West Wyalong Movies is looking for scriptwriters to assist with creating historical DVDs.

The Wyalong Movies Project looks at the district's sometimes wild past - in beef, then gold, then wheat and sheep. It looks at the very fortunes of life on the land, and takes a peek at the future. Old movies, pictures and archival footage are combined with interviews of locals who tell the story of the development of West Wyalong and the south-west of NSW, its people and its institutions. They are produced in Orange by KEA Video and the DVDS are selling well.

They are looking for scriptwriters to write short scripts, 20 – 40 minutes in length, across all topics from sports to social events to full in depth local history. This role may suit a semi-retired writer or part-time writer or journalist.

For more details contact Ross via email: rossfharmer@bigpond.com and visit the website www.westwyalongmovies.com.au to see samples of the DVDS.

Varuna - The Writers' House - Katoomba is Highlighting two new programs for 2011:

WRITING FOR STAGE AND SCREEN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESIDENCY 2011 Spend a week in residence with acclaimed writer of stage Katherine Thomson. Katherine will be in residence with four selected writers to provide individual consultations and group sessions to assist writers in guiding the development of their work to the next stage. Katherine will also provide a Masterclass on Saturday May 28, which is an optional extra for those in residence, and will also be made available to a larger group. Who should apply: Experienced writers for stage or screen should apply. The residential week will work best for those who are either ready to redraft, or in the early stages, planning and outlining their script and working on issues of structure, narrative or character. Important dates: Expressions of Interest sought in January. Residency to take place Monday May 23 – Sunday May 29, 2011. Costs to applicant: There is no cost to make an Expression of Interest. Residency fee for successful applicants is $1500. Optional masterclass is $100. For full details go to the Varuna website: varuna.com.au

and....

CRIME WEEK with Marele Day 2011 Spend a week in residence with acclaimed crime writer Marele Day. Marele will be in residence for two separate weeks with eight selected writers - four writers for August 29 – September 4 and four writers for October 17-23. She will provide individual consultations and group sessions to assist crime writers in developing their manuscript to the next stage. Marele will also provide a Masterclass on Saturday October 22, which is an optional extra for those in residence, at a cost of $100 and will also be made available to a larger group. Who should apply: Crime writers with a work in progress are welcome to apply. The residential week will work best for those who have a crime project which is well underway. Marele will meet with you twice during the week for a one-hour consultation and will facilitate one group session while in residence. Important dates: Applications sought February 1 - 28. Successful applicants will be announced on the website 30 March. Residencies (four writers in each) to take place Monday August 29 – Sunday September 4, and Monday October 17 – Sunday October 23. Costs to applicant: Application fee is $55. Residency fee for successful applicants is $300. Masterclass is $100. For full details head ot the Varuna website: varuna.com.au

NOTE: Varuna will be closed between 20-31 December, re-opening 4 January

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

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

The Armidale Playhouse Inc invites you to submit short stories and/or play scripts to be considered for its 2010 season of "Favourite Shorts". This annual event is now into its 4th year bringing the works of both published and unpublished Australian writers to the stage using directors and actors from the Armidale district. Each week of the two week season of "Favourite Shorts" has a different programme. This year they squeezed 36 actors into eleven plays with nine directors. All of the actors, directors, lighting and stage crew are amateurs, in that they are not paid for their time and expertise however many do have formal qualifications or are working towards them. The Armidale Playhouse Inc will not be providing performance payments to successful writers however they do offer a free double pass to those who wish to travel to Armidale to see a performance of their short story or play. After each performance the audience are requested to select their favourite item and after the final performance the favourite for that week is announced in a short informal presentation. All successful writers will receive their own pair of "Favourite Shorts" and a participation certificate. They request permission from all successful writers to film the performance of their short story or play. An Armidale-based professional production unit will be filming performances with DVDs available for sale a few weeks after performances conclude. Submissions of play scripts and short stories up to 30 minute duration* can be sent via email to scripts@armidaleplayhouse.org.au or to Favourite Shorts 2010, Armidale Playhouse Inc, PO Box 368, ARMIDALE NSW 2350 by Friday 18 December 2009.

*To estimate the duration of your short story or play script it's about 10 minutes per 1000 words.

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

Project NEXT is seeking applications from creative people between the ages of 18 and 30 to work as reporters, producers, camera/directors, editors, graphic artists, researchers and web content producers. ABC TV and Zapruder's other films, the people who brought the Chaser team to TV, and the creative force behind The Gruen Transfer , and ENOUGH ROPE with Andrew Denton , are looking for creative young people who are original thinkers with a view about what's happening in Australia and the world, to work on Project NEXT. This is the working title of a new topical 10 x 30min program which will be on your screens later this year - on ABC1, ABC2, the web, mobile phones and on-line. They are looking for original communicators, people who know in their hearts that there's more to the news cycle than we are being fed each week. But it's not just on-air talent they're after. This is a great opportunity for a new and talented team, across several disciplines, to build a TV and web program from the ground up. Applications close at 5pm Monday 16 March 2009. If you want to apply or find out more information go to: projectnext.net.au