by Abhi Parasher
With Australian content such as Heartbreak High reaching wider audiences, nurturing the skills and talent of Australian storytellers has become increasingly important.
The Creators will see the group travel to Los Angeles in May 2023 to attend Content LA, participating in tailored project and pitching development and networking opportunities to sell their stories in domestic and international markets.
The six participants in The Creators program are:
Jane Allen (Janet King, Troppo, The Heights) [top left]
Kodie Bedford (Mystery Road, Firebite, Cursed!) [bottom left]
Judi McCrossin (The Time of Our Lives, The Secret Life of Us, The Wrong Girl) [centre left]
Sam Meikle (Wakefield, MaveriX) [top right]
Suzie Miller (Prima Facie, RBG: Of Many, One) [centre right]
Tommy Murphy (Significant Others, Holding the Man) [bottom right]
The cohort of experienced writers and creators will receive high-level training from international industry leader Jeff Melvoin (Killing Eve, Northern Exposure, Remington Steele), founder and Chair of the highly-competitive Writers Guild of America’s Showrunner Training Program, and pitching training from writer, director and executive producer Jeff Greenstein (Will and Grace, Friends, Desperate Housewives).
Screen Australia’s Head of Content Grainne Brunsdon said, “these writers are at the top of their game and we’re pleased to support them in the creation of their own projects with the opportunity to hone their craft, learn from the US industry and bring their skills back to Australia. We know Australian stories travel well and this program will make sure these creatives are best placed to take their distinct homegrown projects to audiences here and around the world.”
Suzie Miller, whose Olivier-nominated play Prima Facie opens on Broadway next month, said that “AWG and Screen Australia have thoughtfully put together a thoroughly exciting program that allows writers to truly ‘go global’ and to have the opportunity to work alongside professionals who invented and refined showrunning as a writer model. The hope is that we can all bring in more of the incredible writing, directing and acting talent of the film and TV community in Australia to work on such projects.”
Jane Allen, lead writer on Janet King and writer on Troppo and Cleverman, said “it’s a unique opportunity to learn from such experienced American practitioners alongside this ridiculously talented group of fellow writers. I look forward to returning with pencils and skills sharpened, ready to put into practice all I’ve learned. What a word nerd fest this will be.”
The Creators is supported by industry partners Australians in Film and Scripted Ink.
