Request for Support: Early Career Writers Program – Australia

Up to four early-career writers will be selected to participate in the Script Department program on a full-time basis for eight weeks. The Early-career Writer Program will run in Sydney, NSW, from Monday 25 November 2024 to Friday 31 January 2025. This is a paid opportunity and support will be available to relocate to Sydney for the duration of the program, if required.

This program is funded by Screen Australia, delivered by Endemol Shine Australia and supported by the Australian Writers’ Guild.

profit

• Successful candidates will be paired with an experienced mentor who will guide them through the process and contribute directly to their learning and professional development. In addition, they will be immersed in all aspects of script development and rotate through all roles that make up a successful and well-functioning script department. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Experience as a writer’s assistant.
  • Observe and (if necessary) participate in idea generation and planning sessions.
  • Professional note-taking during writers’ rooms and script meetings.
  • You will gain practical skills and knowledge by working closely with professional scriptwriters through technical training in script adjustment, script production, and script editing.
  • Documents collection and distribution (including to executive producers, script producers and networks, if applicable).
  • Script evaluation and written critique.
  • Story research.
  • Format scene breakdowns, script drafts, and revisions according to your existing in-house style.

Funding Information

• Successful applicants will receive a stipend of AUD $1,700 per week for the duration of the program and the duration of their participation in the program, plus additional expenses such as superannuation and holiday allowance. In addition, support will be provided for relocation costs, ground transportation and domestic economy airfares, where applicable.

Qualification criteria

• To apply for this program, applicants must meet the following qualifications:
  • You are an Australian citizen or resident and meet Screen Australia’s trading conditions.
  • Must have a minimum of 20 minutes of cumulative screenplay writing credit as a sole or lead writer. Credit may be applied to all screenplay platforms and all screenplay genres, including:
    • Online
    • Episode TV
    • Feature Film
    • Short Film
  • Sole authorship means that you are the only author credited as “author,” “creator,” or an equivalent title.

For more information, please visit: Screen Australia.