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Screen Australia has announced funding for seven Enterprise Business & Ideas and 12 Enterprise People proposals, which will share in a total pool of over $1.2 million for sector and talent development.

The recipients of Business & Ideas include Bunya Productions, the production company behind award-winning film and television series , which has received funding to build a talent development network, build Australian IP and extend the profile of their work overseas.

Also receiving funding are comedy group Aunty Donna () for their production company Haven’t You Done Well Productions, which aims to assist online creatives to develop and produce comedy projects, and educate creators to ensure they retain the ownership of their own projects.

Screen Australia’s Head of Development, Nerida Moore said: “We were blown away with Bunya Productions’ innovative proposal. Bunya has a strong track record of creating stories for and about Australia that have also gained traction internationally. It’s exciting to see them looking at how they can capitalise on their IP and strengthen their networks to take the business to a new level. We’re also pleased to see Aunty Donna, off the back of their own success, help emerging talent carve out a niche and make informed business decisions.”

CEO of Bunya Productions, Sophia Zachariou said: “The Bunya Group is thrilled to be the first recipient of the new Screen Australia Business & Ideas Enterprise funding. The timing could not be better as we focus our attention on the international market and opportunities now available as well as expanding the Bunya Talent Hub into other states. Talent development has always been at the heart of the company and with this support, Bunya aim to be one of Australia’s most impactful, contemporary and dynamic production companies with diversity at its core.”

Enterprise Business & Ideas major funding recipient

• Bunya Productions will establish talent development incubators in Queensland and South Australia; capitalise on existing and build new IP; hire a Development and Production Executive and a Distribution and IP Expansion consultant; and enhance their digital marketing to increase online engagement. They will also increase their international profile through a representative in LA, bringing on Jenny Cooney as Executive VP, Bunya Productions LA.

Enterprise Business & Ideas recipients – business plans and strategies

• Haven’t You Done Well Productions, the production arm of successful comedy group Aunty Donna, will develop a strategic plan for their business model to be able to shepherd other creators in the online space and across other platforms. They aim to assist new creatives to develop and produce distinctive Australian comedy projects and ensure that the ownership of a project is retained by the original creator. The company will be mentored by comedian and producer Andy Lee.
• The Cinematic Company will create an organisational strategy for their business which produces film screenings accompanied by live performances by acclaimed orchestras. Building on the success of feature documentary which screened with a live performance from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the company aims to use this formula and propel the business model by building a library of films and utilising an international circuit of orchestras.
• Mememe Productions, creators of award-winning children’s television series , will develop a business plan to help them expand their IP. The company aims to build the story-verse and evolve it into long-form animated family feature films, as well as explore opportunities for exporting their projects as international formats that can be localised to different areas.
• Media Reconciliation Industry Network Group (RING) will undertake strategic planning and develop a sustainable business model, including diversifying their financial support. They will develop means of providing services for industry members to implement best practice Indigenous engagement policies; provide culturally safe working environments for Indigenous media practitioners; and assist with the practical aspects of Indigenous industry placements.
• Experienced colourist Angela Cerasi will engage marketing specialist Roxanne Grey and work with industry mentor Enzo Tedeschi to develop a sustainable model for her business Peachy Keen Colour. This will assist her in developing and engaging new regional colourist talent and work with more Australian and international content creators.
• Southern Pictures will develop a strategic plan for their new offshoot, Southern Impact. Under this new arm they aim to curate and commission short-form documentary content that can be used by client organisations to communicate their social impact campaigns and drive social change.

Haven’t You Done Well Productions

The Enterprise People program provides up to $140,000 funding for individuals to take on professional development opportunities.

“The Enterprise People placements provide an incredible opportunity for practitioners take advantage of a bespoke opportunity and advance their careers,” said Nerida Moore.

Enterprise People recipients – targeted placements

• Writer/director Bjorn Stewart and producer Shaye Guillory will each undertake a placement at Los Angeles production company Rideback, where they will develop their professional skills through a bespoke program including reading and evaluating feature film and TV scripts, participating in creative meetings and drafting pitch documents.

Enterprise People recipients – local and international career placements

• Screenwriter and filmmaker Catherine Kelleher will advance her career as a development executive in a placement at Lingo Pictures, where she will be mentored by development producer Donna Chang.
• Producer Diana Fisk will expand her producing skill set in a placement with Film Art Media, supervised by award-winning producer Sue Maslin.
• Impact producer Georgia Quinn will undertake a placement at Together Films in London where she will work on the UK impact campaign for the release of Australian documentary , as well as develop professional networks through attending key international events.
• Filmmaker Katrina McGowan will be mentored by director Janine Hosking in a placement at independent documentary company iKandy Films.
• Producer Liliana Munoz will work as Associate Producer in a placement with Seven Studios’ Scripted Comedy department, under the mentorship of producer Linda Ujuk and Head of Comedy Michael Horrocks.
• Filmmaker Miranda Nation took on a directing attachment with director Jocelyn Moorhouse on upcoming television series . This will assist Nation in transitioning to long-form television as she works on her own series Aleph which has received development funding from Screen Australia.
• Director/producer Sierra Schrader has built her industry experience working alongside director Rachel Perkins on upcoming series , in a placement with Blackfella Films.

Enterprise People recipients – professional development opportunities

• Producer Leanne Tonkes will take part in Inside Pictures 2019, where she will attend sessions in LA and London with speakers from film financing, producing, sales, and talent management. Tonkes is one of only 20 film executives, and the only Australian, to be selected for the program in 2019.
• Screenwriter Philip Denson attended Imagine Impact, a content accelerator program in LA which aims to cultivate storytellers and bring them together with producers. This allowed Denson to work with top screenwriters and showrunners to take his projects from idea stage to fully-realised stories, as well as develop strong international networks and understanding of marketplace needs.
• Producer Robyn Kershaw will attend Trans-Atlantic Partners 2019, a training and networking program for experienced screen producers, where she will represent her slate of projects currently in development. Kershaw has secured one of only three places outside of the EU, USA and Canada.

Shaye Guillory, Liliana Munoz, Bjorn Stewart

ABOUT ENTERPRISE

Since it was first run in 2009, Screen Australia has invested over $36m in the Enterprise program, to the benefit of 92 screen businesses and ideas, plus 46 individual creators.

In February 2019 Screen Australia , with funding is available in two paths – which allows an Australian entity to apply for funding to develop and deliver an innovative screen business proposal, hire a company placement and/or access business-building services; and which allows both emerging and experienced creatives to apply for funding for a domestic or international career placement, and/or other professional development opportunities.