The recipients were selected as part of the Make It Conference, which was held in Melbourne with the support of and presented by AFTRS, VicScreen and Media Mentors Australia.
All ten recipients, eight of whom are women, are set to train in ‘below the line’ jobs, meaning they will be taking on crew positions involved in the day-to-day filmmaking process.
The mentorship programme will help build Victoria’s local talent pool, and support the ever-growing production pipeline that is being attracted to the State.
The mentors – Andrew Jerram (cameras), Drew Rhodes (locations), Jannine Barnes (production accounting) and Richie Young (unit) – come from Melbourne Screen Hub, which was founded by experienced industry practitioners and business owners, with the assistance of VicScreen. They will support ten early and mid-career people to bring new talent into their sectors.
Twenty-six Make It participants applied for the initiative and twelve finalists faced an interview in front of an audience at the conference. The mentors were so impressed, they agreed to take ten participants, more than doubling the agreed amount.
The successful applicants are:
Caitlin Harvey (camera)
Sebastian White (camera)
Izzi Harris (camera)
Bret Salinger (locations)
Suna Celik (locations)
Jackie Zdanowicz (production accounting)
Seni Pritie. (production accounting)
Haakon Barry (production accounting)
Joyce Wong (unit)
Pearlie Papik (unit)
All recipients will receive a series of support sessions throughout 2022 in a program delivered by Media Mentors Australia. They will also make designated field visits to experience first-hand what these roles entail.
Denise Eriksen, Media Mentors: “The screen industry is actively searching for people to work in the below-the-line areas of production and yet it’s been hard to find them. That’s partly because the potential workforce doesn’t know about the opportunities and because they don’t know what the jobs involve.
This program is the start of an initiative we are brokering to ensure barriers are broken down and jobs are filled with the right people. We worked hard to find and alert these participants to new opportunities and will fully support them during their mentorships and the early stages of their careers. We’re optimistic that this program will lead to fulfilling screen careers.”
Wendy Gray, Head of Industry and Alumni Engagement, AFTRS: “It has been a great experience working with VicScreen and Media Mentors on the past three very successful Make It conferences in Melbourne. AFTRS is committed to developing partnerships around the country to deliver future-facing learning experiences that support our industry.
The most recent Make It event was the biggest and most exciting yet – with over 100 industry experts sharing their knowledge and experience. The connections made at these events have proven employment outcomes, and many creative partnerships have been formed and have flourished.”
Caroline Pitcher, CEO of VicScreen: “The number and scale of film and television projects being created and made in Victoria has grown exponentially in recent years, and we are committed to supporting future generations of filmmakers to have fulfilling screen careers in our local industry.
Events like the Make It conference and the accompanying mentorships are invaluable. They grow the local talent pool, support emerging practitioners, and highlight the many roles and pathways available in the industry.”
Ian Anderson, General Manager of Melbourne Screen Hub: “Melbourne Screen Hub are thrilled to be working in partnership with VicScreen and Media Mentors to help introduce new talent through the mentorship programme, the first program connected us with 10 talented individuals who hopefully will become successful crew members in the near future.
This partnership brings together highly experienced film practitioners from the Hub and the Media Mentors team who help uncover new talent and together with VicScreen introduce a new group of people with desire to work in the film industry.”
Pearly Papik, Mentee: “Going to the event was one of the best decisions of my life. Thanks for organising the mentorships. I am very grateful to be able to engage with Richie. He is so lovely and truly an expert. I actually think that Unit could be a long-term career for me.”
