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Screen Australia has announced 14 recipients selected for placement opportunities through the inaugural BTL: Next Step initiative. The initiative is designed to help mid-career practitioners gain a credit in the four key roles of Line Producer, Production Manager, Location Manager and Post Production Supervisor.

2023, the BTL: Next Step program was introduced as part of a suite of Industry Development initiatives to boost below-the-line (BTL) capacity across the country. The 14 recipients have been selected to undertake placements at 12 host companies, which were .

Screen Australia’s Head of Industry Development, Ken Crouch said, “This latest group of recipients have already commenced their placements, marking an exciting step forward for the BTL: Next Step initiative. Screen Australia congratulates each recipient for their outstanding achievement and acknowledges the incredible array of host organisations they are working with, helping to strengthen our dynamic screen industry.”

“Screen Australia’s Industry Development initiatives, including BTL: Next Step, Skills Development Fund and the Transferable Skills & Returning Crew Training Fund have all received an overwhelming response from the industry. We are thrilled to support the growth of the Australian screen workforce, and to support screen production companies in their training initiatives. Since its launch earlier this year, these programs have allocated almost $2 million, providing training and skills development to over 350 individuals. It is crucial that we continue to support the development of below-the-line roles to ensure we are addressing the evolving needs of the industry,” said Crouch.

The recipients of BTL: Next Step Stage 2 are:

• Arkeena Zepur Mouradian (NSW): A production manager with a background in screen and sound production and film studies. She recently worked as a production manager on the documentary feature, Married to the Music for London-based production company Rebel Republic Films and has worked on productions supported by Sundance and presented by IDFA and HotDocs. She has held positions as a post-production technician, producer at SBS Radio, and led on artist support initiatives for Documentary Australia. Mouradian will undertake her placement with WildBear Entertainment as a Post Production Supervisor in Canberra, ACT.
• Cat Sanders (SA): Has production and post-production experience on award-winning television broadcasting shows, feature film and episodic, including Visual Effects Production on Marvel Studios’ feature film Ant-Man and The Wasp – Quantamania and TV series adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, and is now working on the production of an animated feature film set to be released in 2024. Sanders has a placement as a Visual Effects Production Manager at ModelFarm Studios in Adelaide, SA.
• Chloe Taylor (VIC): A television production coordinator with four years’ experience in television production with a number of production companies including Warner Brothers and Werner Film Productions. Taylor is undertaking a Junior Studio Production Manager placement with EndemolShine in Melbourne, VIC.
• Deborah French (NSW): An international TV Producer and Production Manager who has developed a number of award-winning productions through from start to finish. From series producing to casting, French has been delivering award-winning content for over 15 years across a variety of genres. French is currently undertaking her placement with Cheeky Little Media as a Line Producer in Sydney, NSW.
• Jeremy Woodcock (NSW): Starting in the film industry in South Australia working out of SAFC with Triptych Pictures, Woodcock is an experienced practitioner in overseeing production management, providing technical support and building client relationships. Woodcock gained experience working in technical roles with gear houses, becoming a post coordinator in the commercial space, and then as an Assistant Producer with Imagination. Woodcock is undertaking his placement with Cutting Edge Post as a Post Production Supervisor in Sydney, NSW.
• John Macdonald (QLD): An experienced Production Manager who has worked on projects such as , Combat Wombat 2 and The Sloth Lane. He has worked at Like a Photon Creative as a Production Manager and the Head of Production at Robot Films. Macdonald is currently undertaking his placement with Like a Photon Creative as a Line Producer in Brisbane, QLD.
• Karen Illesca (NSW): Currently working as a creative freelancer moving between Media Project Management and creative industry opportunities while developing a series of projects in partnership with Phillippa Webb at 2Kats Productions. Illesca is known for Whirld web series, Shot Open and . Illesca will be undertaking her placement with Jungle Entertainment as a Location Manager in Adelaide, SA.
• Laura Faulkner (VIC): An experienced producer, production manager and production accountant, Faulkner is known for Blacklight, and . Faulkner holds a Master of Film and Television (Producing) from the Victorian College of the Arts. Faulkner is currently undertaking her placement with Werner Film Productions as Line Producer on in Melbourne, VIC.
• Melisa Daly (SA): Throughout her career in production, Daly alternates between various positions including Production Coordinator, Facilities Manager, Extras Coordinator, Covid Coordinator and Producer’s Assistant. Daly continues to develop her slate and produce projects through her production company Kickass Chick Flicks, which she founded in 2018 together with writer/director Johan Bosma. Daly is undertaking her placement as a Production Manager with Ludo Holdings in Alice Springs, NT.
• Nicole Acworth (ACT): Acworth has gained experience on several acclaimed productions as a Post Coordinator including and for Hoodlum Entertainment. Her skills in post-production have recently earned her pivotal roles as Post Supervisor for NBCUniversal’s Joe Vs Carole, Jaggi Entertainment’s , and Fremantle Media Australia in collaboration with Nickelodeon Network’s Season 2. Acworth will be undertaking her placement as Post Production Supervisor for WildBear Entertainment in Canberra, ACT.
• Sarah Brims (WA): An experienced production coordinator with experience on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Alien: Covenant and The Lego Ninjago Movie. Brims’ career includes roles at Animal Logic, Moving Picture Company (London), and most recently as a production manager for Guru Productions. She is currently undertaking her placement with Prospero Productions as a Production Manager in Perth, WA.
• Semih Özköseoglu (NSW): A skilled mid-career post-production professional with a career that has developed over the past 10 years from Assistant Editor to Visual Effects Editor. His experience includes Post-Production Supervisor on the feature film for Kennedy Miller Mitchell. Özköseoglu is undertaking a role at Magpie Pictures as Post Production Supervisor on in Melbourne, VIC.
• Tasha Trebeck (SA): An experienced producer and editor, Trebeck is known for , Unleash and . Trebeck completed the Mercury CX Mentorship in 2021 for Locations, produced the short film Izzy Roar on the Sunday Floor and directed two short documentaries, Punch in Pink and Clipper Ship, City of Adelaide. Trebeck is undertaking a placement as a Location Manager with Ludo Holdings in Alice Springs, NT.
• Xanthe Heubel (NSW): An experienced Costume Designer for film, television, and theatre. She has been nominated for AACTA Awards for , , and . In 2019 Heubel won the AACTA Award for Best Costume Design in Television for her work on . She has also received five nominations from the Australian Production Design Guild Awards. Her recent work includes The Artful Dodger, and Ten Pound Poms. Xanthe is undertaking a placement with Easy Tiger Productions as a Production Manager in Perth, WA.

ABOUT BTL: NEXT STEP INITIATIVE

BTL: Next Step is a credit springboard and career accelerator for established mid-career practitioners to step up into senior “below-the-line” crew and leadership roles that have been identified as experiencing shortages. Through this initiative, Screen Australia supports these practitioners to take the next step in their career by undertaking a paid placement where they will be mentored and attain a credit.

The recipients of the latest round (which closed on Thursday 23 November) will be announced in the coming months.

is currently open for applications from Production Companies for placements that increase the number of experienced and credited 1st Assistant Directors, Art Directors, Editors, Line Producers, Location Managers, Post Production Supervisors, Production Accountants, Production Managers, Special Effects (SFX) Supervisors and Sound Designers working in film, series television or other significant formats. Applications close 5PM AEDT on Thursday 18 January, 2024.