|
Northern Rivers
SCREENWORKS is the screen industry office for the Northern Rivers
region of New South Wales, Australia, servicing creative practitioners
in the film, television, video, and digital media sectors.
Established in
2000, the aims of the organisation are to foster, drive and promote the
development of an innovative, sustainable and vibrant screen industry
culture in the Northern Rivers region of NSW.
The Department of
Transport and Regional Services, through the Sustainable Regions
Program, has supported SCREENWORKS financially, since December 2002. This
seed funding ends in December 2005 and the challenge now is for
SCREENWORKS to become a self-sufficient organisation beyond this date.
To this end,
SCREENWORKS board members are developing a business plan that sees
SCREENWORKS sourcing funds from a diverse base as well as developing a
range of revenue generating activities and programs. This will ensure
that SCREENWORKS can continue to meet its objectives well into the
future.
Northern Rivers
SCREENWORKS Ltd. is a non-profit company limited by guarantee. The
board of directors includes some of Australia's leading film,
television and digital media producers and business representatives.
Our office is located in Byron Bay where we can be contacted for advice
on locations, industry contacts, services and facilities throughout the
region.
SCREENWORKS
invites professionals in the region to register to the Screenworks
directory and e-newsletter as a way of promoting their services and
facilities and developing the local industry.
Understanding Screenworks
At its March
meeting, the Board became aware that there may be some confusion in the
community - and in particular amongst regular users of Screenworks
services and facilities - about certain core aspects of Screenworks,
how we function and what our future prospects are. As we are a fluid,
organic, growing organisation made up of a diverse group of people
investing time and energy in the development of screen industries, it‘s
understandable that we need to review ourselves periodically.
Screenworks in 2005 is not the same as Screenworks was in 2003 and it
seems timely to remind the community of our history, try to clarify our
current position and invite input into our future direction.
A bit of history
In 2000, local
business leaders began to recognise that there was a promising future
for the audio visual industries in the Northern Rivers region as an
employment generating sector. The Northern Rivers Regional Development
Board (NRRDB) contracted local filmmaker Cathy Henkel to produce a
report on the growth of the film, video and multimedia industries in
the region and to identify strategies for future development. This
research work galvanised practitioners of the area to come together in
July 2000 in Clunes to examine the potential of this industry and to
form a networking group. The NRRDB report entitled “Imagining the
Future” was launched in December 2000 with 10 strategies for the
development of the industry in the region.
Following the
Clunes forum, a group of local screen industry practitioners met with
the idea of forming a networking and industry support group. The group
initially called itself Filmworks, but soon changed its name to
Northern Rivers Screenworks to better reflect the wide range of
practitioners it represented.
In November 2000,
NORTHERN RIVERS SCREENWORKS LIMITED was incorporated as a non-profit
company limited by guarantee to implement the strategies identified in
the NRRDB report and to promote the Northern Rivers as an acknowledged
regional centre for creative industries.
At the time of
its formation, the board became aware of a federal government
initiative called “Regional Solutions” which would provide seed funding
for a period of up to three years for new projects that would support
the region’s economy. Applying for this funding was a major priority
for the company in its first year of operation when meetings were held
anywhere the Board could find free space and the organisation survived
largely on hand-outs, the generosity of the Directors, dedicated
volunteers and professionals willing to offer masterclasses or advice
without fees. However, after almost 15 months of hard work and several
revised applications, Screenworks was rejected by Regional Solutions.
The board was on the verge of disbanding as it was not able to keep
going without resources and staff, when a new fund emerged in early
2002 called Sustainable Regions. A revised application to this fund was
successful in November 2002 giving Screenworks an opportunity to set up
an office in Byron Bay and to employ three staff to carry out its
program. The funding applications were largely the work of Lois
Randall, Catherine Marciniak and Cathy Henkel working as volunteers to
ensure a future for Screenworks.
Sustainable Regions Funding
Screenworks
received $322,000 from Sustainable Regions for a three year Industry
Development project (2003 - 2005). It is important to stress that this
funding was for a limited period of three years and is not renewable
from this program. The funding period ends in December 2005.
The staff
employed to carry out the Sustainable Regions Program were Kate Ingham
and Deb McBride in a job-share role as Industry Development Officer,
and Dallas Nock as Locations Liaison Officer. Screenworks also
successfully applied for funding from a range of other sources to
supplement its program. These included DSRD, the Australian Film
Commission and the NSW Film and TV Office. All of these funds were for
specific projects aimed at screen practitioners and were non-renewable.
