Screen Australia has announced the recipients of the latest round of funding from the Skills Development Fund and BTL: Next Step initiative.
These initiatives were introduced to help address the skills shortages for below-the-line roles and grow the capacity of the Australian screen workforce.
The Skills Development Fund is designed to support production companies, game development studios and screen businesses to provide work-based learning, while BTL: Next Step supports mid-career practitioners to upskill from their current areas of expertise.
The host companies and individuals supported through BTL: Next Step are:
- Bunya Productions – Production Manager placement (WA): Samuel Westley (NCIS: Sydney, Erotic Stories) from NSW
- Bunya Productions – Location Manager placement (WA): Jaidyn Griffin (Apples Never Fall, Significant Others) from QLD
- WBMC – Production Manager placement (WA): Tayla Woodhouse (Invisible Boys, Paper Dolls) from WA
- Jungle Entertainment – Production Accountant placement (NSW): Abi Tabone (Four Years Later) from NSW
- Easy Tiger Productions – Art Director placement (NSW): Kaiit Mosby (The Newsreader Season 3, Ice Road: Road to Sky) from VIC
- Red Rock Run Production – Location Manager placement (WA): Alice Zhao (White Fever, High Country) from VIC
The programs/projects supported through the Skills Development Fund are:
- We Bury the Dead - WBTD Film Productions Pty Ltd: WBTD Film Productions, operating as The Penguin Empire, is a production company based in Western Australia. This funding supports WBTD Film Productions in training three key personnel for the production of Zak Hilditch’s new survival thriller feature film, We Bury the Dead in the Production Office, Art Department and Electric.
- On-Set VFX Scanning & Digital Capture Tech - Myriad Studios VFX: Through a Skills Development Plan supported with this funding, Myriad Studios will provide targeted training, mentorship, and skill development opportunities to foster growth and proficiency in VFX Scanning and Digital Capture Technicians. Key practitioners will have the opportunity to work on active film productions.
- The Assembly - TAT PRODUCTIONS PTY LTD: This funding will support TAT Productions (trading as Helium Pictures) on providing career training and development opportunities for people from underrepresented backgrounds. Recipients will receive a below-the-line credit on The Assembly, a documentary series commissioned by the ABC that follows Autistic trainee journalists as they learn and finesse their craft to prepare for interviewing Australia’s best-known personalities. The production is dedicated to destigmatising living and working with Autism. The recipients will benefit from skills and development growth opportunities and are supported by Bus Stop Films and Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia).
- SPIT FILMS SKILLS DEVELOPMENT - Spit Films Pty Ltd: Spit Films Pty Ltd is currently filming Spit, the sequel to the original Australian comedy classic Gettin’ Square. The production will use this funding to empower trainees to become more highly skilled in four identified below-the-line areas. These areas include implementing a Deaf Awareness Plan for cast and crew, led by Access Coordinator Stephanie Dower and Advocate for the Deaf Community and actress, Sofya Gollan.
Applications are currently open for the following industry development initiatives:
- Skills Development Fund for projects/initiatives commencing from mid-September 2024
- BTL: Next Step Stage One (host companies) for placements starting after 18 November 2024
- BTL: Next Step Stage Two (Placee opportunities) is currently open for applications and will close at 5pm AEST on Thursday 4 July 2024.
Screen Australia’s Industry Development initiatives have provided over $4 million for training and skills development for more than 480 people since its launch in April 2023.
