MINT PICTURES & SBS TALENT ESCALATOR POSITION, SUPPORTED BY SCREEN NSW
SBS and MINT PICTURES are searching for a PRODUCTION / POST PRODUCTION ASSISTANT to work on a new documentary series as part of the SBS Talent Escalator initiative, supported by Screen NSW.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The SBS Talent Escalator (‘TE’) is a joint initiative of SBS together with each of Australia’s state and territory screen agencies to co-fund 12 to 16 week placements for emerging to mid-level practitioners from under-represented backgrounds.
This initiative is designed to support practitioners from backgrounds currently under-represented within the Australian screen industry, working directly with production companies on an SBS program.
It is intended to escalate careers by allowing participants to exercise skills that are a level up from their existing level of experience and secure flexible, on-the-job-paid learning and immersion opportunities to work in a collaborative and respectful environment.
Who can apply for a TE placement? (Eligibility criteria)
The TE is open to TV and film practitioners from under-represented backgrounds who meet the eligibility requirements set out in this section.
In their application cover letters, candidates should state how they meet the eligibility criteria for the TE placement.
For the purposes of this initiative, under-represented includes people who identify with these communities:
- Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) People who are not Anglo-Celtic or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander by descent, and/or English is not their main spoken language.
- First Nations peoples People who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent.
- People with disability People with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory disability or a combination of those conditions. This also includes Deaf or hard of hearing people and people with mental health conditions.
- LGBTQIA+ People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer. The + represents others not explicitly mentioned such as pansexual, agender and asexual.
- And intersectionally, people who identify as women
SBS recognises that diversity is also reflected in other ways, including geography (including regional and remote areas), socio-economic mobility, age and carer status. We also encourage the exploration and representation of these communities in our content and initiatives.
Applicants to the Talent Escalator:
- Must demonstrate the applicant is from a diverse background or an under-represented community;
- Can demonstrate significant commitment to working in a related technical discipline within the screen industry and mid to long term commitment to career development in the TV and film industry;
- Must demonstrate previous media industry or television production experience as determined by the Mint Pictures and SBS.
- Must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident;
- Must be 18 years old or above; and
- Must not be a full time student.
POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR CURRENT TALENT ESCALATOR ROLE
- Program title: Documentary Series (yet to be announced)
- Talent Escalator role title: Production / Post Assistant
- Location: Sydney, NSW
- Placement Period:
Start: 7th Oct 2024
Finish: 7th Feb 2025
Production Break: 23 December to 5 January while Mint Office is closed for Christmas break
Total Weeks: 16 weeks
How many days per week: 5 days per week
Hours: 9:30am to 5:30pm Note: actual hours may vary.
- Production dates of the program: 8th July 2024 to 30th February 2025
- Supervision
During the placement, the participant will be primarily supervised by the PRODUCTION MANAGER at MINT PICTURES, SARAH CHARLEY
The participant will also be able to contact the SBS Diversity & Inclusion Project Officer, Isabelle Beaupre, throughout the placement
Production Company Supervisors
Executive Producer – Dan Goldberg / Craig Graham
Series Producer – Jodi Boylan
Head of Production – Brooke Taylor
Production Manager – Sarah Charley
- How will the placement provide a ‘level up’ for participants?
This opportunity will provide participants with the opportunity to extend their existing skill set and gain experience which is a level up from their existing skill set.
- This role will expose this person to the full spectrum of a production from research through to delivery of final episodes – allowing them to learn from all roles on the production. This would give someone new to the industry a credit for their VC that would allow them to apply for other positions as well as the opportunity to network within the industry.
- The production manager would facilitate placements within the production team so that the participant would be able to learn about different areas of production.
- Job description/Key tasks and responsibilities
- Production Assistant:
- Assisting Production Manager and Production Coordinator in planning for shoots
- Provide administrative support including maintaining calendars, scheduling meetings & conference calls, processing expense reports and preparing correspondence, facilitate travel
- Creating and distributing documents such as production schedules, call sheets and briefing notes
- Liaising with suppliers
- Location approvals tracking and filing.
- Making travel arrangements
- Assisting Associate Producer and Producer with research for shoots, such as searching for potential contributors
- Organising and processing release forms and other documentation per Episode.
- Post Production Assistant:
- Helping Edit Assistant with grouping and syncing footage (including training in use of AVID and/or Resolve)
- Attending episode screenings
- Researching and tracking archive and graphic visual elements for episodes
- Transcribing interviews
- Updating scripts
- Post production data tracking across all Episodes
- Training objectives and learning goals
- The participant will learn production skills by assisting the Production Coordinator and Production Manager in the production office with shoot logistics, sourcing unit supplies, assisting with financial admin and also attending production meetings with key personnel
- The participant will be exposed to a variety of roles within the production and post production team, to help gauge which career path they may want to take.
- The participant will receive basic training with AVID and Resolve, with supervision from the Senior Edit Assistant.
- The participant will learn about the post production process by assisting in multiple areas including offline editing, archive research, scripting, and preparation of post production deliverables.
- Creating inclusive environments
SBS recognises the importance of inclusive environments, to ensure everyone is respected and valued for their contributions. Lived experience and meaningful collaboration with community are essential to achieve authentic and respectful portrayal.
The SBS Commissioning Equity & Inclusion Guidelines (2021 to 2024) and the SBS Commissioning Equity & Inclusion website contain tips, resources and information for creating inclusive environments on all SBS production.
Mint Pictures is committed to creating an inclusive environment for the Talent Escalator participant. The participant will be supported by the Production Manager throughout the placement and will also be able to contact the SBS Diversity & Inclusion Project Officer Isabelle Beaupre throughout the placement at Isabelle.Beaupre@sbs.com.au.
Mint Pictures is committed to creating an inclusive environment for the Talent Escalator participant.
- How do I apply?
To apply for the role, please send your CV and cover letter clearly addressing the eligibility criteria with the subject line ‘Talent Escalator Application’ to info@mintpictures.com.au by Wednesday 4th September 2024.
Applications open: Tuesday 20th August 2024
Applications close: Wednesday 4th September 2024
Successful candidate notified: Monday 30th September 2024
Please let us know if you have access requirements for the interview.