Both the Australian Film Commission and the NSW FTO made it clear at
that stage that on-going funding for administration and infrastructure
were not an option. These agencies fund a resource centre in NSW (Metro
Screen) and were not willing to support another agency for screen
industries in NSW in the foreseeable future.
One of the major
objectives of the Sustainable Regions program was to explore ways to
make Screenworks sustainable beyond the three year funding period. This
was a clear priority for all the board members and a driving factor
behind all decisions over the past two years. The board have always
known that we need to find revenue generating ideas and programs so
that the organisation can continue when the funding runs out. One way
that the board chose to do this was to build a solid support base for
Screenworks in the region and to develop programs and events that were
of benefit to a wide spectrum of practitioners. The concept was that in
the first three years of operation, we would offer low cost events (and
some free events) in order to ensure access to emerging practitioners
and to build widespread support and appreciation of Screenworks as an
industry development organisation, in the hope that one revenue stream
for Screenworks - after the initial 3 year period - would be the
provision of a professional development program on a proper
fee-for-service basis. We also offered use of office space to two local
groups that emerged in the region to meet more specific needs of the
industry - the Byron Film Club (BFC) and the Screenworks-initiated Film
Artists Cooperative (FAC). This gesture was in line with Screenworks’
aim to support a wide range of practitioners and both have enjoyed free
access to our office and facilities and their members have made use of
the seminars, masterclasses, clinics and social events.
Unfortunately,
Screenworks is unable to offer these free services or facilities
indefinitely and with our ‘funded’ three year term drawing to a close
we have hopefully established a place for the organisation in the
community and need to look at all our functions in terms of revenue
raising.
Clarifying the current situation
At the March
board meeting, it emerged that there was some confusion over
Screenworks' situation. Some users of the organisation had the
impression that Screenworks was a government-funded agency with
unlimited resources, on-going funding and would always provide free
services. While we would all love this to be the case, the reality is
that generating revenue for the organisation has to be integral to all
decisions the board makes.
The challenge
facing the Screenworks board has always been to find ways to make the
organisation sustainable, and this involves examining a range of
revenue generating ideas and options. These include diversifying our
funding base, applying for grants from a range of government agencies,
examining business models for revenue streams and building our local
support base. The board is also considering a number of ideas for
developing national programs that will generate revenue. Some of these
ideas are listed below.
Current proposed strategy
The current
strategy of the board is to try and ‘buy’ another two years for our
industry development phase and to use those two years to consolidate
revenue streams and implement an ‘exit strategy’ to ensure that
Screenworks will be sustainable after 2007. We are currently seeking
further support from government to implement this plan. It is by no
means certain that we will be successful, but strong arguments have
been put to these agencies.
We are arguing
that after the five year industry development strategy, we anticipate
that there will be a significant slate of local projects in production.
The Screenworks intensive industry development activities will then be
wound down into:
- maintaining information, communications and networking
- providing an industry database
- providing information on locations, crew information and referrals
We anticipate
that from 2007, staff will be reduced to one part time industry
development officer who will provide basic services, general locations
information and referrals and all further services will be outsourced.
Current office
space will be sublet or downsized after 2007 to another location
preferably in Byron Shire which has the highest concentration of screen
practitioners (eg Community Learning and Innovation Centre in
Mullumbimby…. or NRRDB or Arts Northern Rivers if there are no
opportunities in Byron Shire). The base annual core budget for
Screenworks will be around $45 000 - $50 000.
It has been proposed that over the next two years, the board could support the establishment of:
(1) Screenworks
Locations and Production Services Booking Agency - This will be a fee
for service agency for practitioners, locations, crew and production
support services, and accommodation bookings.
(2) Screenworks
Industry Development services - To be based on a fee for service or
through attracting project funding. This will cover seminars,
workshops, clinics, a summer school and the screen culture program.
(3) Screenworks
Marketing services - a fee for service national marketing initiative to
support projects in development and connect producers to appropriate
markets, buyers, broadcasters and distributors.
Below is an outline of income generation from some of these ideas for core services:
(1) Industry
levy: (0.25% of production budgets as per SPAA and ASDA levies). This
could bring in up to $18 000 per year (eg for one TV series, one low
budget feature and four docos per year. This needs negotiation with
funding agencies and guilds).
