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Master Apprentice program generates employment for SA crew

02 February 2021
Participants in the SAFC Mercury CX Master Apprentice program, with SAFC Development and Industry Development Executive Kath Mcintyre. Photo by Dan Bennett, Fokus Creatives
Participants in the SAFC Mercury CX Master Apprentice program, with SAFC Development and Industry Development Executive Kath McIntyre. Photo by Dan Bennett, Fokus Creatives

A new screen industry mentorship program from the SAFC and Mercury CX has been a resounding success, with many participating SA crew securing paid work as a result.

Launched last year as part of the SAFC’s raft of COVID support initiatives, the SAFC Mercury CX Master/Apprentice Mentorship Program saw 15 local crew matched with SA Heads of Department (HODs) for professional mentoring across various areas of screen production including camera/lighting, sound, costume, locations and more.

Some of the many success stories from the program include:

● With skills learned through on-the-job mentoring from 1st AD Brad Lanyon, Assistant Director Anastasia Comelli secured work experience on Joel Edgerton feature film The Unknown Man, later resulting in paid work as an Additional AD.

● Lucy Gale was hired full time as Art Department Coordinator on Stan Original Film A Sunburnt Christmas through her mentorship with HOD Robert Webb, and later worked on feature film Gold

● Through a mentorship with HOD Chris Daniels, Aden Beaver secured a full-time position managing data for the production of A Sunburnt Christmas.

● HOD Jules Wurm mentored camera operator Catalina Moller, whosecured a paid job as 2nd Camera Assistant B Camera on A Sunburnt Christmas.

● Location manager Melanie Hayward secured paid work on two TVCs during her mentorship with HOD Jesse Goninon, as well as work experience as Assistant Location Manager on feature film The Unknown Man.

● Rebecca Taylor secured work on corporate and short films with David Tang and Red Fox Films through her mentorship with HOD Rodney Bolton, and went on to work on feature film The Unknown Man as Video Split Operator.

● Carol Lawton worked as 2nd Assistant Accountant on A Sunburnt Christmas through her mentorship with HOD Mark Kraus.

Mentor/mentee partnerships also included HOD Manda Webber and Marin Rymer (Continuity), HOD Vicki Sugars and Elena Carapetis (Script Supervision), HOD David Scarborough and Lauren Well Jones (Editor), HOD Simon Tait and Grace Miles (Art Department), HOD Laurie Chlanda and Adam Galea (Sound), HOD Michael Darren and Jace Hooper (Sound Post).

As well as supporting skills enhancement and career pathways for advancing crew, the Master/Apprentice Mentorship Program created paid opportunities for SA HODs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

By developing connections between established and emerging crew, the program has begun to build a framework to underpin the expansion of below-the-line talent, essential to the ongoing growth and sustainability of the screen industry in South Australia.

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