First Break: Presented by the Australian Writers' Guild and Screen NSW

01 March, 2022

First Break is a unique professional development program designed to give talented, aspiring screenwriters the opportunity to gain in-demand and practical skills, develop their understanding of the industry, and build industry connections.  

Working as a note-taker or script coordinator in a writers’ room has always been a great entry point to the industry. The trouble is, how do you gain the necessary skills to apply for these types of roles? And once you have the skills, how do you break in? First Break is designed to provide participants with the skills, training and understanding to obtain work in these roles, get their start in the industry and build vital networks.  

At the conclusion of First Break, participants will be promoted to industry via the AWG Pathways website. The Pathways First Break tab will be a permanent resource for industry looking for talented new writers who have valuable skills to offer in writers’ rooms.  

First Break opens for applications Tuesday 1 March 2022 and will close 5pm Friday 25 March 2022 (AEDT). 

For more information and to enter, go HERE.

WHAT IS FIRST BREAK?

First Break is a series of three day-long online workshops run by highly experienced, working writers. Covering note-taking, script coordinating and the basics of a writers’ room, participants will come away with the skills required to get that first break and begin their career in the film and television industry.

Workshop One - Note-taking: Saturday 4 June 2022 from 10am to 4pm

The role of the note-taker in a writers’ room is a crucial one – detailed and accurate notes can either make or break a room. Creating a perfect set of notes isn’t easy, and nailing it requires a different skillset to screenwriting. In this workshop, participants will learn the art of skilful note-taking - how to take notes, how to present them and how to make the most of the opportunity. Conducted via Zoom.

Workshop Two - Script Coordinating: Saturday 11 June 2022 from 10am to 4pm

During the filming of a television show or movie, the script is constantly evolving. A script coordinator monitors these changes and makes the appropriate revisions for each version of the script. In this workshop, participants will learn what a script coordinator does, how a production office works and how a script coordinator operates within it. The workshop will also cover the basics of Final Draft. Conducted via Zoom.

Workshop Three - In the Writers’ Room: Saturday 18 June 2022 from 10am to 4pm

The writers’ room is where writers pitch ideas, brainstorm, break down the scenes, create characters and write first drafts. In order to succeed, it’s crucial to understand how a writers’ room works - who does what and when. This workshop will cover character development, plotting, dialogue and the all-important social etiquette of a writers’ room. Conducted via Zoom.

First Break is made possible with support from Screen NSW.