Screen Careers has appointed location trainee Marjane Marjani to pilot a training model designed to create a structured route to employment in the screen industry.
This position is funded through the Film Friendly Project, a Victorian initiative to streamline the permitting process and strengthen collaboration between councils and the film industry across the state. Screen Careers was awarded the contract to deliver the project through a competitive tender from VicScreen.
During the 12-month training period, Mr Marjani will work across multiple areas of the project, including learning the permitting process, building relationships with permitting officers from councils and government agencies across Victoria, and contributing to the development of training materials and resources.
As your training progresses, your role will expand to include time in production and on set, working directly with an experienced location manager to gain hands-on on-location experience.
Marjani will also complete a Certificate III in Business through South West TAFE, with training managed by MEGT, which will support employment, compliance and training arrangements.
Screen Careers said the pilot was designed to test whether existing government training frameworks could be adapted to suit sectors such as the screen industry, particularly where formal entry routes are limited.
“We are excited to be piloting this model for industry recruitment and training,” said Screen Careers CEO Esther Coleman Hawkins.
“Our aim is to show that it is reproducible at scale and create additional pathways for people who want to work and train at the same time, especially those who are best suited to learn through structured work experience.
“This training will enable Marjane to develop real craft skills alongside her formal qualifications. We have deliberately chosen the Certificate III in Business as this role is specifically designed to support future site coordinators who are responsible for paperwork, invoicing, organization and systems to facilitate production.”
The selection process took into account applicants’ aptitude for location coordination and ability to thrive within the freelance nature of the screen industry. The interview panel also included senior industry representatives, including Australian Location Managers Guild national executive Drew Rose.
“It was a real pleasure interviewing Marjane for this role. Her passion for locations shines through and I think this training will give her an insight into each step of selecting and securing locations. Marjane will be able to meet people at the agencies we work with, giving her a head start as she works in the locations department.”
Marjani said the training felt like a meaningful new chapter.
“I’m excited to learn, grow and build a strong foundation on location while contributing to projects that will make Victoria a production-friendly and film-friendly place for years to come.”
