Time is running out to register for this one – so be quick! Screen Central NSW and Western Sydney is running a workshop in Katoomba on Wednesday 21 March. 'Show me the Money' will explore the options available for financing screen content projects. Anthony Anderson will cover development, budgeting, financial structures, the producer offset scheme, rights and revenue sources and sustaining a business.

Date: Wednesday 21 March 2012 Time: 1pm – 5pm Where: Katoomba Cost: $30/head. Special rate available for 'friends' of Screen Central.

To register for this exciting event, please RSVP by Friday 16 March – ph: 6331 9246 or email: kate@screencentral.com.au

The stars and director of the Australian feature film Jucy are visiting Orange for a gala screening of the movie at the Odeon 5 Cinema on Friday November 4. Director Louise Alston and actors Cindy Nelson and Francesca Gasteen are coming to town as part of a nation-wide tour promoting the film's cinema release. Billed as a "womantic" comedy, Jucy is a feel-good movie about the relationship between two single best female friends, played by Nelson and Gasteen, and their attempts to prove to the world they are normal by scoring a dream job and the perfect guy.

The script, written by Alston's husband, AFI-nominated Stephen Vagg, was inspired by the real-life relationship between the two stars. The cast also includes Andy Ryan (Tomorrow When the War Began) and Ryan Johnson (Home and Away).

Jucy had it's world premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was named as one of the top fifteen films to watch, and was praised by the critic from Variety as "colorfully stylized, sweet and silly" with "terrific" lead performances. It subsequently sold out sessions at festivals in Seattle, London, Tel Aviv, Los Angeles, Seoul, Sydney and Brisbanev and is screening at the Odeon 5.

"I'm a farm girl and lots of my relatives live in Orange so it is a massive thrill for me to be showing Jucy there," says Alston, whose previous film All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane, also screened in Orange.

The gala screening will take place at 7 pm on Friday November 4 at the Odeon 5. The stars and director will introduce Jucy and afterwards take part in a Q and A. Tickets are available at http://www.odeon5.com.au/. The film's website is at http://www.jucythemovie.com/

Get in quick for this one. Screen NSW is calling for further applications to its Aurora script development program for 2010. The deadline is COB, Tuesday 2 March. Ashley Luke, Director, Creative Partnerships, Screen NSW, said that there are openings in the 2010 program for projects that fit the Aurora criteria, as it was considered that some previous applicants were more suited to alternative development pathways.

Applicants are advised, given the tight deadline, that scripts will NOT be accepted. In the first instance, Screen NSW is calling for a detailed synopsis. All other eligibility requirements, which are outlined in the guidelines and on the application form, must be strictly adhered to and sent along with the synopsis.

For application forms and/or further information visit the Screen NSW Aurora webpage or telephone Louise Blue, Aurora Coordinator, on 02 8222 4844, fax 02 8222 4040 or by email at aurora@screen.nsw.gov.au

Celebrate Valentine's Day with world-renowned romance writer, Valarie Parv, as she reveals some of the secrets of writing a romance novel. With 25 million copies of her books sold internationally, it's no wonder Valerie Parv is known as Australia's queen of romance. Then, following a booksigning and refreshments, enjoy a special screening of the Australian film Paperback Hero (1999), starring Hugh Jackman and Claudia Karvan. Imagine Hugh Jackman as Jack Willis, a handsome roadtrain driver with a secret - he has just become a top-selling romance novelist. But being a 'man's man', he needs a name, a woman's name - and he chooses that of his best friend, Ruby Vale. Cost: $10 (refreshments included) National Library of Australia, Theatre on Friday 12 February at 5pm. Bookings: 02 6262 1271 or bookings@nla.gov.au

