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RESOURCES

Whether you’re looking to film in Victoria, an early career practitioner seeking learning opportunities in the screen industry or a member of a local council or community group wishing to learn more about managing filming in your area, we have tools and resources to help you out.  

Have a specific question? Check out our FAQs and contact us if you can't find what you're looking for. 

SCREEN INDUSTRY CODE OF CONDUCT 

The Victorian Screen Industry Code of Conduct is a comprehensive and practical tool designed to benefit the screen industry, to ensure all Victorians benefit from screen production activity and enhance the economic benefits of screen production in Victoria. 

We developed the Code in consultation with key agencies and local governments, the Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA), the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Victorian screen industry to best reflect the issues and policies that impact its practitioners. 

The Code is provided as a recommended, free resource for the production community in Victoria.  

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SCREEN SAFETY

The National Guidelines for Screen Safety have been created to provide advice on how to manage safety in screen industry workplaces and comply with state and federal workplace health and safety legislation. 

The Australian Screen Production Industry COVID Safe Guidelineshave been developed by an Australian Screen Sector Task Force in consultation with the federal Chief Medical Officer’s team to provide support and assistance to all practitioners in the Australian screen industry. These guidelines are not a substitute for independent legal advice. For the most recent workplace guidance on COVID-19 and preventing exposure in the workplace, visit WorkSafe Victoria

SPAA's Australian Screen Industry Code of Practice: Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Bullying is another important resource for filmmakers.

SAFE WORKPLACES, MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

VicScreen is committed to actively working to eliminate sexual harassment and other unsafe workplace practices and behaviours in our industry and to supporting mental health, both in our workplace and in the workplaces of those we support.

We expect employers to follow the guidelines outlined in our Safe Workplace Statement

We’re also a member of the Arts Wellbeing Collective, a consortium of Victorian arts and cultural organisations whose shared vision is to effect better mental health and wellbeing for performing arts workers. Visit their website for information and access to free resources. 

VICTORIAN FILM FRIENDLY GUIDELINES

The Victorian Film Friendly Guidelines have been developed by VicScreen to support the Filming Approval Act 2014 and to provide local councils and public agencies with practical information on how to respond to film requests and process applications. 

VicScreen has also created the following specific resources: 

→ Standard film permit application form 

→ Standard webpage content 

→ Filming in Victoria: A Public Agency Handbook 

→ A Guide to Filming in Victoria 

A Commercial Filming Guide for Remotely Piloted Aircrafts (also known as Drones) 

A Guide to Filming on Roads and with Vehicles 

Please contact us for copies of these documents.

FEDERAL INCENTIVES

The Australian Government offers a range of globally competitive screen production incentives that can be combined with our Victorian Screen Incentive, Regional Location Assistance Fund, Victorian Production Fund - Film, TV and Online and Victorian Production Fund - Games programs. 

Australian productions and official co-productions can access the Producer Offset – 40% for features or 30% for non-features – which is administered by federal screen agency, Screen Australia

International productions can access the 16.5% Location Offset and 13.5% Location Incentive – up to 30% in total, as well as the 30% PDV Offset. A new 30% Digital Games Tax Offset comes into effect on 1 July 2022. These tax incentives, known as the Australian Screen Production Incentive, are managed by the Office for the Arts

Ausfilm’s factsheets on the grants and tax rebates for film and television production are a great resource, while Global Australia has all of the information you need on the Digital Games Tax Offset. 

INDIGENOUS CONTENT AND COMMUNITIES

Victoria has a strong and proud Aboriginal history stretching back many thousands of years. 

Published by Screen Australia, Pathways & Protocols: a filmmaker’s guide to working with Indigenous people, culture and concepts is a comprehensive guide for filmmakers working with Indigenous content and communities. 

The Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 requires all Victorians to protect and conserve Aboriginal cultural heritage, and recognises Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAP) as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage. 

