PRESS RELEASE
Naarm production house Typecast, has today announced the successful applicants for their inaugural Inspirit Lab initiative. The Inspirit Lab will deliver a program of masterclasses and hands-on experiences, giving participants the opportunity to learn the various stages involved in adapting a short story for the screen.
Commencing Monday, October 30 2023, a cohort of Victorian Indigenous filmmakers will assemble for a simulated ‘writers’ room’. Under the guidance of experienced industry mentors, teams will learn about adaptation of existing IP and screenwriting, using award-winning author Tony Birch’s book The Promise as the source material. Participants will adapt one of the short stories from the novel into a short film script.The group will gather for 2-day workshops each month, for six months.
Inspirit Lab will be facilitated by Trudy Hellier (Lowdown, Little Acorns, Daisy Quokka), with guest mentors including Tony Birch (novelist The Promise, The White Girl, Ghost River), Tony Briggs (The Sapphires, The Warriors), Elise McCredie (The Clearing, Stateless, Nowhere Boys, Ride Like a Girl) and
Jan Sardi (The Secret River, Mao’s Last Dancer, The Notebook, Shine).
The 10 successful applicants include:
ISAAC WINZER: A Ngarabal filmmaker living and working in Naarm. He has spent the last 5 years building his craft and now works as a professional video editor with work spanning TVCs to short documentaries, with a strong focus on showcasing First Nations language and art.
JAI WRIGHT: A Jinibara Mununjali Wanggerriburra actor, director, impact producer and writer based in Naarm. Jai has screen experience in front of and behind the camera, and recently completed a producer attachment for Suburban Legends (Peculiar Pictures), playing on ViceAu.
JANTY (JANET) BLAIR: A Butchulla, Mununjhali, Woppaburra woman with a passion for creating stories. Winner of the 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Deadly Funny Competition, and a current member of the Aboriginal Comedy Allstars.
KALINA LAUER: A Kalkadoon woman who grew up on Darumbal land. She is a multi-disciplinary creative who has an educational and working background in screen, stage and page.
KYNAN CLARKE: A Gunai/Kurnai and Monero filmmaker based in Naarm. Growing up on Wotjuboluk country in Dimboola, Kynan’s passion for filmmaking started small, and he has since completed his Cert III and IV in Screen and Media and a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Media and Communication) at Australian Catholic University.
MAURIAL SPEARIM: A Gamilaraay, Muruwari woman who draws strength from her connection to Country and People. A Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne University graduate with a Master of Writing (Theatre) and a Bachelor of Dramatic Art.
TAHLEE FEREDAY: A graduate of Victorian College of the Arts, Tahlee is a young talent forging a career in film, television and theatre. Tahlee’s acting credits including Fisk S2 and Super Wog S2 for ABC and Erotic Stories for SBS, as well as numerous productions for Melbourne Theatre Company.
TYELI HANNAH: Born and raised on Boonwurrung country, Tyeli Hannah is an Aboriginal Australian filmmaker. He has recently graduated from a Master of Film and Television at the Victorian College of the Arts, where he also works as a screenwriting teacher.
ZENA CUMPSTON: A Barkandji woman and a blak-of-all-trades, working as a writer, artist, curator and researcher. Zena’s multidisciplinary practice is centred around protecting and celebrating Country.
CARLY SHEPPARD AND KAMARRA BELL-WYKES (TEAM): Carly Sheppard (Wallangamma/Takalaka) is cross-disciplinary performance artist based in Naarm, working across dance and theatre making and performance, sculpture, drawing, writing, voice, and installation. Kamarra Bell-Wykes (Yagera/Butchulla) is a playwright, director, dramaturge, devisor, facilitator, performer, creative producer, program curator, community developer and education consultant.
Typecast Company Director Tony Briggs (Yorta Yorta/ Wurundjeri) comments “We’re thrilled to witness the remarkable talent of applicants who’ve joined our Inspirit Lab. They bring a rich tapestry of diverse experiences. I’m genuinely excited about the journey ahead as we collaborate with the incredibly talented Trudy Hellier and our esteemed industry mentors in crafting this unique storytelling experience. Being part of creating this platform for fellow First Nations storytellers is a point of pride, and I can hardly wait to see the incredible narratives that will emerge from the fertile ground of Tony Birch’s short stories.”
VicScreen CEO, Caroline Pitcher said “We are honoured to support such a compelling project, which is bubbling with untapped talent. The participants will be given invaluable mentorship from prolific artists including Trudy Hellier, Tony Birch, Elise McCredie and Jan Sardi – and we can’t wait to see the outcomes of this talent development initiative.”
Inspirit Lab is presented by Typecast with support from principal partners VicScreen and Screen Australia.
