Inside Film
Tim Irons
November 20, 2006

The final phase of Aurora 2006, the FTO’s script development workshop, is underway in Sydney this week with highly regarded international and Australian advisors and actors working with film teams on script read throughs and marketing and finance strategies.

Five scripts and their creative teams were selected for stage one of Aurora, a week-long residential held earlier this year. Next week’s workshop provides creative feedback on the new drafts of the five scripts by Australian and international advisors, read-throughs with some of Australia’s top actors, and one-on-one meetings with international acquisition executives and Australian distributors about marketing and financing of the films.

The advisors are Christophe Mercier, Vice President for Fox Searchlight Europe; San Fu Maltha, founder of Fu Works, an independent, internationally minded film development, production and distribution company based in Amsterdam; Australian Martha Coleman now based in London as Head of Creative Affairs at Material Entertainment; Andy Spaulding, Executive Vice-President of US company Echo Lake Productions; John Collee, screenwriter whose credits include Master and Commander and Happy Feet; Shirley Barrett, director of Walk The Talk, Love Serenade and Love My Way; Ken Sallows, editor of many Australian films including Chopper, Proof, Gettin’ Square, Tom White and Irresistible; Sue Murray, Executive Director of Fandango Australia; Alan Finney, Vice President and Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand of Buena Vista International; and Brian Rosen, Chief Executive of the FFC.

The advisors will consider the projects in relation to the domestic and international marketplace.

Actors who are working with the filmmaking teams on script read throughs include Hugo Weaving, Vince Colosimo, Joel Edgerton, Genevieve Lemon, Bojana Novakovic and Emily Browning.

Five scripts and their creative teams were selected for Aurora 2006:

* Borrowed Light
Writer/Director: Karen Borger
Producer: Sarah Nichols

* Girl
Writer/Director: John O’Brien
Producers: Rowan Maher and Darryl Robinson

* Satellite Boy
Writer/Director: Catriona McKenzie
Producer: David Jowsey

* The Roseville Story
Writer: Alexandra Long
Director: Samantha Lang
Producers: Jeremy Sims and Greg Duffy

* Buckle Up Baby
Writer/Director: Lynn-Maree Danzey
Producer: Susan MacKinnon

'The success of Aurora is based on a process that moves from the development of the script to creating the finished film with a focus on the other elements such as financing, casting, directing and editing. This gives each project the best possible chance to progress through financing and production and to succeed in the marketplace,' said Jane Smith, CEO of the FTO.

[release from TM Publicity for the FTO]