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D1.3 Destination Australia - Series 2
Purpose and Scope:
Destination Australia is a ScreenWest production development initiative jointly funded with SBSi and other interstate funding bodies. It is intended to provide opportunities for an early/mid career Western Australian producer and director to make a one hour documentary for national TV broadcast.
A total amount of $300,000 is available for a Western Australian team to produce a one hour documentary and online content in WA for the Destination Australia series. Applications will be comparatively assessed in January 2008 and the successful team will be expected to produce their documentary, in liaison with an SBSi commissioning editor, for delivery to SBSi in 2009. Proposals that include an online component will be welcomed, but are not essential. Application details and conditions are detailed below.
Destination Australia:
Every year, the Australian government issues 6,000 visas to refugees from war torn lands.
Since the Second World War, 675,000 refugees have been accepted by Australia and a million Australians today are descended from these new arrivals. Destination Australia explores what it is like to be a refugee, to leave your country of birth, family and friends, usually under duress, and make a new home in Australia.
The Destination Australia series will comprise four one hour documentaries targeting stories from the three participating States (WA, SA, Tasmania and the Northern Territory). This innovative funding initiative, developed by SBSi in association with State funding bodies, provides professional development for the creators of the series, as well as national exposure for the projects through broadcast on SBS Television in 2009.
SBS Independent is seeking proposals for gutsy and appealing personal stories that creatively reflect the SBS charter and the refugee experience - what it means to be relocated to a new home, language and culture. How do new arrivals cope with the practical challenges of learning English, coming to grips with technology they have never seen before, and finding employment? What is the emotional and psychological fall-out from their experience in their homelands? How does this affect their behavior and ability to settle in Australia? And significantly, once settled in their new suburban or regional homes, how are they regarded and treated by the Australian community?
Eligibility:
Applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of creative documentary techniques and an understanding of narrative storytelling. Project selection will take into account the originality of the visual and narrative treatment and how the concept will engage and involve audiences. Already under ‘how to apply' heading.
For the Western Australian documentary, all key residents must be Western Australian residents (as outlined in the General Guidelines attached) and 100% of the production must occur in Western Australia.
Participating writer/directors must have a minimum of two significant broadcast credits and are advised to apply with an experienced producer with significant independent broadcast experience from their State or Territory. The total series budget is $1,200,000 Each documentary will receive a budget of $300,000, 50% being a license fee from SBS and 50% provided as investment from the relevant State or Territory agency. It is a requirement of SBSi that the individual stories of Destination Australia have a common series identity including: graphics, titles, music and narrator.
How to Apply:
All Development Fund applications must include:
- A completed Application Form
- A one page detailed synopsis plus a one line and one paragraph synopsis
- Two page concept outline
- A clear development strategy outlining the objectives and tasks to be undertaken (e.g. writers' notes on the direction of the next draft).
- CVs of the project principals and, if applicable, a company profile indicating past success in producing and pre-marketing projects
- Budget summary page and accompanying notes, with a breakdown of any non-WA Expenditure
- Signed clearances (where appropriate)
- Personal statement (tell us about yourself, your team and what you believe you bring to the project. Personal notes about the story and subject can be included here)
Please submit your application UNBOUND (please do not use staples or binders as all material will be photocopied).
Closing Dates:
Applications closed in January 2008.
The successful applicant from Western Australia was announced at the 2008 Australian International Documentary Conference as Shireen Narayanan.
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