KEEP YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU
September 1st 2008 16:24
A feature film concept development workshop
Screen Australia, together with Warp X and Madman Entertainment, will run Keep Your
Wits About You: a two-day workshop to develop feature films concepts that steer two
well known genres – comedy and thriller – in new and original directions.
We’re looking for brilliant ideas from writers who understand that a thriller should be
thrilling and a comedy should be funny, but are able to push the genres in unexpected,
innovative and original ways for a 21st century marketplace. When developing either,
you’ll need to keep your wits about you – and so will your audience.
Deadlines - APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Friday 5 September 2008
Final decisions will be made by mid-October 2008.
The two-day workshop will take place on 17 and 18 November 2008 in Melbourne.
Funding
Screen Australia will cover the costs of travel and accommodation, where required, for
10 successful applicants to attend the two-day workshop in Melbourne.
How can you be considered for the workshop?
Writers or writer/directors can submit a maximum of two original concepts for a comedy
and/or thriller feature film. The concept must have the potential to communicate to a
local and international audience, and be made within low-budget parameters of
contained cast and locations.
Submission materials:
(1) One-page treatment
(2) One-page CV highlighting credits that demonstrate eligibility
(3) Cover email including contact details
Submissions must be no more than one page in length, and no more than two will be
accepted per applicant. Applications that are longer, or submitted with additional
material, will be ineligible.
Contents of the Workshop
The two-day workshop will be held in Melbourne on 17 and 18 November 2008.
Representatives of the partners, as well as industry players with proven comedy and
thriller talent, will mentor at the workshop during one-on-one and group sessions.
Warp X will provide expertise in developing for low-budget features where a primary
focus is moving rapidly to production, under the guise of their ‘three-F’ mantra – Fast,
Fun and Focused – which demands writers keep their wits about them. Madman will
lend its expertise as a leading distributor of independent films, bringing attention to the
critical ingredient: paying audiences.
About Warp X
Warp X is a pioneering venture backed by UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund and
Film4 to revitalise the low-budget sector of the British film industry. With offices in Sheffield, Nottingham and London, Warp X is allied to Warp Films and Warp Records.
With the imminent launch of Warp Films Australia and long-term intention to produce a
slate of Australian films, in the short term Warp X plans to co-finance a co-production
that will be made in Australia and released nationally by Madman.
About Madman Entertainment
Madman is a leading independent entertainment distribution and rights management
company, including theatrical, DVD, television, VOD, hotel, airline and merchandise.
About Screen Australia
Screen Australia is a newly established Australian Government agency operating
under the Screen Australia Act 2008. Screen Australia commenced operation on 1 July
2008, bringing together the functions of the FFC,Film Australia Limited and the AFC.
Eligibilityand Assessment Criteria
The writer or writer/director must have:
at least one produced credit (including short films, short features, features or TV) as a writer that has been released, broadcast or screened at a recognised film festival,
or have been funded for feature script development by a screen agency
OR
• at least one credit as a writer or writer/director on a live performance (including
theatre and stand-up comedy) that has been performed for an audience at a recognised entertainment venue, or as part of a recognised comedy festival.
• Highly experienced writers or writer/directors are eligible and encouraged to apply for this program.
• Projects must be able to be realised for a budget not exceeding $2 million.
• A maximum of two submissions per applicant will be accepted.
• Applicants should comply with Screen Australia’s general eligibility requirements.
These can be found at www.screenaustralia.gov.au
When assessing applications for this program, the partners will use the following
criteria:
i. Is this a strong and distinctive idea and story that has addressed the creative brief?(30%)
ii. Does the writer or writer/director have a strong command of cinematic storytelling
and screenplay craft, as evidenced by the one-page proposal and/or other evidence that may be requested during the evaluation process? (30%)
iii. Does the concept have the ability and scope to be achieved on a low budget? (20%)
iv. Does the concept have the ability and scope to communicate to an audience, locally and internationally? (20%)
Applications must be sent by email to:
keepyourwits@screenaustralia.gov.au
Queries to Screen Australia’s Industry and Enterprise Development Division:
Toll Free: 1800 507 901
Screen Australia, together with Warp X and Madman Entertainment, will run Keep Your
Wits About You: a two-day workshop to develop feature films concepts that steer two
well known genres – comedy and thriller – in new and original directions.
