Screen Australia – Page 2

If you missed it on Screen Australia’s website, allow me to reprint it here…

“Screen Australia is again pleased to offer an outstanding opportunity for a producer at an early stage in their career with a bespoke producer internship. Following earlier internships with Film4, Belladonna and Killer Films, we are pleased to announce applications are now open for the Ted Hope Producer Internship.

Ted Hope is one of the most respected and dynamic independent producers in the US. The successful applicant will receive $40,000 from Screen Australia to support their six-month placement working with Ted at his New York-based production company Double Hope Films, commencing in August 2012.

Emerging in the early 1990s with his phenomenal company Good Machine, Ted has remained at the forefront of new technologies, consistently delivering vital and exciting work. He has produced and executive produced over 40 films, including 21 Grams, In the Bedroom, Happiness and American Splendor. More recently he produced Martha Marcy May Marlene, Collaborator and Dark Horse. With a keen eye for strong talent, Ted has 21 ‘first features’ under his belt, including those of Alan Ball, Todd Field, Michel Gondry, Hal Hartley and Ang Lee.

The ideal candidate will have an interest not only in development and production, but also in social media, marketing and distribution. In addition to his busy slate of films, Ted Hope is currently developing new distribution models for independent filmmakers and is considered a leading innovator in this field. The successful applicant stands to gain invaluable skills and experience in numerous areas of the independent film sector in the US.

Screen Australia is inviting applications from talented producers who have either one feature film credit, or who have produced at least two outstanding short films. The guidelines and application form are available at www.screenaustralia.gov.au/TedHopeinternship

The application deadline is Friday 22 June 2012.

For further information contact the Development Department on 1800 507 901 or development@screenaustralia.gov.au”

Co-Production Studies: Strategic Partners Forum

Guest post by Yael Bergman

A few days at Strategic Partners, Halifax, Canada and a crash course at International Co-Production Financing.

I saw Ted in Toronto a few days before heading to Strategic Partners in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He suggested I write on his blog with what went on there. I am reporting back now…

I write this as an Australian producer who recently produced a romantic comedy in Australia called I Love You Too. It was completely financed within Australia, largely with Australian and state government investment, and the tax rebate (up to 40 per cent of Australian spend). We are fortunate in Australia to have this public funding as a resource, and whilst it is perpetually competitive, it is the way most film and television is made in Australia. It sustains the industry and ensures we continue to tell Australian stories.

My producing partner, Laura Waters, who is originally from Colorado but has lived in Australia for almost 20 years, regularly comments that she can’t believe governments actually give you money to develop and make stuff here. Well, it’s true!

To some independent American producers, this must sound like the gold pot at the end of the rainbow, but the reality is it’s a limited pool and the funding bodies (and consequently, the producers) are always trying to work out a way to make it stretch further.

One good way is via co-producing, i.e. we split the cost of making a project over two or more countries that has a vested interest, and then we can each claim it as our own as a “national film”. Arguably, the project should be culturally relevant to each producing country and there needs to be a fair split between creative elements and financial contribution, but on the whole, with a bit of juggling, it can work very well if the project calls for it. (NB: This applies for international producers entering into an official co-production with Australia, the project becomes automatically entitled to the Producer Offset rebate as an Australian project, up to 40% of Australian spend.)

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