This Indigenous Map shows the various RAPs in Victoria. You can find out about the cultural significance of a proposed filming locations are in areas of cultural significance by contacting the relevant RAP directly. Advice can also be sought from the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council or relevant permitting authority, such as local government and Parks Victoria. 

VicScreen encourages producers to acknowledge in their production credits the Traditional Owners of the land on which their project was produced. Refer to Page 7 of our Terms of Trade for suggested text.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Many great organisations in Victoria provide learning opportunities for working in the screen industry, offering specialist courses for practitioners to further develop their skills. 

→ The University of Melbourne’s Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) courses in Film and Television range from entry level short courses to undergraduate and post-graduate degrees. 

→ The University of Melbourne also supports the running of an intensive filmmaking summer school with highly qualified practitioners as teachers. 

 Australian Film, Television and Radio School(AFTRS), Australia’s national screen arts and broadcast school, runs short courses in Melbourne. 

→ RMIT School of Media and Communication has undergraduate and post-graduate courses including screenwriting, film and television production, sound and vision, and digital media including games, animation and interactive media. 

→ Swinburne University offers a range of film and digital media related courses at undergraduate and post graduate level. 

→ La Trobe Universityoffers undergraduate and post graduate degrees in cinema studies, covering both theory and production. 

→ Deakin University has a range of degrees that teach theory and practical skills in film, television and digital media production. 

→ Victoria Universityoffers screen and media related courses, at TAFE, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. 

→ Monash University School of Media Film and Journalismoffers a Bachelor of Media Communications, combining practice-based learning, theory and portfolio development. 

GETTING EXPERIENCE

If you're an early to mid-career key creative or crew member, check out our Skills Development page for placement, attachment and internship opportunities.

VCA School of Film and Televisionholds a crewing night for their student productions each May. This volunteer work provides credits and experience. You can also add your details to a crewing file which is accessed by VCA students year- round. 

Screenhub's subscription website includes paid and unpaid industry jobs across film, TV and digital media. 

The Production Book lists work and volunteer placements in film, TV, advertising and new media industries across the country. The Production Book also includes details of recruitment agencies specialising in the entertainment industry, particularly film and television crew.  

The Community Broadcasting Foundation provides funding and broadcast opportunities for emerging television producers through C31 Melbourne and Geelong

VicScreen is not able to offer work experience placements. 

NETWORKING

Our Industry Directory provides contact information for Victorian-based practitioners. 

Professional organisations such as the Australian Writer’s Guild (AWG), the Australian Directors Guild(ADG), the Australian Cinematographer’s Society (ACS), Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC) and the Australian Screen Editors (ASE) hold member’s meetings and events, providing great opportunities to network. 

TheAustralian Film Institute/Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts(AFI/AACTA) is a membership-based organisation that has promoted Australian film and television since it was founded in 1958. It is responsible for producing the annual AACTA Awards. Membership includes cinema discounts, access to preview screenings and discount tickets to the AACTA Awards and AACTA Screenfest. 

LEGAL ADVICE

TheArts Law Centre of Australia provides legal advice on matters related to screen production, as well as sample agreements. 

TheAustralian Copyright Councilis an independent non-profit organisation providing information and advice on copyright in Australia.

COWORKING SPACES

Melbourne is home to many flexible co-working spaces.  

ACMI X is a 60 seat co-working space, dedicated to the creative industries and reserved solely for individuals, collectives and businesses working with the moving image.  

If you’re a start-up, consultant or just curious about co-working, check out the City of Melbourne website to find out more about co-working opportunities and spaces. 

For Victorian practitioners in Los Angeles for business, VicScreen is able to offer a dedicated working and networking space. Find out more

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

There is a range of great festivals, conferences and events that take place in Victoria each year, supported by VicScreen. 

→ Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) 

→ Game Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP) 

→ Human Rights Arts & Film Festival (HRAFF) 

→ Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 

→ Melbourne Cinémathèque 

→ Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) 

→ Melbourne International Games Week 

→ PAX Australia 

→ St Kilda Film Festival (SKFF)