Fifteen emerging content creators and storytellers from diverse backgrounds across Victoria have started their journey with Talent Camp VIC. - a diversity and inclusion initiative supported by Film Victoria, the Australian Film Television & Radio School (AFTRS) and Screen Australia.
In a five day workshop, participants from under-represented groups with bold ideas and a keen interest to start a career in the screen industry will study the basics of story development, identifying audiences, distribution and pathways for film, TV and digital projects.
The Talent Camp VIC Workshop will be facilitated by script editor and screenwriter Clea Frost and Producer Kath Shelper.
Film Victoria CEO, Jenni Tosi congratulated the workshop participants saying “Participants represent the wide-ranging and dynamic communities that more closely reflect Victoria’s diverse population. They each have unique stories to tell and we hope this opportunity sets them up for a flourishing career in the screen industry.”
Based in Melbourne but loyal to his hometown of Perth, Alistair graduated with a Bachelor of Screenwriting from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2016 and is currently completing his Honours. A Writer in
Residence for Next Wave 2016, his work as a critic and commentator has been published in Art+Australia Journal, SBS Comedy, Archer & more. Alistair was also a Victorian State Finalist for Raw Comedy 2017, and the host/co- producer of Lemon Comedy – a monthly night dedicated to championing diversity in standup.
Andient was born in rural Ethiopia. His father was a soldier who died during the civil war. He grew-up with his mum, grandmother, brother and sister. He grew-up hearing stories from his grandmother. By school Andinet started to tell stories in the class room and the writing followed. To chase his dream to become a filmmaker, he moved to the capital, Addis Ababa. He worked his way up and within four years he had participated in more than 12 films, TV and theater works, and finally, making his own film.
Ez is a young independent filmmaker from South Sudan. He came from a place where stories are untold on a big screen. He migrated to Australia with his family for a brighter future and he found filmmaking as a language to speak to his community, and the wider Australian society and YouTube audiences.
Gina is currently working on the next draft of The Princess and the Bear with Matthewswood Productions. The script won the 2016 Open Channel/Australian Writer’s Guild - New Writer’s Script Competition for Best Feature Script.
In 2015/16 she wrote and produced a short film, The Escape Hatch – a feel good romcom written to combat the depressing ‘dead lesbian’ trope. It has screened worldwide including Frameline41, BFI Flare & MQFF. Gina produces and presents the weekly radio program Family Matters on Joy 94.9. She also cohosts Joy 94.9 film show Out Takes. Gina graduated with an Advanced Diploma of Screenwriting from RMIT.
Grace is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Melbourne, Australia. Actively engaged with the multilingual and trans-cultural space, she produces works in Chinese and in English languages, exploring the inbetween-ness and fluid state created by the diverse diaspora experience through different mediums. She is also a practicing interpreter and translator who writes for Australia Plus, ABC, Peril Magazine and holds a Master of Creative Media (TV and Film Production) at RMIT.
Jack is a member of the Kurtjar Clan of Far North Queensland. He is a mutli-disciplinary artist who works in the fields of physical theatre, film, circus and poetry, which he uses as a form of empowerment for the First Nations community and the broader community through story telling. He is informed by his cultural spirituality and the current state of the world. He believes positive change is found through artistic and cultural expression.
Llewellyn is a Melbourne-based screenwriter and producer who is AACTA-AFI nominated. His collaborative short film, Nathan Loves Ricky Martin, is multi award winning in both International and Australian film festivals and was winner of the prestigious 2016 Script Pipeline First Look Project.
Natesha is an emerging writer based in Melbourne. She completed a Bachelor of Performing Arts in 2016, and dropped out of law school in 2017. Over the past two years, she focused on the craft of writing for live performance, and is now beginning to explore her other love – film and television. Natesha likes stories that are visceral, uncompromising and funny.
Nikki is a writer and producer interested in storytelling that combines genre and social observation to create culturally and emotionally truthful experiences. She has worked with local organisations and council on video-based projects which centre on the culturally diverse communities of Melbourne’s west. Her short screenplay When We Run, set after the war in 70s Vietnam, was a finalist in the BlueCat Screenplay Competition. Nikki's latest production is Fresh! a comedy web series that celebrates our local markets and the migrant experience in Australia, and will be released late 2017.
An independent filmmaker and freelance artist Penny has accumulated over 15 years of experience in the film and television industry. She has worked in a variety of positions and taken on many roles, but counts her strengths as her ability to tell a story and communicate well. Penny has worked extensively as a writer and has experience developing content from inception to completion. With a passion for directing, she loves working in a collaborative environment in order to pursue a unified vision of a project. A mature, dedicated and hard working individual, Penny has a deep love of the land and identifies strongly with rural and regional Australia.
After losing his mum in a car accident shortly before his 12th birthday, Ravi felt very lost as a boy growing up. After finding and reconnecting with his maternal grandma a few years ago Ravi credits this moment as when he found himself. His acting, writing and film making abilities excelled because of it. Ravi spent 20 years as an Event Manager and Booking Agent (specialising in digital and social media marketing) and has been working on career in film & TV for 10 years now.
Rebekah is an emerging performer and theatre maker. She played the title role in Kirana with the National Theatre of Parramatta, Gena in Bachelorette, Amber in Lightie and more. As a maker Rebekah has created and presented Sugarush through Crack Theatre Festival, Slow Dance at Performance Space, Customs House Circular Quay and Peacock Gallery Auburn, Smithereens at FR!SK/Melbourne Fringe and Give Up at Melbourne Fringe. She is a 2017 Belvoir Artist Workshop Resident,
Highway/234 Residency Recipient Associate Artist with Ondru and a former LGBTI inclusion policy advisor for the City of Melbourne’s Creative City initiative.
Santilla is an award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker. She spent seven years working for SBS World News which saw her report from Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia and interview some of Africa’s most prominent leaders. Santilla's work explores contemporary migration, cultural identities and politics. She writes regularly for The Saturday Paper.
Steven is an award winning writer, producer and director. His latest drama project Nathan Loves Ricky Martin was nominated for an AFI / AACTA Award. Steven's experience spans live television broadcast such as the ESPN coverage of the Australian Open, directing high end TVC’s, including the Hugh Jackman Broadway to Oz campaign, and event coverage for some of Australia’s largest brands and musical acts. His philosophy to generate unique scripted drama featuring characters that aren't normally seen on Australian TV has been recognised with various national and international awards and he continues to pursue this philosophy with his next personal projects.
Thomas is a writer, performer and an actor. He spent five years developing his one man show called Someone Like Thomas Banks, which toured around Victoria for 1.5 years. Thomas runs his own training business called Centre for Access, delivering training to a broad range of clients around disability and access. He was born with mild cerebral palsy, but takes on the world with a crazy charm. Thomas is also a proud male sex worker, working late in the evenings with various men. He chooses to work in the adult entertainment industry because he loves people.