(2) Income from
Industry Development program - professional development, summer school
and screen culture programs run with a minimum profit margin
(3) Commission from Screenworks Booking Agency
(4) Commission from Screenworks Marketing services
(5) Grants and investments raised (admin levy for auspicing grants)
(6) Project specific grants
(7) That
Screenworks partner with local businesses and provide referrals and
promotion online, in return for a percentage of sales.
(8) A local
council levy for initial application processing (will require long lead
time, protocol adoption and confidence in Screenworks capacity to
establish council interest in such a strategy)
(9) Fundraising events and sponsorship of Screenworks activities.
Other local initiatives
Ideas for income
generation and the ongoing role of Screenworks are currently being
sought from local practitioners. Please contact the board with
proposals.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SCREENWORKS CLOSED DOWN IN DEC 2005?
If you care about
this question and want to discuss any of the ideas proposed above, come
along to a special Screenworks public meeting.
DATE AND TIME TO BE ADVISED.
IF YOU WANT TO BE
PART OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND YOU CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF
SCREENWORKS AND ITS ROLE IN OUR REGIONAL SCREEN INDUSTRIES, PLEASE
ATTEND THE MEETING OR EMAIL YOUR IDEAS TO
info@screenworks.com.au
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL USERS OF SCREENWORKS
Screenworks Board Of Directors
• CHAIR: Cathy Henkel, Producer, Hatchling Productions
• DEPUTY CHAIR: Kerry Sunderland, Writer/Producer, Evolve Media Consulting
• SECRETARY: Aliison Kelly, Producer, Kelly Creations
• TREASURER: James Dods, Business Director, Lois Lane
• John Weiley, Producer, Heliograph Productions (Imax)
• Lyn McCarthy, Director, Niche Pictures
• Deb Cox, Writer/Producer, Cox Knight Productions
• Roger Monk, writer
• Andrew Bambach, Producer, In Your Face Productions
Co-opted (non-voting) members:
• Larry Larstead, Film Artists Co-operative
• Frank Coorey, Byron Film Club
• Deb McBride, Purely Animal
• Catherine Marciniak, Cudgerie Hill Media
WHO ARE THE MAIN CLIENTS OF SCREENWORKS?
• Experienced & emerging producers
• Other practitioners, in particular writers, directors, editors
• Digital media producers and creatives; includes animation & gaming
• Producers of features, television and commercials interested in filming in region.
• Location Managers and NSW FTO
WHAT ARE THE SERVICE NEEDS OF THESE CLIENTS?
• Raising the profile of the screen industries and locations in the NR
(location info & referrals, practitioner database, location
scouting & market materials – CD, locations database)
• Improving access to relevant skills and creative resources
(professional development & training, website & database,
employment support & referrals, project incubation & mentoring)
• Organising and promoting industry networking events (seminars, masterclasses, conferences, workshops, clinics)
• Creating and marketing collaborative working opportunities
• Offering timely market intelligence (newsletters, visits by decision
makers, conferences, current market and festival information)
• Accessing advanced technologies and expertise in content creation
SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS
• Attracted three conferences in three years to Northern
Rivers–Australian International Documentary, Screen Producers Fringe
and OzECulture Conferences.
• Professional development program of masterclasses, workshops,
seminars, clinics and meet the funding decision-maker. Includes mentor
& incubator programs. 2 pitch participants win national pitch
competition.
• Location service with website database of over 300 images, CD of 750
images, 22 virtual tours, location recce and referral services.
• Supporting current slate of $18million development and production occurring in the region.
• Communications - 12 e-newsletters annually received by 770
practitioners, networking events, database of 278 practitioners,
career, training and project advisory service.
• Formation partner in New Creative – Showcase of NR Creative
Industries – to be launched at OzE Culture conference in April with
case study presentation of Screenworks at plenary session. Travelling
showcase and industry consultation in May 05. Industry Expo and
Showcase in September 05.
• Regional screen industry analysis, updated from 2000 study, to be
finalised in July 2005 for publication and international presentation
(NZ & Scotland).
• Significant increase in production attracted to the region, including
25% increase in commercials production. 2 features slated - May &
June 2004. Significant increase in production generated from region
including television series slated for April 2006.
| 
