First Nations screen creatives forge new career paths in TV production at Channel 44

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First Nations screen creatives forge new career paths in TV production at Channel 44

09 February 2021

Interns Rick Hutcheson and Anil Junior Samy are part of the SAFC Channel 44 mentorship program.

A new mentoring program being launched this week by the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) and Channel 44 will help South Australian First Nations screen creatives forge new careers in television production.

Announced last year as part of the SAFC’s First Nations Screen Strategy 2020-2025, the mentorship program is part of a wider partnership between the SAFC and Channel 44 to provide opportunities to South Australian First Nations screen practitioners.

This week four talented First Nations screen creatives will officially start work at Channel 44 in Collinswood: Kiara Milera, Keith Gilbey-Warrior, Rick Hutcheson and Anil Samy.

MEET THE TEAM: Find out more about the 2021 SAFC and Channel 44 First Nations mentorship participants

Clockwise from top left: Anil Junior Samy, Keith Gilbey, C44 GM Lauren Hillman, Rick Hutcheson, C44 Production Manager Albert Jamae, Kiara Milera, SAFC First Nations Development and Industry Development Executive Nara Wilson.

Working alongside Channel 44 staff, the group will gain valuable hands-on experience in television production, learning new skills and creating original content for broadcast. They will also assist in the production of documentary The Art of Reconciliation – Telling Our Stories, being produced by Channel 44 with an all First Nations crew, and support from the Port Adelaide Enfield and Charles Sturt Councils.

Set to premiere during Reconciliation Week 2021, the documentary will focus on stories of the experience of a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Port Adelaide Enfield and Charles Sturt council areas, and their views on reconciliation.

CEO of the SAFC Kate Croser said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Channel 44 on this new mentoring program which will enhance the visibility of South Australian First Nations practitioners and their work, and help to establish and formalise even more career pathways for First Nations screen talent. I congratulate all the successful applicants and look forward to watching their screen careers develop.”

General Manager of Channel 44 Lauren Hillman said: “Channel 44 is thrilled to have appointed four First Nations interns who will all commence roles on new local productions in their first week, starting with documentary series First Nations Fringe, exploring the stories behind this year’s recipients of the First Nations Fringe collaboration grants. This partnership highlights the importance of the opportunities and pathways that community TV continues to provide and we are very excited to see what the new First Nations team achieves over the next 12 months.”

Find out more about the SAFC’s First Nations Screen Strategy at safilm.com.au/first-nations-screen-strategy

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Download the full media release (232kb PDF)