Filmmakers who participated in SHE DIRECTS program announced
SHE DIRECTS has unveiled “the eight filmmakers who participated in the intensive three-day directors’ lab over the past weekend in regional Victoria”.
The announcement:
SHE DIRECTS, presented by BLACKapple and Common Ground, have announced the eight filmmakers who participated in the intensive three-day directors’ lab over the past weekend in regional Victoria.
SHE DIRECTS was established by filmmaker and Warramungu/Luritja woman Beck Cole (Deadloch, Wentworth, We Are Still Here, Black Comedy, Here I Am) specifically for early to mid-career First Nations women and gender diverse people from across Australia, with a focus on women from remote and regional Australia.
The establishment of SHE DIRECTS recognises the growing gap in the number of First Nations women joining the screen industry.
The eight emerging directors selected for the program are Peal Berry (Yankunytjatjara), Rhianna Malezer (Butchulla, Kamilaroi), Brittney Morris (Wiradjuri, Dunghutti, Wonnarua) Nazareth Alfred (Kulkalgal), Merryn Trescott (Wiradjuri), Kellie Baxter (Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi), Talia Liddle (Arrernte/Luritja/Yunkunjatjara) and Takani Clark (palawa/Samoan).
The principal funding partners of SHE DIRECTS are Screen Australia’s First Nations Department, the Screenrights Cultural Fund, with founding partner VicScreen and with additional support from Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, South Australian Film Corporation and Screen Tasmania.
BLACKapple’s Beck Cole curated the lab with masterclasses and sessions from established filmmakers and crew including writer/actor/director Briar Grace-Smith, director Tanith Glynn-Maloney, 1st assistant director Toni Raynes, cinematographer Katie Milwright, actors Leonie Whyman and Harvey Zielinski, acting coach Clare Madsen and script supervisor Karlyn Fitzgerald.
This intensely practical lab saw sessions on the role of the director, a deep dive into working with actors and what actors expect from a good director, understanding the roles of crew members and how to read the call sheet, script analysis and working with a cinematographer.
Lab participants also had a hands-on experience directing a dramatic scene with the guest actors, with a group of mentors providing productive feedback.
Common Ground CEO Rona Glynn-McDonald said, “It has been a joy creating space for early-stage First Nations directors to build skills and confidence in directing alongside Beck and the BLACKapple team. Receiving almost 70 applications from incredible First Nations women and gender diverse mob from across the country confirmed the undeniable need for more opportunities like this.”
Screen Australia head of First Nations Angela Bates said, “The First Nations Department is thrilled to support SHE DIRECTS – led by the extraordinary Beck Cole who has so much knowledge and wisdom to pass on. This vital initiative is helping bring about real change by fostering a new generation of First Nations talent, and ensuring our stories are heard and celebrated on screen. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this initiative has on their careers.”
VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, “VicScreen is very proud to support SHE DIRECTS – an important initiative led by the indomitable Beck Cole. SHE DIRECTS will equip a talented group of First Nations women to finesse their directing skills and help redress the gap between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous screen practitioners thriving in the screen industry.”
Screenrights chief executive, James Dickinson said, “Screenrights is proud to support this wonderful initiative through our Cultural Fund. The demand for the lab demonstrates that BLACKApple and Common Ground are addressing a crucial gap in the industry, and we look forward to seeing the work of these emerging female First Nations filmmakers on our screens down the line.” – James Dickinson, Screenrights chief executive
Beck Cole said, “SHE DIRECTS has been carefully curated to upskill and inspire a new generation of talented First Nations women screen directors in a safe, non-competitive environment. The fact that we received over 60 applications from across Australia reflects the growing hunger and need for a practical film lab designed by First Nations filmmakers for First Nations filmmakers. SHE DIRECTS is the first of its kind and we hope it’s the first of many more to come!”
Source: Tracey Mair Publicity
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topics
Angela Bates
beck cole
BLACKapple
Brittney Morris
Caroline Pitcher
Common Ground
James Dickinson
Kellie Baxter
Merryn Trescott
Nazareth Alfred
Peal berry
Rhianna Malezer
Rona Glynn-McDonald
SHE DIRECTS
Takani Clark
Talia Liddle
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