Press release from the Cockatoo Institute
The Regional Schools Film Initiative is a program by NSW Mining and Cockatoo Institute that offers regional high school students from Dubbo the opportunity be mentored by industry professionals through the process of making a short film, which will be screened at two of Cockatoo Institute's Film Festivals.
NSW Mining CEO Stephen Galilee said the minerals industry supported more than just the economy: "There are tens of thousands of world class miners in the Central West and across NSW and we hope this program will help to unearth some world class film-makers of the future" he said.
Students from Dubbo College, St Johns College and Macquarie Anglican Grammar School are participating in the project, which officially gets underway Saturday 2nd June 2012 with a script-writing workshop. During this session the student's idea for the film will be turned into a screenplay. Cockatoo Institute and NSW Mining are excited to be able to bring John Alsop to Dubbo to mentor students in this session.
Cockatoo Institute Education Manager, Clare Sawyer said: "This is an incredible opportunity for students to learn from not only a member of the Australian Writers Guild but also one of Australia's most experienced and talented writers. John has written some of Australia's most iconic TV series over the past twenty years. The students can't help but to be inspired in his presence."
Australian Guild Writer, John Alsop said: "It's exciting for me to visit a place I don't know well and hear what's on the minds of a new generation. My main job is to encourage a team of students to work together preparing a story of their own to the screen. And after that, try not to get in the way."
The NSW Regional Schools Film Initiative will be premiered as part of the youth program for the Inland NSW Film Festival happening as part of the Dubbo Festival in September. The student's short film is also set for the big city with a screening at the Cockatoo Island Film Festival in October.