Queensland screenwriters can apply for a professional placement in an international drama series writers’ room with today’s opening of the annual Greg Coote Scholarship, announced Screen Queensland Chair Catherine O’Sullivan.
“The Greg Coote Scholarship is an important step in furthering the careers of Queensland industry professionals and building a strong international network with benefit to the state’s screen industry,” Ms O’Sullivan said.
The Greg Coote Scholarship, now in its third year, is a competitive award valued at $30,000 named for one of Australia’s most prolific industry figures.
The 2018 recipient will embark on a writers’ room placement in Canada with global independent studio Entertainment One (eOne) whose original television content lineup includes: the upcoming Sharp Objects, from director Jean-Marc Vallee and starring Amy Adams for HBO; Let’s Get Physical for Pop TV; Burden of Proof, starring Kristen Kreuk for CBC; Mary Kills People for Global and Lifetime; Cardinal starring Billy Campbell for CTV and Hulu; and Designated Survivor from eOne’s The Mark Gordon Company; and eOne and Stan’s The Other Guy, created by and starring Australian comedian Matt Okine.
Screen Queensland will work with scholarship sponsors Australians in Film, Queensland Writers Centre, the Greg Coote Committee and eOne to offer the winner an unprecedented opportunity to gain valuable professional experience.
The ideal applicant will have had a positive track record working in the industry and is now ready to make connections internationally.
Greg Coote, who ran LA-based Larrikin Entertainment with David Calvert-Jones, was a producer and financier of theatrical movies, television programs and digital entertainment content, and worked to open doors for Australians in international markets.
“As a global studio, we are proud to offer the exciting opportunity to shadow a group of talented writers on one of our Canadian produced series, which will be seen by audiences around the world,” said eOne’s Jocelyn Hamilton (President – Canada, Television).
“In the spirit of the great work of Greg Coote, we are thrilled to be part of the development of emerging Australian talent and provide them with a gateway to the international market. We look forward to welcoming the selected screenwriter to meet and learn from our Canadian talent,” Ms Hamilton said.
Applications for the Greg Coote Scholarship will be assessed by a committee consisting of high level members of the US and Australian screen industry and senior Screen Queensland executives.
The Greg Coote Scholarship will fund the costs of the placement in an international writers’ room for a minimum of eight weeks, including travel, accommodation, insurance, per diems and visas.
Brisbane-based writer/director Lucas Taylor was awarded the 2017 Greg Coote Scholarship and will take part in a 12-week placement on a FremantleMedia International drama series in Europe in 2018.
Writer/producer Megan Doneman, inaugural recipient of the award in 2016, travelled to Los Angeles where she joined the eighth season of NCIS: Los Angeles.
Applications are available at http://screenqueensland.smartygrants.com.au/gc2018 and will close on Wednesday 28 February 2018.
