Seven West-Australian filmmakers receive support to develop scripts and short films as part of ‘Prop Loved Up’, a new romantic comedy initiative for First Nations producers from the middle of the career and emerging writer-director teams.
The initiative is a collaboration between Screen Australia’s First Nations Department, ABC and NITV, with the support of Screenwest and other on the state -based screen financing agencies.
Shakara Walley, Calen Tassone, Jamahl Ryder, Gary Hamaguchi, Brooke Collard, Devina McPherson and Kimberley Benjamin are among the 22 recipients of Stage One Support, including intensive training workshops to develop a short film script for the production and delivery of a film.
The teams recently participated in a three-day intensive workshop in Sydney, the first step in a broader development program with master classes and mentoring to shape daring, funny and sincere First Nations Love Stories for the screen.
Screenwest -Production Head Chris Veerhuis said: “Storytelling is central to the culture of First Nations and our state is the home of a number of incredibly talented First Nations filmmakers who kick goals in their art form, share stories about local, national and worldwide stages.
“Screenwest strives to support Western Australian First Nations Screen Practitioners and Communities to tell these stories, and we look forward to watching the right beloved short films that evolve.”
The successful filmmakers and their projects are:
- Shakara Walley, Calen Tassone, Jamahl Ryder and Gary Hamaguchi – Office Party: an office employee of First Nations is struggling to make contact with his crush in the midst of the everyday chaos of office life, culminating in a heart -warming office party.
- Cian McCue and Aaliyah-Jade Bradbury-Homecoming: When a famous Aboriginal musician takes refuge in a family business Darwin Diner, a meeting in the late night with a fast giving Kok sparks unexpected chemistry, messy hamburgers and an unforgettable night.
- Jerome Smith and David Cook-I dare (Love) You: old friends David and Jennifer are forced to confront their true feelings when a daring challenge pushes them past friendship.
- Brooke Collard and Rhianna Malezer – crushed!: Crushed by her crush, Jo is magically stuck in a pinball machine at a queer bar, with only her bestie Tay to get her out. But a messy love triangle lands Tay crushed in the machine next to her.
- Travis Akbar and Natasha Wanganeen – Love.exe: In a future society where physical relationships are outdated, a lonely man agrees to meet in his online partner in real life, so that they are both forced to confront with what it really means to connect.
- Siena Mayutu Wurmarri Stubbs and Libby Collins-Beste on the ground: 17-year-old Räkay is a young, tough and driven girl, with the pressure of cultural boundaries that stop her. But the 18-year-old care-free boy Wämut, who met Räkay at Footy Training, is determined to break through her guard to score her heart.
- Jack Steele and Nicole Hutton-Lewis-Egg Head and the Paper Girl: On an isolated farm, Jessie glides into vintage musical daydreams to escape her daily routine but when Hattie, the pregnant postie of the fight Turner Family, appears.
- Talia Liddle and Travis Cloudy-Hensgen-Slechts two Luvaz: from contact, dressed in pink and back for the summer, Rose throws herself into life in Bush, but her Nanas have other plans.
- Hannah French and James McLaren-FILLED: When an older widower arrives with a mysteriously rolled up rug, a taxidermy artist is presented with an unusual request that will test the limits of romantic gestures.
- Devina McPherson and Kimberley Benjamin – Goat: When Lilah meets the new environmental scientist in Town Rosie, she gets hard for her. But because Lilah is not sure if Rosie is even strange, she will have to do serious research to find out.
Delivered in collaboration with Screenwest, Screen Territory, Screen Queensland, Screen Tasmania, Vicsceen, The South Australian Film Corporation, Screen NSW and Screen Canberra, good beloved Empowers First Nations Creatives to tell fresh, authentic and worldwide Stories.
Participants will now work on delivering a third draft script, with the possibility of applying for up to $ 80,000 in production finance to bring their short films to life. More information about the right loved one can be found here.
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