Investment & Support

SQ Mentorships 2020


Closing Date: Applications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners have been extended to 5pm Friday 31 July 2020

APPLICATIONS DUE:
Applications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners have been extended to 5pm Friday 31 July 2020


CONTACT
Call 07 3248 0500 or email content@screenqld.com.au.


Applications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants Mentorship (only) have been extended to 5PM Friday 31st July. This is an exciting opportunity for mid-career practitioners to apply for a Producer, Cinematographer or Games career building opportunity.


SQ Mentorship is being delivered as part of our commitment to diversity and achieving gender parity in the screen industry.

SQ will provide four outstanding mid-career Producers, Cinematographers or Games-based practitioners a curated mentorship to support them to undertake a program of professional development and credit-based placements as part of a 12 month program designed to elevate their professional practice.

A mentorship will be available for one of each of the following:

  • EXTENDED: An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander producer,  cinematographer or games practitioner
  • CLOSED: A female-identifying or non-binary Cinematographer, supported by Lemac
  • CLOSED: A Producer from a diverse community, including, female-identifying and non-binary persons, people with a disability, people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, LGBTQIA+ people, age OR regional Queenslanders
  • CLOSED: A Games practitioner from a diverse community, including female-identifying and non-binary persons,  people with a disability, people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, LGBTQIA+ people and regional Queenslanders

SQ Mentorship supports Queensland-based screen practitioners to refine and enhance their skills and knowledge via a curated program of professional development and credit-based placements. The initiative aims to assist mid-career Queensland-based creatives gain real-world experience and credits, boosting their resumes to be more competitive in the wider screen industry.

Guidelines
Who can apply?

This program is best suited to mid-career Queensland practitioners with a minimum of 2 screen credits in the mentorship role which they are applying for. Applicants must demonstrate clear transformational goals in their application.

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Identify as a:
    • Female  or non-binary; or
    • Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; or
    • Part of a diverse community including people with a disability, people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, low socio-economic status, LGBTQIA+ people, age OR regional Queenslanders.
  • Have a minimum two (2) screen credits in either a Producer or Cinematographer role, or worked on a minimum of two (2) games that have been released:
  • Meet SQ general eligibility requirements as set out in the Terms of Trade
  • Not have received SQ Mentorship before

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander practitioners are encouraged to apply, as are Queensland practitioners whose principal place of business is located outside of south-east Queensland.

Successful applicants will be competitively selected based on their ability to provide a compelling case as to why this mentorship program will strategically advance their career within the screen industry.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please contact Screen Queensland 07 3248 0500 or content@screenqld.com.au.

What can I apply for?

The SQ Mentorship program will be flexible in its design, tailoring to your strategic outcomes, however the core of the program has been designed to provide a balance of knowledge and skills growth along with real-world credits for the practitioner.

Each Mentorship “Creative Strand” will be enhanced by a series of professional development activities.

For Example:


PRODUCER MENTORSHIP

  • $10,000 to cover two (2) x five week placements with a Producer/ Production Company or on as an attachment to a Producer on a greenlit production (either virtual or in person – noting the current restrictions on travel and that this will need  to be completed within 12 months)
  • *Three (3) x 1hr Professional Development Session (see details below).
  • Professional Legal Services to the value of $1500 provided as a legal retainer
  • 12-month SPAA Guild Associate Membership

*In your application, you will select professional development sessions from the included list that best match your areas of interest. (select a maximum of four (4) x areas of interest)

Areas include:

– Legal Session

– Packaging Session

– Business Strategist Session

– Independent Distribution Session

– Development Slate Session

– Financing Session

– Selling at Market Session

– Budgeting Session


GAMES MENTORSHIP

  • $10,000 to cover one ten week placement or two five week placements (either virtual or in person – noting the current restrictions on travel and that this will need  to be completed within 12 months)
  • *Three (3) x 1hr Professional Development Session (see details below).
  • 12 month IGEA Membership
  • Professional skills course up to the value of $1500 (self-nominated)

*In your application, you will select professional development sessions from the included list that best match your areas of interest. (select a maximum of four (4) x areas of interest)

Areas include:

– Legal Session

– Positioning Session

– Business Strategist Session

– Working with publishers (game development)

– Self publishing (game development)

– Development Slate Session

– Attracting investment Session

– Selling at Market Session

– Budgeting Session


LEMAC CINEMATOGRAPHER MENTORSHIP (Female/nonbinary-identifying)

  • $10,000 to cover two (2) x five (5) week placements with a DOP on a greenlit production on a feature or long-form television project – can be factual or scripted. (noting the current restrictions on travel and that this will need to be completed within 12 months)
  • Lemac gear hire up to the value of $2000
  • 12-month ACS Guild Membership
  • Professional skills course up to the value of $1500 (self-nominated)
Preparing your application

To apply:

  1. Submit an application by the due date above using Screen Queensland’s Smartygrants application portal (or click the apply now button at the top of this web page). Late applications will not be assessed. You will need to include the following:
  2. Select your preferred professional development sessions
  3. Professional Career Development Statement (how will this mentorship aid your professional career in the screen industry)
  4. Previous Mentorships and/or Professional Development Courses
    1. Include a list of all mentorships you’ve previously participated in (if any)
    1. How have you used these opportunities to escalate your career (networking, screen credits, recognition, ongoing mentorship relationships etc)
  5. Details regarding your self-nominated professional skills course (if required)
  6. Examples of your previous work or projects you’ve worked on in the relevant role

When you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email – please notify SQ if you haven’t received this within 30 minutes. Following submission, your application’s eligibility will be checked and if approved will proceed to assessment.

Your applications will be assessed by a panel including members of the SQ team and suitable external experts against the criteria outlined in the section “What is SQ looking for?” During the assessment process, you may be contacted to take part in an interview via teleconference/phone or to provide further information.

Recommendations will be approved by the EVP Content at Screen Queensland.

What is SQ Looking for?

Your proposal will be assessed against the following criteria:

  • Strength, viability and suitability of the practitioner for the nominated mentorship
  • Benefit to the career of Queensland-based key creative (Does the applicant have a clear pathway towards professional development)
  • Track record of the applicant
  • Impact on the broader Queensland screen industry
What are the deliverable requirements?

Successful applicants will deliver:

  • Completed Placement Report (per placement)
  • Invoice
  • Evidence of participation in skills course (if required)
Important documents to read before you apply

You must read our Terms of Trade, QPE definition and our corporate and strategic plans before preparing your application.


Funding is competitive and not all applicants may be successful even if they can demonstrate they meet all the assessment criteria. Applicants are encouraged to be ambitious and innovative in their proposals.

It is not anticipated that the funds available through this program alone will be able to cover all project costs. SQ Completion Fund Initiative is part of a $3.3m support package for the Queensland screen industry that represents the maximum funds that Screen Queensland has been able to reallocate for support during the current circumstances.

SQ Completion Fund Initiative is not a substitute for government relief to businesses affected by COVID 19  and such businesses are encouraged to seek all available Federal and State business assistance at this time See Available Support for more information.