MEDIA RELEASE
Have an idea for a binge-able series?
Queensland writers can apply now to pitch to Stan, Australia’s leading local SVOD service, as part of a co-investment collaboration with the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland (SQ).
The SQ + Stan Premium Drama Development Fund 2020 will provide the opportunity for up to four Queensland based writers /creative teams to have their projects selected for further development and possible commission by the streaming giant.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that the aim of the initiative is to support homegrown talent and to create local jobs right across the industry and to capitalise on the boom of streaming services to bring locally produced content to global audiences.
“Queensland is a thriving hub of creativity and expertise in the screen sector, and our industry is in a strong position to create world-class Stan Original series, right here in our state.” the Premier said.
Screen Queensland CEO Kylie Munnich said this collaboration with Stan follows on from 2018’s SQ+ Stan Premium Drama Development Fund, which saw four projects being selected to progress to early-stage development.
“We received more than 100 applications for our previous Stan initiative, and we expect yet again to receive an influx of enquiries and applications from practitioners” said Ms Munnich.
“The opportunity to pitch directly to decision makers is the stuff of dreams, so we at SQ have developed a pitching guide to give all applicants from emerging to established, key tips to to communicate their concept effectively.”
Stan’s Chief Content Officer, Nick Forward, says this year’s initiative will build on the success of last year’s partnership.
“We were incredibly impressed by the quality and breadth of projects submitted in the Premium Drama initiative and are pleased to extend the partnership with Screen Queensland in 2020. We’re looking forward to unearthing some fresh new stories and continuing to support emerging Queensland talent.”
Applications are due 21 February 2020. To read the full creative brief and apply, visit screenqld.com.au.
-ENDS-
MEDIA CONTACTS
Screen Queensland:
Liana Cantarutti 07 3248 0524. lcantarutti@screenqld.com.au
Stan:
stan.publicity@stan.com.au
ABOUT SCREEN QUEENSLAND
Screen Queensland is a Queensland Government owned company that invests in talent and production to grow a creative, innovative and successful screen industry with a focus on stories and audience, secures production and post, digital and vfx to Queensland, and delivers an active screen culture through festivals and events funding across the state. Screen Queensland invests in stories and talent through a range of mechanisms including development, production investment, initiatives, sqhub and mentorships. Screen Queensland is deeply committed to increasing diversity in the screen industry to reflect the Australian community. For more information visit screenqld.com.au
ABOUT STAN
Stan is Australia’s leading local subscription video-on-demand streaming service provider with unrivalled studio partnerships including Showtime, Starz, MGM and Paramount. Through these partners Stan offers unlimited access to thousands of hours of premium entertainment, with an outstanding lineup of feature movies and exclusive TV series premieres such as THE LOUDEST VOICE, CITY ON A HILL, PERPETUAL GRACE, LTD., BILLIONS, TWIN PEAKS, POWER, ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA, YOUNGER and more. Stan is also the home of original Australian productions. Stan Originals include the AACTA Award-winning and Logie Award-nominated series NO ACTIVITY and WOLF CREEK, the critically acclaimed and Logie-Award winning drama series ROMPER STOMPER and BLOOM (featuring a Logie Award-winning performance by Jacki Weaver), and Stan Original Film THE SECOND (featuring Susie Porter in a Logie Award-nominated performance). Vicki Madden’s THE GLOAMING starring Emma Booth, Ewen Leslie and Aaron Pedersen; THE OTHER GUY: SEASON 2 with Matt Okine, Harriet Dyer, Claudia Karvan and Lily Sullivan with Gracie Otto on directing duties; Shelley Birse’s THE COMMONS starring Joanne Froggatt, David Lyons, Ryan Corr, Rupert Penry-Jones and Damon Herriman have recently launched, with Stan Original Film TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG due to premiere on Australia Day. For more information, visit stan.com.au
RECIPIENTS OF THE SQ + STAN PREMIUM DRAMA DEVELOPMENT FUND 2018
The Bloody Satisfaction of Derek Gott
Screenwriter: Steve Baker
Still reeling from the discovery of a wounded vampire he suspects may be his missing father, a teen outcast hatches a diabolical plan to exact revenge upon the local bullies.
Kindred Spirits
Screenwriter: Ursula Cleary
Kindred Spirits is a drama about an ordinary family at the moment something extraordinarily terrible happens. When Connie and Ben Drake’s teenage daughters are involved in a stabbing, leaving one critically ill and the other missing, they must decide how far they will go to save their family.
Saviour
Screenwriter: Anthony Mullins
A cold-blooded murder by a teenager heralds a frightening transformation in the children of a remote Queensland town.
SQ + STAN FIRST LOOK INITIATIVE
Screenwriter: Krissy Kneen
Stan also expanded the fund to include the SQ + Stan First Look Initiative, selecting writer Krissy Kneen to develop three projects into five-page briefs with the possibility of one continuing to a writer’s room and delivery into a pilot.
