Filmmaking teams participating in AACTA Pitch: Mother should think about their idea in terms of audience and do what they can to learn from the process, according to last year’s winners.
Applications are now open for the horror and genre development initiative, which offers $10,000 in development funds and an Australian theatrical distribution deal with Monster Pictures Distribution.
Writers, directors and writer/director teams are encouraged to submit original feature film concepts that incorporate the ‘mother’ theme, with project ideas needed to work effectively with minimal locations, small actors and filmmakers. reduced budgets.
This will be the third year of the AACTA: Pitch and Monster Pictures partnership, following AACTA Pitch: Bite in 2021 and AACTA Pitch: Isolation in 2020.
Josh and Laura Sambono were last year’s award recipients for fall bearthe story of a bullied Native teenager and an international marsupial expert who must protect a baby koala from a horde of vicious cubs.
They’ve since had the opportunity to work with Oscar-winning special effects artist John Cox and author Maria Luis on their concept, which is nearing the end of the processing phase.
It was the second project the duo had developed in as many years, having reached the finals of the inaugural initiative.
Josh told IF that film crews should think about the market response to their idea while developing it.
“With fall bearI was thinking about how we could really refine the audience, so we approached the idea from the audience’s perspective, rather than what I wanted to do,” he said.
“It’s not like I was compromising on my story to sell it to an audience, but I was able to shape it better to be ready for the market.”
For Laura, it was important to keep in mind that any idea can become a winning idea, but also that learning and developing new skills was a valuable part of the journey.
“It’s okay if you don’t win, because the process itself gives you the skills you’ll need to get your movies out there,” she said.
“You have to do your concept art, your pitch deck and all the little details that go into it, and it’s that part and those skills that are essential to becoming a better filmmaker.”
According to AACTA, criteria for successful projects include creative and unique ways to engage audiences; strong characters that resonate with audiences; concise subject matter demonstrating clear and dramatic tension; and ideas that bend genres and innovate.
Ivan Vukusic, head of AACTA awards and industry development, said the organization was always impressed with “inventive interpretations of the record”.
“If you’re a budding genre filmmaker, this is a great way to test your horror chops, with a very real path to production and distribution,” he said.
“Mom is the word, so crack.”
Monster Pictures director Grant Hardie said he was thrilled to see the filmmakers take the initiative’s next step.
“AACTA Pitch has become a vital part of Monster Pictures’ annual activities as we continue to support independent Australian filmmaking, especially as the first two years have unearthed a fantastic crop of talent and projects,” he said. he declares.
AACTA encourages emerging or experienced content creators to participate, especially those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.
First-round entries close at 11:59 p.m. AEST on Friday, September 23. Find out more information on how to participate here.
