Eight emerging Australian writers from across the country have taken centre stage at Netflix ANZ headquarters in Sydney this week, pitching their original scripted concepts to the Netflix ANZ Content team as part of The Next Brilliant Career initiative.
The initiative, launched by Netflix ANZ in partnership with the Australian Writers’ Guild and Australia’s eight State and Territory Screen Agencies, was created to support the next generation of women and non-binary screen storytellers and provide emerging writers with direct feedback as they develop their uniquely Australian stories for screen. Representing every state and territory, the eight finalists presented their concepts to Netflix, sharing the stories, characters and ideas they hope to bring to Australian and global audiences, with Netflix providing feedback on how to develop it for screen.
The finalists were selected through an independent assessment process led by the Australian Writers’ Guild and supported by Screen Agencies, with submissions assessed on the strength and distinctiveness of each writer’s voice, the clarity and compelling nature of their central premise, and the potential for their story to sustain a series or feature format.
The eight finalists are:
- New South Wales: Elyse Landsberry
- Victoria: Theresa Angela
- Queensland: Rae Choi
- South Australia: Scarlett Scherer
- Western Australia: Jamey Claffey
- Tasmania: Caitlin Richardson
- Northern Territory: Rebecca Parker
- Australian Capital Territory: Denai Grace
Amanda Duthie, Netflix ANZ Content Director, said: “These finalists represent exactly what we set out to do with The Next Brilliant Career – shine a light on voices that deserve to be amplified, supported, and nurtured. We’re grateful to our partners the Australian Writers’ Guild and every state and territory Screen Agency for believing in this initiative, and for their support in creating a tangible direct-to-screen opportunity for Australian women and non-binary screenwriters.”
Susie Hamilton, Director of Professional Development at the Australian Writers’ Guild, Said:“Opportunities to pitch and receive feedback directly from streamers are rare for emerging writers, but that process is so important to their growth as industry practitioners and to the development of high-quality, authentically Australian television. We were thrilled to partner with Netflix ANZ on The Next Brilliant Career to make this a reality for eight of our best emerging storytellers. A huge congratulations to the finalists. We can’t wait to see where your stories take you.”
The Next Brilliant Career takes its inspiration from pioneering Australian author Miles Franklin and her determination to tell stories on her own terms. The initiative was launched alongside Netflix’s new series My Brilliant Career, based on Franklin’s celebrated novel, and reflects a shared commitment to fostering diverse talent and creating opportunities for emerging Australian voices.
Beyond The Next Brilliant Career, Netflix has invested over $10 million in capacity building through training and on the job training programs, via partnerships with AFTRS, NIDA, Lumina and attachment programs creating crew opportunities across Australian productions.