The Dungog Film Festival is one of the most vibrant and unique film festivals in the country. Set in the tiny historic NSW town of Dungog, the four-day non-competitive annual event is now the biggest festival of Australian film content in the world. The Dungog Film Festival In The Raw live script read program is a key festival event, which has attracted an impressive list of writers including Fiona Seres (Love My Way) Dave Warner (Garage Days) and Julia Leigh (The Hunter). Leigh's 2008 In The Raw script Sleeping Beauty was recently financed by Screen Australia and is set for production in 2010. In the Raw is more than just reading the scripts aloud, it is an intimate workshop environment for writer-producer teams to put their projects to the test in front of leading industry professionals and public. This is an opportunity to see what's working, and what's not and have a real audience provide valuable feedback. The 4th Dungog Film Festival In The Raw program is calling for submissions of unproduced feature, miniseries and TV series scripts by Australian nationals. Selected scripts will receive $9,000 (approx.) in script development support to perform the script live for audiences at the 2010 Festival. To enter, simply visit http://www.dungogfilmfestival.org/film-entry/ and download an In The Raw entry form. Dungog Film Festival is on the NSW Master Events Calendar and is proudly supported by Events NSW and Screen NSW.

For more information and entry guidelines visit: www.dungogfilmfestival.org or email: info@dungogfilmfestival.org. DEADLINE: Monday 1 March 2010

Join in a one-day forum for writers who want to take their work from the page to the screen, featuring top names from the Australian film and TV industry: Producer Margaret Fink (Candy, My Brilliant Career), writer/director Nick Parsons (Dead Heart), writer/producer David Roach (Beneath Hill 60, Young Einstein), agent Jane Cameron (Camerons Management); plus Airlie Lawson (Hachette); Martha Coleman (Screen Australia); Amanda Higgs (ABC Head of Drama); Caterina De Nave (SBS Drama and Comedy); Stephen Liddell and Bob Barton (Ink to Screen); writers Phillip Gwynne (Australian Rules) & Denise Young (Last Ride). Experienced industry players, including David Stratton (At The Movies), actor Shane Porteous and writer Charlotte Wood, will chair the sessions, guiding you through the development of film and TV scripts from first pitch to the red carpet. Cost: $150 for NSW Writers' Centre members (includes morning tea/lunch/afternoon tea) Time: 10:00am to 5.00pm - 2nd November at Carrington Hotel, Katoomba, Limited places - please book your place by contacting Varuna, The Writers' House Ph: 0247 825674 and for a full program & booking details go to www.varuna.com.au

Following consultation with the industry, the New South Wales Film and Television Office (FTO) has announced an extension to the deadline for applications to Aurora 2009. The deadline is now Monday 9 February 2009. Aurora emphasises the collaborative relationship between the Writer, Producer and Director in the development process, giving promising and original scripts complete support, fast tracking the final draft and then the financing of the film. For application forms or further information see the NSW Film and Television Office website www.fto.nsw.gov.au or telephone Lloyd King, Aurora Coordinator, on (02) 9264 6400, or facsimile (02) 9264 4388, or by email at aurora@fto.nsw.gov.au.

You are invited to a special screening of the 2 minute trailer of locally made film Piet and the Wooden Statue on Friday 14th November, 4:45pm at the Australia Cinema, Lords Place, Orange. The film's director Luisa Machielse said it is very exciting to see all the images coming together so beautifully, and according to what she had envisaged. "Although most of the editing is complete, there is still the special effects to be done. This is going to require a lot more funding, and although we narrowly missed out on government funding, it's time to call in other resources. Hence the screening of the trailer. The producers and I would like to extend this invitation to providing an opportunity for members of the general public to be involved by making a donation to the cause, and getting your name, or business, up in the credits. Every little bit helps, so bring your family and friends and come along to have a first glimpse of this magical local movie, " she said. To find out more about the film and how you can help go to http://cherrypip.com.au/piet/.

Young people from regional and rural Australia 16-22 years of age are invited to submit a story in text, audio, pictures or moving images about their life issues and experience. Winning stories are selected from each of approximately 41 ABC regions around Australia to be broadcast on national ABC radio. Go to the ABC Heywire Blog for entry information and an entry form: http://blogs.abc.net.au/heywire/ or phone 1800 26 26 46 and ask lots and lots of questions. Entries close 3rd October.