>COMPLETE 2012 APPLICATION HERE<

 

FIRST BREAK

First Break is for emerging filmmakers*. The First Break agreement will be exclusively between the director and Metro Screen. The applicant may be either the writer/director or a director and writer team where the director has been assigned all rights to the script to be developed and produced through the First Break program.

Ten projects of up to 10 minutes duration will be selected with three places awarded to applicants from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent, three places for applicants from a multicultural background and one place awarded to an applicant from regional NSW**. Drama, doco, animation, series pilot, experimental, cross-platform will be considered.

*Both the writer and director must not have a produced screen credit in their respective roles, that has been released, broadcast or screened at a recognised film festival.

**Travel costs and accommodation for attending Sydney workshops will be provided.

 

First Break is generously supported by Screen NSW and Screen Australia.

 

“Metro Screen have been great, to know that you can come in and someone will spend 15mins on some little problem you are having really made the difference. To have people that could point you in the right direction, ask you if you had thought of this or that, put you in touch with others that could help and give you other short films to watch as a point of reference was incredibly supportive.”  2011 BREAKS filmmaker John Tsioulos

  

FIRST BREAK PROVIDES;

• a cash budget of $4,000 for production and crew fees.
• production equipment and post production facilities to the value of $1,000
• an intensive workshop and consultation with a professional Script Editor for all First Break screenwriters and directors [mandatory]
• an established Mentor/Supervising Producer
• a tailored directing workshop at Metro Screen for all First Break directors [mandatory]
• a joint cast and crew screening with other similarly funded Metro Screen projects within two months of the deliverables date.
• 12 months free membership with Metro Screen

Metro Screen proudly acknowledges Aboriginal elder Lester Bostock and his role as patron of the Indigenous stream of First Break. 

TIMELINE/SCHEDULE FOR SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS

• Deadline for applications: 20 Jan, 2012
• Successful applicants notified: 9 March, 2012
• Tailored training course: dates: Script workshop- Sat. 24th March, Directors workshop- Fri 30 March-Mon-2 April
• Production and post: April- October
• Deliverables date: 19 October, 2012

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT RESPONSIBILITIES;

Successful applicants MUST;

• attend all sessions of the tailored training course to take place in March.
• produce a finished film of up to 10 minutes by the deliverables date.

APPLICATION MATERIALS REQUIRED

[For a detailed explanation of the below materials please consult our Breaks Application Assistance page]

• Completed application form [one copy of the printed and signed confirmation email you will receive after completing the online application]
• A current script - does not need to be at final draft stage
• A one-line AND one paragraph AND one page synopsis
• Director’s Statement [half page max]
• Bio/ CV [one page max]
• Short bio of key crew if known [one page total]
• A brief statement outlining target audience and distribution plan [half page max]
• A signed Writers Agreement assigning all rights to the script to be developed and produced to the director from the screenwriter

  2012 Breaks Writer's Agreement [31kb]

ASSESSMENT

Applications are assessed by Metro Screen’s Projects Manager and a panel of industry representatives.

 

Enquiries: Metro Screen’s Productions and Projects Manager David Opitz – 02 9356 1818 or d.opitz@metroscreen.org.au

“Metro Screen has been extremely helpful in getting this film made, obviously it wouldn’t have been possible without them, but every step of the way I don’t think everything would have come together without their support. If I had a problem with say my sound gear I could call up the hire department and they’d have the answer straight away. And if there was a script problem I could call up David Opitz and he gave ideas. It’s just really nice to have all these people who are there with a well of ideas to help you through anything you need. It’s been a real asset and I think it is for any filmmaker.” 2011 BREAKS filmmaker Miles Szanto  

 

2011 FIRST BREAK FILMMAKERS ARE:

'Lie To Me ' - Kathleen Hrayssi [Writer/ Director]

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A Women is questioned following her husband’s murder and a sensual cat and mouse game reveals the story.

'Money Tree' - Hawanatu Bangura [Writer/ Director]

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An animation about an African boy who tries to escape poverty by planting an orchid of stolen money.

'First Date' - John Tsioulos [Writer/ Director]

A young man prepares for an important first date, but does he have the courage to take that final daunting step?

'The Alien Boy' - Miles Szanto [Writer/ Director]

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A young boy who is bullied at school plans to escape to another planet.

'Macadamia' - Greg Hackett [Writer/ Director]

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Stacey is a serial prankster who one night is on the receiving end of a revenge prank with shattering results.

'Nulingu' - Billy McPherson [Writer/ Director]

A story about belonging, even when you are dead.

'Sail ' - Raymond Kelly [Writer/ Director]

A race story about a race.

'A Morning Look' - Thomas Wright [Writer/ Director]

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Ray aimlessly walks the lonely streets of a foreign city in the early morning, a fisherman’s words beg contemplation and finally extinguish his dreams.

'Grand Design' - Samuel Bartlett [Writer/ Director]

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The death of one of two strangers is decided by a seemingly benign subconscious decision.

'This Dog's Life' - Jo-Anne Brechin [Writer/ Director]

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A young boxer is forced to fight - and kill - for his father’s love.

'I Spy' - Samuel Faull [Writer/ Director]

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14 yr old Kyle will see things he wishes he never had when his hormone driven cousins convince him to play their game of ‘I spy’ and peek into the women’s showers.

2010 funded projects were:

Watch our 2010 BREAKS filmmakers video journals here.
Check out photos from the 2011 screenings on Facebook here

First Break Indigenous

'Dust Up' - Richard Jameson [Writer/ Director]

'The Biggest Port' - Elizabeth Wymarra [Writer/ Director] - Short Film Festival, SA- 2011, Message Sticks-2011

'Aesop’s Way' - Mitchell Stanley [Writer/ Director] - Short Film Festival, SA- 2011

First Break Multicultural

'Naked Lady' - Cennet Serce [Writer/ Director] - LA Shorts Fest.-2011,Canberra Short Film Festival-2011, Bagdad International film festival.

'Henriette' - Katarina Mandic [Writer/ Director] - Vale Film Festival Col. USA -2011

'The Traveller' - Vijay Boothalingam [Writer/ Director] - finalist, Western Union Short Film Competition, Indian Film Festival 2011.

'Something Fishing' - Kristy Best [Writer/ Director] - Official selection VAIL Film Festival 2011.  - Dungog Film Festival 2011,LA Comedy Shorts-2011,DC Shorts (USA)-2011,Cornwall Film Festival in the Reel Women Section-2011, The Friars Club Comedy Film Fest in New York- 2011 The Connecticut Film Festival- 2011

First Break General 

'Sal' - Ben Brink [Writer/ Director]

'Abbie' - Erin Good [Writer/ Director] - picked up by QANTAS, Gangrene Comedy Film Festival in Utah and Atlanta Shortsfest.

'Gone' - Josh Mawer [Writer/ Director]

'The Burnt Cork' - Alexandra Edmondson [Writer/ Director]

 

“It was a great confidence booster that an institution like Metro Screen picks up your script and says we’ll put our time and effort into that. Throughout the process they really nurtured, they didn’t hang over your shoulder and check what your doing all the time, they gave you the reigns and let you run with it, and really entrusted you with it. And that encourages you to deliver high quality, you know they are not babying you, not pressuring you and so you just want to give back a really good product.”  2011 BREAKS filmmaker Jo-Anne Brechin