ScreenWorks and the Australian Writers Guild (AWG) have released the first cohort of emerging First Nations screenwriters for the Seeding Storytellers Initiative.
Annidette Puni (NSW), Angelina Hurley (QLD), Aria Kitchener (NSW), Barbara Hostalek (WA), Colleen Raven Strangways (SA), Haylee Rivers (WA), Jeremy Ambrum (ACT), Josh Yasserie (NSW), Jorell Hammond (NSW), Kalina Lauer (vic), kailina Lauer (vic), Kalina Lauer (nsw), Kalina Lauer Pearlberry (SA), Ruby Jean Hindley (WA), Shene Cremment (QLD), Tamara White (QLD) and Waverly Stanley Jr. (QLD) will be taking part in a three-day online workshop on notes and script coordination next month.
Following a workshop provided by workers working with authors Katherine Kelleher and Terrence McCarthy, the group will be featured in the screen industry via the AWG Pathways website and receive a free subscription to the final draft of the screenplay software.
Born from the AWG Pathways First Break program, Seeding Storytellers is one of six projects that receive funding as part of last year’s Screenrights Cultural Fund, and ScreenWorks launched the application in November.
Program Manager Sara Khan looked forward to the development of the participants’ creative journey, both personally and collaboratively.
“I’m very proud of this cohort of seed storytellers,” she said.
“They represent the diversity of communities across locations, ages and genders, and this group really shows the core of sowing storytellers.
Sarah Khan
Susie Hamilton, Guild Professional Development Director of Australian Writers, said the programme will provide trained First Nations Memo Takers and Script Coordinators with access to the Australian screen industry.
“The program will help participants succeed by providing comprehensive training, the right tools for final draft software, and the support and promotion they need through the Pathways website’s first break portal,” she said.
“We are pleased to partner with Final Draft, the industry standard software for professional screenwriters around the world, to provide a final draft license to each participant.”
Of the participants, Johnson said the program was welcome.
“It’s a very important opportunity for First Nations screenwriters and coordinators to step into the door and carve out spaces in the room of writers where our voices are not always seen or recognized,” she said.
Clemment agreed, describing the initiative as “an incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded First Nations Creatives.”
“I look forward to accessing experienced mentors who help me get into my passion for storytelling,” she said.
