AWG announces First Break WA participants

06 September, 2022

AWG Announces First Break WA Participants

Successful applicants have been announced in the Australian Writers’ Guild’s First Break WA program. The program, supported by Screenwest and Final Draft, 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.

Selected from a highly competitive field, the following 13 participants will take part in the program, starting in October 2022.

  • Amanda Bridgeman
  • Cody Cameron-Brown
  • Catherine Gillard
  • Mimi Helm
  • Matt Hodgkinson
  • Renee Kennedy
  • Abbey King
  • Jesse Laurie
  • Luke Martin
  • Nathan Mewett
  • Luisa Mitchell
  • Tahlia Norrish
  • Emma Vickery

AWG Professional Development Manager, Susie Hamilton said: ‘We know from extensive conversations with industry that there is a need for this type of training. The response to this initiative has left us in no doubt that emerging writers recognise the enormous value of a program like First Break. We look forward to rolling out similar opportunities in other states over the next 12 months.’ 

Screenwest Head of Creative: Content & Industry Development, Martha Coleman said: ‘It's terrific to see so many WA screenwriters jump at this opportunity to upskill by participating in First Break. The AWG had an overwhelming number of high-quality applications, with 13 selected. All the participants will gain highly sought-after notetaking skills, and we look forward to seeing them in professional writers' rooms in the near future.’

Facilitators Chris Corbett and Catherine Kelleher said: 'The film and TV industry is notoriously hard to break into, but note-taking and script coordinating provide an incredible training ground and the chance to develop important industry relationships in scripted television. We're thrilled to have the opportunity to show these talented creatives the ropes.'

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.

Following the successful completion of these three workshops, each writer will be added to the Pathways website on the new First Break tab. They will join graduates from First Break NSW and First Break VIC who completed the program in 2022.

The cohort will then be promoted to industry using the AWG’s multiple databases including its 9700 subscribers to the AWG newsletter, its 500+ registered users of the Pathways portal (producers, directors, writers and industry professionals) and the 1000 subscribers to the Pathways Newsletter.

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.

For more information about First Break WA contact us at [email protected]. 

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 22 October 2022 from 10am to 4pm (AWST)

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 29 October 2022 from 10am to 4pm (AWST)

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 5 November 2022 from 10am to 4pm (AWST)

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 WA is made possible with support from Screenwest and Final Draft.