We’re looking for brilliant ideas from writers who understand that a thriller should be
thrilling and a comedy should be funny, but are able to push the genres in unexpected,
innovative and original ways for a 21st century marketplace. When developing either,
you’ll need to keep your wits about you – and so will your audience.
Deadlines - APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Friday 5 September 2008
Final decisions will be made by mid-October 2008.
The two-day workshop will take place on 17 and 18 November 2008 in Melbourne.
Funding
Screen Australia will cover the costs of travel and accommodation, where required, for
10 successful applicants to attend the two-day workshop in Melbourne.
How can you be considered for the workshop?
Writers or writer/directors can submit a maximum of two original concepts for a comedy
and/or thriller feature film. The concept must have the potential to communicate to a
local and international audience, and be made within low-budget parameters of
contained cast and locations.
Submission materials:
(1) One-page treatment
(2) One-page CV highlighting credits that demonstrate eligibility
(3) Cover email including contact details
Submissions must be no more than one page in length, and no more than two will be
accepted per applicant. Applications that are longer, or submitted with additional
Contents of the Workshop
The two-day workshop will be held in Melbourne on 17 and 18 November 2008.
Representatives of the partners, as well as industry players with proven comedy and
thriller talent, will mentor at the workshop during one-on-one and group sessions.
Warp X will provide expertise in developing for low-budget features where a primary
focus is moving rapidly to production, under the guise of their ‘three-F’ mantra – Fast,
Fun and Focused – which demands writers keep their wits about them. Madman will
lend its expertise as a leading distributor of independent films, bringing attention to the
critical ingredient: paying audiences.
About Warp X
Warp X is a pioneering venture backed by UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund and
Film4 to revitalise the low-budget sector of the British film industry. With offices in Sheffield, Nottingham and London, Warp X is allied to Warp Films and Warp Records.
With the imminent launch of Warp Films Australia and long-term intention to produce a
slate of Australian films, in the short term Warp X plans to co-finance a co-production
that will be made in Australia and released nationally by Madman.
About Madman Entertainment
Madman is a leading independent entertainment distribution and rights management
company, including theatrical, DVD, television, VOD, hotel, airline and merchandise.
About Screen Australia
Screen Australia is a newly established Australian Government agency operating
under the Screen Australia Act 2008. Screen Australia commenced operation on 1 July
2008, bringing together the functions of the FFC,Film Australia Limited and the AFC.
Eligibilityand Assessment Criteria
The writer or writer/director must have:
at least one produced credit (including short films, short features, features or TV) as a writer that has been released, broadcast or screened at a recognised film festival,
or have been funded for feature script development by a screen agency
OR
• at least one credit as a writer or writer/director on a live performance (including
theatre and stand-up comedy) that has been performed for an audience at a recognised entertainment venue, or as part of a recognised comedy festival.
• Highly experienced writers or writer/directors are eligible and encouraged to apply for this program.
• Projects must be able to be realised for a budget not exceeding $2 million.
• A maximum of two submissions per applicant will be accepted.
• Applicants should comply with Screen Australia’s general eligibility requirements.
These can be found at www.screenaustralia.gov.au
When assessing applications for this program, the partners will use the following
criteria:
i. Is this a strong and distinctive idea and story that has addressed the creative brief?(30%)
ii. Does the writer or writer/director have a strong command of cinematic storytelling
and screenplay craft, as evidenced by the one-page proposal and/or other evidence that may be requested during the evaluation process? (30%)
iii. Does the concept have the ability and scope to be achieved on a low budget? (20%)
iv. Does the concept have the ability and scope to communicate to an audience, locally and internationally? (20%)
Applications must be sent by email to:
keepyourwits@screenaustralia.gov.au
Queries to Screen Australia’s Industry and Enterprise Development Division:
Toll Free: 1800 507 901
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