AWG is heading to CinefestOZ . . . And it’s going to be big!

CinefestOZ Film Festival kicks off next Wednesday 22 August in Western Australia, and AWG is going along for the ride! 

Set in the seaside centres of Busselton, Bunbury, Dunsborough and the Margaret River wine region, CinefestOZ has consolidated its position as the premiere destination film festival in Australia with record numbers of high calibre film guests, a sensational line-up of new Australian and French films and unprecedented audience numbers.

This year, proudly supported by Scripted Ink, AWG has partnered with CinefestOZ on their industry program to deliver two amazing opportunities. 

AWG & Scripted Ink present: The Craft of Writing Animation

Join AWG full members John Armstrong, Clare Madsen and Stuart Page for either a two-hour seminar talk, or for the full-day workshop, to explore the craft of writing animation.

The two-hour seminar will introduce writers to strategies for generating original animation series and aspects of scripting animation – illustrated by video clips.

The workshop following provides an immediate opportunity to put those strategies straight into action, with writers participating in an animation writers’ room where you will experience processes of developing an animation series concept in a small group mentored by a highly experienced script producer. Each group will then present a (mock) pitch and receive feedback on the concept.

The day will conclude with a Q&A and panel discussion. John Armstrong, Clare Madsen and Stuart Page will present. Each will mentor and facilitate a writers’ room.

Where: The Weld Theatre, 13 Queen St Busselton WA 6280

When: Saturday 25 August 2018 

Time: Seminar only: 9.15am to 11.15 am

Seminar and workshop: 9.15 am to 4.45 pm

Tickets: Seminar only: $15 AWG members $20 non-members

Seminar and workshop: $50 AWG members $75 non-members

Little J and Big Cuz

AWG & Scripted Ink present: The Craft of Writing Animation is presented as part of CinefestOz 2018. 

John Armstrong

John is one of Australia’s leading writers for young audiences. Most recently he was the script producer and writer for two Netflix animated series – Beat Bugs featuring the songs of The Beatles and the upcoming Motown Magic. Beat Bugswon the 2017 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in Preschool Animation and the 2016 AACTA Award for Best Children’s Series. Over the last 25 years John has written for numerous successful TV series including three seasons of the AFI and Logie Award winning Blue Water High as well asA gURLs wURLd In Your Dreams H20: Just Add WaterScooter: Secret Agentand the BAFTA nominated comedy Don’t Blame the Koalas. He has also written for many animated series including The Deep The Adventures of Figaro PhoCJ the DJ Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs Guess How Much I Love You andBananas in Pyjamas. John has been nominated for seven Australian Writers Guild Awards (AWGIEs) and has won three.

Clare Madsen

Clare is script producer on NITV’s first animated series Logie nominated Little J & Big Cuz  (Ned Lander Media.) She is currently developing animation series for Blue Rocket and developed and wrote the pilot episodes of animated series Sydney Sailboat for Essential Media. She has developed drama series concepts for Matchbox Pictures and Ruby Entertainment. Her television credits span situation and sketch comedy - including four seasons of Full Frontal children’s live action and animation includingZigby and Magic Mountain. Clare’s writing for children has been nominated for AFI and AWGIE awards. She is an award winning short film writer/director. Clare’s credits as a playwright and director include productions with Arena Theatre Flying Fruit Fly Circus Playbox and Melbourne Comedy and Fringe Festivals. A Bachelor of Education Clare was a guest lecturer at the Institute of Koorie Education (Deakin University) for eight years. A highlight was directing performances by student actors for the World Indigenous Persons’ Conference on Education. 

Stuart Page

Stuart has just completed writing and script producing the second series of the popular series The Secret Daughter for Channel 7. He wrote for the acclaimed ABC/Sundance TV sci-fi drama Clevermanand for the third season of the Foxtel cult prison series Wentworth. Stuart wrote and script produced the first two seasons of The Doctor Blake Mysteriesfor December Media and the ABC and returned as writer and story consultant for seasons three four and five.Stuart wrote animated short Holding Your Breath (Official selection Cannes Film Festival) for acclaimed animation director Anthony Lucas.Stuart’s further television credits include: Janet King for Screentime and the ABC; Crowniesfor Screentime and the ABC; Home and Awayfor the Seven Network; Neighboursfor Fremantle Media and Network Ten; and Blue Heelersfor Southern Star and the Seven Network. Stuart was a double nominee at the 2015 Australian Writers Guild Awards for his work on The Doctor Blake Mysteriesand Wentworth taking home the award for Wentworth.