Four Queensland-made community service announcements (CSAs) will broadcast on Network 10 channels during National Reconciliation Week, as the major outcome of the Screen Queensland and Network 10 First Nations Skills Placement and Mentorship.
During the four-week paid placement with Network 10, each spot was written, produced and directed by Queensland-based, early-career Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers — Wiradjuri woman Kellie Baxter, Bundjalung woman Gretta Ada O’Sullivan, and Torres Strait Islanders Abraham Mantey and Sio Tusa.
Each selected participant subsequently underwent a six-month mentorship with Network 10 executives to maximise the hands-on production skills and contacts they developed while making the announcements.
The CSAs will each focus on the themes of language and storytelling, wildlife, cultural sites and rock art, and were filmed in Hervey Bay, K’gari /Fraser Island (Butchulla Country), the Bunya Mountains (Wakka Wakka, Jarowair and Barrumgum Country) and Far North Queensland (Djabugay Country).
Together with the Network 10 production team, the recipients worked closely with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers throughout the project.
Screen Queensland’s acting CEO Belinda Burns said the initiative is part of the agency's commitment to creating opportunities for Queensland-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander film and television practitioners.
“In making these moving and authentic CSA spots, the four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners were enabled to gain the practical skills, expert guidance and credits essential to launching long-term screen industry careers,” said Burns.
“As we move along the Queensland Government’s Path to Treaty, Screen Queensland is focused on the vital importance of bolstering the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander screen storytellers — raising their voices to share truths and valuable perspectives with Australian audiences.”
Daniel Monaghan, senior vice president of programming and content at Paramount Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), parent company of Network 10, said they were proud of this partnership with Screen Queensland and delighted with the inspiring and informative CSAs produced.
“This partnership aligns with our goals to promote reconciliation through our sphere of influence by proactively establishing relationships with First Nations practitioners as well as with organisations like Screen Queensland who share in this mission,” Monaghan said.
“Allowing the recipients to be immersed in a professional production, and work alongside established and skilled crew to produce their own content, is a unique experience that adds to their practical understanding of the industry, including physical production, development, technical direction, and teamwork.”
The CSAs can be streamed on 10 Play now and will be broadcast on Network 10 in metro Queensland from Saturday 27 May.
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