme.

What is the assessment process?

Applications are considered by Screen Australia executives, with industry specialists consulted as required. Funding recommendations will be made at a meeting chaired by the CEO and composed of relevant Screen Australia staff.

Decisions for recommended projects requesting more than $1 million will be made by the Board. Decisions for recommended projects requesting $1 million or less may be made by the CEO.

Assessment criteria

Investment decisions will be made against the following criteria, and in the context of the slate management principles outlined on page 2:

• the quality of the proposal including its innovative and/or cultural significance;
• the extent to which the project is likely to effectively and properly increase and amplify inclusivity, diversity and/or gender equity both in front of, and behind the camera;
• the project’s potential to connect with its target audience;
• the track record and capacity of the creative team;
• the strength of the marketplace e.g. any ROW sales agent and the level of co-finance (excluding Screen Australia and the state agencies);
• diversity of slate.

Other factors including the gender and cultural diversity of team may also influence Screen Australia’s funding decisions. Preference will be given to original formats over programs based on foreign formats.

Please refer to additional assessment criteria for Season 2 on page 8.

Decisions on applications are final. Screen Australia will advise applicants in writing of the outcome of their application. Where an application is declined, the applicant will be advised of the reason.

Terms of funding

Where Screen Australia’s total contribution (including any development funds) is $500,000 or under, funding will be in the form of a grant:

• Screen Australia does not take a share of receipts from projects funded under a grant, which means the funds do not have to be repaid other than in circumstances set out in the Terms of Trade.
• The amount of the Screen Australia grant will be agreed upfront and not varied, other than in exceptional circumstances.
• Screen Australia does not require a share of copyright in productions that it funds under a grant.
• Funding for Season 2 will typically be capped at $500,000 and Screen Australia will normally be treat its funding as an investment.

Where Screen Australia’s total contribution (including any development funds) is more than $500,000, funding will be in the form of recoupable equity investment, with copyright and recoupment terms in accordance with the agency’s Terms of Trade.

What is the contracting process?

To help streamline the contracting process, Screen Australia has developed core conditions for its Production Investment Agreement (PIA) and Production Grant Agreement (PGA). The complete agreement will comprise the core conditions together with a series of schedules.

How it works:

• The core conditions in place at the time a project is approved for funding will apply.
• The goal is to keep the core conditions unchanged, with any exemptions addressed in the Special Conditions Schedule.
• Once all schedules are agreed to, the schedules and the core conditions will be merged into one fully executed pdf with approved budget and drawdown schedule (if applicable).

You can download the core conditions for agreements from the Screen Australia website.