Screen Australia Podcast

The Screen Australia delegation to Cannes and local creatives share insights and takeaways from the prestigious festival and market, which was back in full force in 2022.

On the latest episode of the Screen Australia podcast, Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason and Michele McDonald, the Producer Offset and Co-Production Unit (POCU) Senior Manager, talk through changes to legislation governing the Producer Offset, the refundable tax rebate that Screen Australia administers on behalf of the Federal Government. They also discuss changes as well as the updated Screen Australia guidelines, key areas assessors look at, the most common mistakes they see in applications (and how it holds up the process), as well as advice on everything from getting your Final Certificate to general ledgers. A must-listen for any Australian screen producers.

Funding and support page here

Vodcast here

Ahead of the Australian Feature Film Summit, hear from Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason, producer Sue Maslin AO, marketing and distribution expert Courtney Botfield, Transmission Films' Andrew Mackie, director/producer Robert Connolly; and Madman Films' senior marketing manager Michael Matrenza, who talk about how data around audience, box office and sales informs their business and creative choices.

Fact Finders: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/fact-finders

Marketplace: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/funding-and-support/television/sales-and-distribution-support

Australian Feature Film Summit: https://www.affsummit.com.au/

The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson writer, director, producer and star Leah Purcell talks about the journey of the feature film - a re-imagining of Henry Lawson's classic story, which she first adapted into an acclaimed play, followed by the film and a novel. Purcell talks about the challenges of adaptation, the importance of having a personal connection to her feature directorial debut, working with locations during the shoot, and the difference between directing television series such as Redfern Now, Secret Daughter and Cleverman compared to film.

Watch The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson in Australian cinemas from 5 May 2022.

Three experts on marketing explain what it is, why you should be thinking about it even before the cameras start rolling, and practical steps to identify your audience, know what assets you need and much more. Get marketing advice for putting together a Screen Australia application, hear insights from a distributor POV, and find out about the importance of key art.

Guests include: Screen Australia Distribution Manager Anthony Grundy, Madman Entertainment Senior Marketing Manager Michael Matrenza and Carnival Studio's Demi Hopkins.

Find A Practical Guide to Key Art here

River co-director and co-writer Jennifer Peedom from Stranger Than Fiction Films talks about the making of the "sequel" to Mountain in collaboration with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, how Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood became involved, plans to move into drama filmmaking and why doco and drama are more similar than people think.

Producer Naomi Cleaver talks about producing an enormous studio TV series like NBCUniversal's La Brea and the benefits of being able to do so in Victoria, as well as talking about the production department more generally – including the different roles she has worked across, from production coordinator, to production manager and then line producer on projects like Oddball and the Mystery Road TV series.

Head of Content Tyler Bern talks through the strategy for Amazon Prime Video Australia, advice for anyone hoping to pitch to Amazon and what kind of ideas they are looking for. Bern also reveals the new hire who will be leading their scripted slate, and explains how upcoming TV adaptation The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart came to Amazon Prime Video.

Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason looks at the record-breaking numbers in the 2020/21 Drama Report, before executive producers Andrea Denholm of ABC series Fires and Catherine Nebauer from International Emmy-award winning kids' TV series Hardball and Paramount+ TV drama Spreadsheet give their insights into what production has been like on the ground.

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