New York Producer Internships

Exposure of Australian producers to an international film landscape is an important professional development opportunity. Screen Australia has established three professional development opportunities for producers with three outstanding independent film production companies in New York:  Likely Story, Belladonna and Killer Films. 

In all cases the successful applicants will have a proven capacity for creative excellence and professional maturity, and would benefit from working in the high-quality, dynamic development environment of one of these outstanding independent production companies. 

1. For emerging producers – Likely Story, NY

Screen Australia has established with Likely Story a six-month internship position for an emerging producer who has shown a commitment to producing and is yet to produce their first feature film.

Likely Story was formed in 2006 by Anthony Bregman, formerly of This Is That. Likely Story has quickly established a reputation as one of the leading independent film production companies in New York.  In its first year the company produced Charlie Kaufman’s Synecdoche, New York and Shari Springer Berman’s The Extra Man. Anthony Bregman’s previous experience includes producer of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Executive producer of The Ice Storm and head of production at Good Machine, where he oversaw the production of over 30 feature films including Sense and Sensibility, Eat Drink Man Woman, The Wedding Banquet and Safe.

2. For more established producers – Belladonna or Killer Films, NY

Screen Australia has established with both Belladonna and  Killer Films a six-month internship placement  for a producer who has a proven capacity for creative excellence and has already produced one or two feature films.

Belladonna is an internationally acclaimed production company active in developing, financing, producing, co-producing and distributing quality independent entertainment.
Founders René Bastian and Linda Moran won the prestigious Motorola Producer of the Year Award in 2002, and their company has appeared among the 10 international production companies deemed ‘Power Houses’ by V Magazine. Their 2005 film Transamerica was nominated for two Academy Awards and won a Golden Globe. Belladonna develops and produces, and co-produces and consults with international companies, allowing them to access US tax credits, equity and talent, and is currently active in self-distribution.

Killer Films was founded in 1995 by Christine Vachon and Pam Koffer, quickly establishing a reputation for producing daring and innovative content. Killer’s movies have been nominated for eight Academy Awards and 20 Emmys, including the Best Actress Oscar for Hilary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry. Credits include Todd Solonz Happiness, Mark Romanek’s One Hour Photo, Tom Kalin’s Swoon and veteran director Robert Altman’s The Company, as well as numerous projects with Todd Haynes including Velvet Goldmine and Far from Heaven.

Funding is for

In 2010:

• One emerging producer will receive $60,000 from Screen Australia to spend six months working in the development department at Likely Story.   
  
  
• Two more established producers will each receive $60,000 from Screen Australia to spend six months working in the development department at either Belladonna or Killer Films, with the intern allocated to each company by Screen Australia as part of the assessment process (see below).  

All three opportunities will provide unique exposure to best development practice and the international marketplace at a formative time in their career.

Eligibility

The Likely Story internship is aimed at emerging producers who have produced at least two exceptional narrative shorts. Eligibility requirements for this internship are as follows:

• Only individuals may apply.
  
  
• The applicant must have credits as producer on at least two exceptional narrative shorts or be able to demonstrate the equivalent relevant experience, and the applicant’s role as the creative producer must be clearly evident.
  
  
• The applicant must be able to commence the six-month internship in October 2010.
  
  
• Applicants must be eligible to enter and remain in the US on the appropriate J1 Visa (see box below) and complete all required documentation associated with the visa application expediently.
  
  
• Producers with completed features are not eligible for this program (see Belladonna or Killer Films internships below).
  

The Belladonna and Killer Films internships are aimed at feature film producers with at least one producer credit (but no more than two producer credits) on a feature film. Eligibility requirements for these internships are as follows:

• Only individuals may apply.
  
  
• At least one credit (but no more than two credits) as producer on a released feature film and the applicant’s role as the creative producer must be clearly evident.
  
  
• The applicant must be able to commence the six-month internship beginning in October or November 2010.
  
  
• Applicants must be eligible to enter and remain in the US on the appropriate J1 Visa (see box below) and complete all required documentation associated with the visa application expediently.
  

Note that an individual may only receive one high-level Industry Internship from Screen Australia during his or her career.

Applicants must also meet the general Screen Australia eligibility requirements set out in the agency’s Terms of Trade.

To be eligible for a J1 Visa, applicants must either: hold a degree or professional certificate from a post-secondary academic institution outside the US and have at least one year of prior work experience in their occupational field acquired outside the US; or have five years of work experience in their occupational field acquired outside the US. For more information, see https://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/j1-exchange-visa.html

 

Assessment process

Applications will be assessed by two Screen Australia Development Managers to derive a ‘longlist’ for initial interview. The initial interview will be used to arrive at a shortlist for final interview.

The final determination, including the allocation of interns to each host company, will be made by Senior Executives from each host company and the Screen Australia Head of Development.

We will advise applicants of the success or otherwise of their application, providing a brief statement of reasons upon request.

Assessment criteria

When assessing applications for this program, Screen Australia uses the following criteria:

• the quality of the applicant’s previous work
  
  
• evidence of sound creative judgment from the applicant’s track record
  
  
• the strategic career benefits to the applicant
  
  
• evidence of strong writing, communication and assessment skills
  
  
• demonstrable maturity and professionalism supported by written reference/s
  
  
• the potential wider benefit to the Australian industry.

Application materials

Applications for the Likely Story internship must be made on the New York Producer Internship: Likely Story application form.

Applications for the Belladonna/Killer Films internship must be made on the New York Producer Internship: Belladonna/Killer Films application form.

Applications must include all supporting material listed in the checklist on that form.

 

Terms of funding

Funding is in the form of a grant. Details of the requirements of funding will be set out in the grant agreement.

Awarding of the grant is subject to all necessary visa/entry requirements being obtained by each prospective intern.

Funding recipients must deliver

• A written report after the first three months of the internship and again on completion of the internship.
  
  
• A report on expenditure of the grant.
  

Recipients may also be asked to participate in Screen Australia  seminars or workshops following completion of the internship in order to share their knowledge and experience with other practitioners.