(includes joint day with SPAA Conference)
Saturday, November 18 & Sunday November 19
Sydney

The Australian Writers' Guild and the Screen Producers Association of Australia have joined forces and are delighted to invite you to Creative Dreams. Creative Teams. Success Stories 2000 Conference.

To be held November 18 and 19 (in conjunction with the AFI Awards), the first day will be a joint day with the prestigious SPAA Conference, bringing you to the best of overseas film and television writers and producers, including Robert Towne (US) and Jimmy McGovern (UK). Day 2 of the Conference will be exclusively for Guild members.

The Conference will focus on the variety of ways creative teams can successfully collaborate to develop a project and how to get that great story from idea to paper to production. Writers attending will have the unique opportunity to meet and network with their peers, producers and other members of the industry. As well as our international guests, you will also hear our most successful homegrown teams of writers and producers discuss their experiences - how these creative alliances started, identifying the cornerstones of the relationship, and the milestones in the production process.

SPEAKERS: Confirmed overseas guest speakers to date include:

Robert Towne Towne has written some of the most popular films of all time. He has won numerous awards for his screenwriting, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. He has received two Writers Guild of America Awards, as well as their most prestigious award, The Laurel, in 1997. His screenwriting credits include Bonnie & Clyde, Chinatown, The Last Detail, Personal Best, Tequila Sunrise, Days Of Thunder and The Two Jakes, and he co-wrote Mission Impossible I & II, The Firm, Love Affair, Shampoo and Greystoke.

Jimmy McGovern Jimmy McGovern has been responsible for some of the best British drama for years. Television credits includes The Lakes, Hearts and Minds, Cracker, Dockers as well as the feature films Priest and Go Now.

Greg Brenman and Kay Mellor From Mr Bean and The Vicar of Dibley to Playing the Field and Births, Deaths and Marriages, Tiger Aspect Productions have produced some of Britains best known and best loved television programmes. Tiger Aspect's Head of Drama, producer Greg Brenman, and Kay Mellor, one of Britain's most successful and respected writers, will discuss their experiences working together on the TV series Jane Eyre for LWT and the primetime hit drama Playing the Field for BBC1.

SESSIONS: Confirmed sessions include:

A Marriage Made in Heaven: Creative TV Producers and the rise of the Writer/Producer This session examines how television writers and producers can most effectively work together and the rise of the writer/producer in Australian television, following the US model. There will be two case studies - the ABC program Grassroots with writer Geoffrey Atherden and producer John Eastway, and Britain's Cold Feet, with Mike Bullen (Co-Executive Producer & writer) and Andy Harries (Co-Executive Producer and Controller of Comedy at Granada).

Pulling Out the Golden Threads - Reading and Developing a Script The art of reading, interpreting, understanding and improving a script is an essential skill for all producers and writers. This session is intended to provide some insights into this vital aspect of the producer's and writer's craft by enhancing script reading skills, improving script analysis and understanding the writing process. It will also provide an opportunity to discuss how producers and writers can work together to produce that ideal final draft: a good story, well told. Speakers include Greg Brenman (Producer, Tiger Aspect, UK).

Other sessions include latest developments and opportunities in animation; Guild industrial issues; new television series currently in development; an additional session with Jimmy McGovern; as well as a case study (with the writer) of a successful major Australian feature film, discussing what worked and why.

Theatre Half-Day There will be a half-day conference devoted to theatre and guest speakers will include major Australian playwrights. Note: this session can be booked separately.

COST: Full Conference $330 (including GST) Note: As Day 1 is held in conjunction with the SPAA Conference only Full Members or Associate Members with a produced credit can attend Day 1.
Day 2 Only $165 (including GST, and Theatre Half-Day)
Theatre Half-Day $50 (including GST)

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION Show Film have arranged special discount airfares and accommodation packages with hotel rooms at around $135 per night. An inquiry form is attached to the bottom of this email. For further information please contact Amy Materne, Travel Co-Ordinator, Show Film direct on Ph: 02 9383 4626 Fax: 02 9383 4624 Toll Free 1800 626 396. You may also wish to check the cheap flights on offer direct from the Airlines. Ansett: 131300 Qantas: 131313 Impulse: 131381 Virgin Blue: 136789

TO BOOK: A $50 booking fee will secure your place. Please complete the form below and send to The Conference Convenor, Australian Writers' Guild, 8/50 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 PH: 02 9281 1554. As numbers are limited we recommend members book early as we expect this to be a very popular conference.
(This deposit is refundable until November 1).

SUMMARY:
Event: AWG/SPAA Conference
Date: Saturday, November 18 and Sunday, November 19
Where: Sydney
Speakers: Include Robert Towne (US writer - Chinatown, The Firm, Mission Impossible), Jimmy McGovern (UK writer - The Lakes, Cracker), Kay Mellor (UK writer - Jane Eyre, Playing the Field) and Greg Brenman (UK producer - Tiger Aspect).
Cost: $330 (Full Conference) $165 (second day and theatre half-day) $50 theatre half-day
Bookings: A $50 deposit will secure your place. Please see booking form below.

You can print out the section below to pre-order:

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PRELIMINARY BOOKING FORM

Please find enclosed my deposit for $50 for the Creative Dreams. Creative Teams Conference to be held November 18 & 19.

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Credit card payment: please print off form and fax to the AWG on Fax: 02 9281 4321
Cheque payment: please print off form and post to the Australian Writers' Guild, 8/50 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010.