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21 02 2020 - Media release

Imagine Impact expands to Australia

Image

Desia Gore at the Impact 3 Kick-Off

The US development system Imagine Impact created by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Tyler Mitchell, will launch in Melbourne, Australia this year in association with Gentle Giant Media Group and Screen Australia. Impact’s unique accelerator program discovers, cultivates and empowers creative storytellers worldwide, and the Australian incarnation is the first time the program will be run outside of the US.

Based in Melbourne, Impact Australia is supported by principal partner Film Victoria and the state and territory screen agencies. Applications will open on 3 March 2020 to Australian writers, with the eight-week mentorship program beginning on 8 June 2020.

Similar to its United States counterpart, Impact Australia will actively seek fresh story perspectives and help writers create their best work while simultaneously leveraging technology for direct access to the global entertainment marketplace. During the program, ‘Creators’ will be paired with a ‘Shaper’ (world-class screen and TV writers) to help craft their story and prepare them for Pitch Day with the goal of selling their project. Impact Australia will give participating Creators everything they need to succeed, including a stipend to allow them to relocate to Melbourne and focus on their projects for the eight-week intensive program.

“The power of Imagine Impact is global and we’ve set our sights on bringing our innovative approach to discovering, cultivating and empowering creators to Australia,” said Tyler Mitchell, Head of Imagine Impact. “The country is recognised for its robust film and television industry made up of a community who passionately support its creators. It was a natural move for expansion, and to have the support of Screen Australia and leading entertainment entities sets Impact Australia up for success.” 

Taking a Silicon Valley accelerator approach, combined with Imagine Entertainment’s decades of Hollywood heritage, Imagine Impact was started by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Tyler Mitchell in 2018 to democratize the Hollywood system. To date, three programs have been successfully completed and Impact boasts an alumni class of 72 Creators, some of whose projects have been picked up by Netflix, Legendary, Amblin Entertainment and/or signed by major agencies and management companies, including; WME, CAA, UTA, Verve, Anonymous Content, Management 360, and Lit Entertainment.

Australians have previously participated in Impact’s Los Angeles program, including Victorian creative duo Lynda Heys & Steve Turnbull and Philip Tarl Denson. Based in Darwin Australia, Denson developed his television series Anomaly through Impact and now has a producer and showrunner attached to the project, which is set-up at Legendary TV. He was also recently funded to produce Australian comedy series Fracketty Frack: It’s the Frackpocalypse.

“Impact Australia will bring the focus of the global film and television industry to Australia and our tremendous storytellers, positioning Melbourne and Australia as a premiere destination for original IP and content,” said Greg Basser, Chairman and CEO, Gentle Giant Media Group. “Impact Australia will provide an amazing opportunity for Australian writers to not only learn from some of the best in the world, but also get their Australian stories in front of key decision-makers in the global creative industry.”

“In assisting Imagine Impact to come to Australia, we are seeking to enable Australian creators to get access to an innovative development framework that is outside the standard screen agency funding model,” said Graeme Mason, CEO of Screen Australia. “Imagine Impact has proved to be incredibly successful at empowering talent and connecting great ideas with a pathway to audience, so we encourage Australian creators to take advantage of this chance to work with market leaders.”

“The global screen industry is growing at an unprecedented rate and the demand for content and new ideas has never been higher. The Victorian Government is committed to supporting our screen ecosystem and investing in our screenwriting talent is an important part of that work,” said Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley. “Attracting Imagine Impact to Melbourne is a coup that reinforces Victoria’s position as a screen leader and a creative hub. This program will give our local writers the opportunity to foster international networks and create dynamic screen stories that will go on to be seen by people across the globe.”

Principal finance for Impact Australia courtesy of Screen Australia, along with principal partner, Film Victoria. The program is also being supported by Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screenwest, South Australian Film Corporation, Screen Territory, Screen Canberra and Screen Tasmania.

Applications open 3 March 2020. See imagine-impact.com/australia for further information.

Subscribe to the Imagine Impact newsletter and follow @impactimagine on social to be kept up-to-date on program details.

Oscar-winner screenwriter Lance Black tells Impact 1 Creators about the power of storytellingOscar winning screenwriter Lance Black tells Impact 1 Creators about the power of storytelling

ABOUT IMAGINE IMPACT

Founded by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and Tyler Mitchell in September 2018, Imagine Impact discovers, cultivates and empowers creative storytellers around the world through a modern development system that helps them create their best work. Impact has also launched a mobile/web platform designed to directly connect the people who get creative projects made - writers, producers, showrunners and buyers. Since its inception, Imagine Impact has been responsible for major attachments to Netflix, Legendary, Amblin Entertainment, Sony and more; Creators have been signed by major agencies and management companies, including WME, CAA, UTA, Verve, Anonymous Content, Management 360, 3Arts and more; and the Impact Platform is used by industry executives from over 300 companies, including A24, ABC, Disney, HBO, Netflix, Universal and many more.

For more information, visit www.Imagine-Impact.com and follow on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @impactimagine.

ABOUT GENTLE GIANT MEDIA GROUP

Gentle Giant Media Group is an independent producer of Hollywood film and television and Australian treaty co-productions, which promotes the film and television production in Australia. Gentle Giant partners with major studios and independent producers, matching projects with creative and technical talent in Australia and co-producing both film and TV. Leveraging its extensive networks and contacts across Hollywood, Australia and China, Gentle Media Group also acts as a financial mediator for creative visionaries and specifically seeks out projects best suited for production in Australia.

Chairman and CEO, Greg Basser, co-founded and led Village Roadshow Entertainment Group for over 18 years, producing 126 films with global box office exceeding U.S. $19.5 billion.
gentlegiantmedia.com.

ABOUT SCREEN AUSTRALIA

Screen Australia is the Australian Federal Government agency charged with supporting the development, production and promotion of Australian scripted and documentary content. The agency funds productions for television, film and online. Screen Australia also administers Australia’s Official Co-production program, in addition to the Producer Offset tax rebate which assists eligible Australian and Official Co-productions to be made. The agency provides a range of resources and opportunities to the industry including access to research, market intelligence and special initiatives, such as its Gender Matters program. For more information visit screenaustralia.gov.au

ABOUT FILM VICTORIA

Film Victoria is the Victorian State Government agency that provides strategic leadership and assistance to the film, television and digital media sectors of Victoria. Film Victoria aims to increase screen activity in Victoria and be a responsive advocate for the screen industry. Film Victoria does this in a range of ways: through funding the production and development of screen content, industry placements, filming incentives, location assistance, industry events, partnership activities and other support, all which help develop and strengthen the Victorian screen industry. For more information visit film.vic.gov.au.

US MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Ivy Mollenkamp | [email protected]

Michael Scher | [email protected]

AUSTRALIAN MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Scott Dawkins | [email protected]

IMAGERY

Download a selection of images from Imagine Impact USA here


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Media enquiries

Maddie Walsh | Publicist

+ 61 2 8113 5915  | [email protected]

Ted Rose | Senior Publicist

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