Advanced workshop for intimacy coordinators
Screen Australia is seeking applications from experienced professional Intimacy Coordinators (IC) to participate in a three-day advanced-level practitioner workshop.
Aimed at ICs working professionally in the screen industry, this program will convene up to 20 Australian Screen ICs for an in-person workshop providing internationally informed professional development.
The Advanced Workshop for Intimacy Coordinators will be held in Sydney from Saturday, 7 December to Monday, 9 December 2024.
This program is being promoted in collaboration with the state and territory screen agencies: Screen Canberra, Screen NSW, Screen Queensland, Screen Tasmania, Screen Territory, Screenwest, the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) and VicScreen; Screen Producers Australia (SPA), the Australian Directors Guild (ADG) and the Australian Film Television Radio School (AFTRS).
Aims
Since the role of IC being introduced and becoming more common on productions in Australia, there have been increasing demands on ICs in terms of roles and responsibilities when engaging with national and international productions.
This immersive workshop will provide an in-person exchange to address global protocol expectations on shooting intimate content, filling gaps across Australian IC approaches, developing advanced and consistent practical skills and knowledge, and promoting local Australian industry relationships.
available support
Facilitated by Australian IC Samantha Murray from Safe Sets (UK, EU and SA), this program will offer participants the opportunity to engage with peers and compare contexts. Over the three-day workshop, participants will:
- be invited to extend their understanding of current intimacy guidelines and expectations of best practices within relevant laws and regulations alongside international industry directives.
- receive further practical professional development with space to expand the scope of their IC skills and specialisations by exploring bespoke advanced-level resources.
- have the opportunity to review industry and IC community needs together, including wellbeing and self-care practice.
- attend a networking event on Monday 9 December open to the broader industry. This event will showcase the IC role, clarify producer/production company responsibilities and highlight proactive approaches and workplace strategies, emphasising that an IC contributes significantly when integrated well within production processes.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
For Australian screen content to effectively deliver cultural and economic benefits it must speak to, and be for, all Australians. Ultimately a diversity of ideas and a diverse workforce will grow the Australian screen industry, make it more relevant to Australian audiences and more competitive internationally.
Screen Australia is committed to building diversity, equity and inclusion into its programs and into our engagement with the community. Authentic storytelling, from and about under-represented groups is a priority for Screen Australia.
Screen Australia therefore encourages applications from applicants from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences. In particular, the agency welcomes applications from applicants who are First Nations, d/Deaf and disabled, culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTQIA+, regionally based, or those from other under-represented groups.
The program is targeted at experienced professional Intimacy Coordinators and is not designed for or aimed at beginner or trainee ICs who do not have the credits or experience outlined below.
Eligibility
Applicant eligibility
To be eligible for this program, applicants must:
- be Australian citizens or residents and meet Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade; and
- have an active ABN at the time of application. If you do not have an ABN, please click here for information about how to apply for an ABN; and
- be an Australian-based intimacy coordinator who has a minimum of three professional screen credits as leading or only IC; or
- have in-depth training experience (between approx.75-100 hours, either linear or portfolio style).
Availability
Eligible applicants must also be available for and commit to the following:
- an online two-hour introduction session in mid-November (date tbc); and
- the entire duration of the three-day in-person weekend workshop program in Sydney at AFTRS on Saturday 7, Sunday 8 and Monday 9 December 2024.
Application Process
How to apply
Applications close at 5pm AEST Thursday, 26 September, 2024, and can be made via the Screen Australia application portal.
Application Form
Through the application form, you must:
- provide all the information requested and answer the application questions, including:
- An outline of your experience of working as an IC in the screen industry that demonstrates you meet the eligibility criteria set out in these guidelines; and
- Brief description of how the opportunity will support your career goals and trajectory.
- address all eligibility criteria and assessment criteria
- include all required supporting materials
Required Materials
Applicants must upload the following material with their application form:
- CV/Biography (maximum two pages)
Assessment
Assessment Process
The Program Operations team will review each application to check eligibility and ensure the required application materials have been provided. Once confirmed, the applicant will receive an email advising that their application has moved to assessment and an estimated timeframe of the outcome.
Complete and eligible applications will be considered and reviewed by Screen Australia executives and industry specialists against the assessment criteria listed below.
Assessment Criteria
Funding decisions will be made against the following criteria:
- Applicant goals. Appropriateness of motivation of the applicant for the opportunity and the potential for career development; and
- Experience. The experience and knowledge of the applicant pertinent to the activity, including the strength of the applicant’s credits.
We aim to make the application and assessment processes as transparent as possible, but given the volume of applications we receive, we may not have the resources to provide extensive feedback on each proposal.
Decision & Notification
Screen Australia will advise applicants of the outcome of their application in writing by 18 October 2024.
Successful applicants
Contracting
Screen Australia will send an approval via email to successful applicants.
Terms of Support
Screen Australia will enter into a letter of agreement with each successful applicant which will outline the terms upon which support will be provided.
Contact
If you are unsure about your eligibility or have questions about the application form, please email us at [email protected] or call Program Operations on 1800 507 901. Please note that we cannot provide creative advice or suggestions to strengthen your application.
Privacy
Screen Australia collects personal information from individuals in different ways, including via funding applications, acquittal reports, or supporting material supplied with forms. Screen Australia will handle any personal information provided in connection with a funding application in accordance with its Privacy Notice relating to funding applications and its Privacy Policy.
About the Workshop Facilitator
Screen Australia has partnered with Australian IC Samantha Murray from Safe Sets.
Samantha Murray is originally from Whadjuk Boodja, Western Australia, and is a certified SAG-AFTRA (US) registered intimacy coordinator. Based between London and Madrid, she works across the EU, UK and The Balkans. A member of BECTU (UK), she currently holds the position of Development and Registry Rep for the IC Branch committee (2023-24), Sam also contributed to the Branch Training Working Group (2022-23), producing their guidance and standards for IC trainers and trainees.
Sam certified with Safe Sets to trainer level (2021-22), consolidating her level 1 & 2-3 training (2019-2020) under Ita O'Brien (IOS). Alongside her IC practitioner focus, Sam's experience spans 25+ years as a professional actor in Australia and working with hundreds of young actors as a qualified educator (QTS-UK) and director internationally.
She has been a co-designer for curriculum and pedagogical lead with the Netflix/Safe Sets partnership to deliver excellence in IC skills development across the EMEA region and extending to include Brazil, India, the Nordic regions, South Africa and the Middle East.
On set, Sam's practice framework includes expert levels of IC production support, actor care and choreography for screen production. She is committed to smoothing the way for risk efficient, dynamic and safeguarded spaces. By establishing pathways for transparent communication, creative consent and outstanding intimate storytelling, Sam provides simple, essential keys to unlock and generate free and authentic performer engagement - taking all approaches and techniques into consideration.
Her focus on working with children and young adults on consent-based performance practices incorporates her professional acting and drama teacher training with on-set skills to benefit all of the performance and production process when working with minors.
She has supported productions for both series and feature film, including for Apple TV+, Netflix, Amazon Studios, BBC Films, Paramount Plus, Nuyorican Productions, HULU, Secuoya Studios, MRC, Esperanto Filmoj and Anonymous Content.