This program aims to provide high-end entertaining television production and new cross-platform viewing opportunities to Australian children while affirming their sense of self and community as Australians.

Screen Australia’s requirements for foreign presales in the category of children’s drama recognise the excellent reputation Australian producers have built up internationally as suppliers of quality children’s programming.

However, Screen Australia also acknowledges that this success may act as a barrier for certain intrinsically Australian programs that may not necessarily have the potential to travel. Screen Australia intends to apply part of the children’s drama funds each financial year to support the production of children’s drama projects with no requirement for an international presale.

Browse the guidelines below,
or download as a PDF at right

Eligible projects

Screen Australia will invest in:

• mini-series of 13 half-hours or 26 half-hours;
• animated mini-series of up to 26 episodes, each not less than one quarter commercial television hour;
• telemovies.

Subsequent series or telemovie packages will only be financed where the percentage and quantum investment by Screen Australia is substantially lower than for the previous program. Projects must be eligible for a ‘C’ classification under the Government’s ‘C’ Drama guidelines in order to apply to Screen Australia. A ‘C’ classification will not be required from applicants whose projects in this category are licensed to the Australian public broadcasters – ABC and SBS.

Before Screen Australia will invest in a subsequent mini-series or telemovie, the first mini-series or telemovie must have been launched at a major television market and secured acceptable international sales.

Screen Australia expects key creatives (producer, writer, director, director of photography, editor) to be sourced from the freelance market and not from the staff of a free-to-air or pay television channel. In addition, Screen Australia will not finance drama where the project has been developed by a broadcaster and sub-contracted at a later stage to a producer.

Marketplace attachments

For mini-series, Screen Australia will expect a presale from a broadcaster for free-to-air or pay television Australian rights of not less than $95,000 per half-hour. Pay TV or exclusive satellite rights cannot be included as part of the domestic free-to-air television licence fee.

Screen Australia will also require a presale in a major overseas territory, or at least two substantial presales in other territories. The budget will determine the level of other presales or guarantees required.

The level of marketplace attachment required for a telemovie will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Screen Australia will require a sales agent for rest of world (ROW) to be attached on all projects.

Additionally, as noted above, Screen Australia intends each year to give producers the creative freedom to make programs without having to cater for the tastes and standards of several international territories at the same time. The intention is to encourage distinctive programming with a specific focus on Australian audiences.

Screen Australia will apply part of the children’s drama funds for 2010/11 to support the production of children’s drama projects with the same requirement of an Australian presale as described above, but no requirement for an international presale.

Investment decisions and level of funding

Screen Australia will not generally invest more than $3 million for 26 half hours or $1.5 million for 13 half hours in a children’s TV drama project, and will not exceed these thresholds other than in exceptional circumstances. Limits also apply to the level of direct funding as a proportion of the project’s budget; these limits are set out in Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade.

Screen Australia welcomes an entrepreneurial approach by producers, and will consider a diversity of financing streams including equity investment and distribution guarantees.
Further, in order to maximise production levels and diversity of slate, Screen Australia encourages producers to secure as much non-Screen Australia finance as possible.

Projects with an international presale

When considering applications from projects with an international presale, Screen Australia will prioritise those which have the lowest contribution from Screen Australia as a proportion of the budget.

If there are insufficient funds to meet demand from eligible projects with the same level of Screen Australia contribution, Screen Australia will take the following additional considerations into account:

1. strength of the marketplace (ie level of co-finance excluding Screen Australia and the state agencies);
2. recoupment potential;
3. level of subordination of Screen Australia investment;
4. track record and capacity of the creative team;
   
5. readiness of script (applicants must submit scripts for the first three episodes of a mini-series, or a completed script for a telemovie, signed off by the network, subject to revisions and polishes).
   

Projects without an international presale

In this case, applications will be considered by a combination of Screen Australia executives and industry specialists as required, taking the following into account:

• The creative team responsible for the project (producer, director, writer) according to (i) track record – their past successes, relevant experience and achievements (ii) their demonstrated creative, technical and managerial capacity to deliver the project
• The script, according to (i) the strength and distinctiveness of the idea, (ii) the quality of the writing, and (iii) the script’s readiness to proceed into production.
• The creative potential of a project, according to (i) the creative team’s vision for the project, and (ii) the proposed cast.
• Audience potential – the project’s potential to reach its intended audience – according to (i) whether or not there is a clearly identified Australian audience for the film, (ii) the distribution strategy for Australia, and (iii) the cross platform strategy.
  Screen Australia expects that funds be quarantined in the production budget for marketing and cross platform elements in order to assist the project in reaching as wide an audience as possible.
• The project’s commercial potential according to (i) the financing and distribution arrangements in Australia, (ii) the budget in relation to projected returns, and (iii) Screen Australia’s recoupment position.
• Project viability – budget and financing strategy – according to (i) the viability of the proposed budget in relation to achieving the creative team’s stated goals and vision for the project, (ii) the viability of the proposed financing structure and production schedule.

The level of Screen Australia’s funding commitment will be determined taking into account the above criteria and the amount of funds available in Screen Australia’s budget at the time.

Screen Australia will advise applicants of the success or otherwise of their application, providing a brief statement of reasons.