Call for Expressions of Interest from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander music creators.
The successful applicant will undertake a three-month, Sydney-based program and learn from mentor Ken Francis, and score music to a short film.
The inaugural intensive was recently completed by hip-hop artist, composer and drummer Rhyan Clapham (DOBBY).
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music Office (NATSIMO) is pleased to announce that Expressions of Interest are now open for the NATSIMO Screen Composer Intensive, a one-of-a-kind professional opportunity in screen composing for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander music creator.
Expressions of interest open today and will close on Friday 20 January at 11:59PM AEDT.
The intensive is funded by APRA AMCOS with support from the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC), Church Street Studios, Jigsaw Music and Trackdown Studios.
The successful applicant will undertake a three-month, Sydney-based program that explores the key practices of screen composing and immersion in production settings. As part of the intensive, the participant will create of a soundtrack for a short film with guidance from screen composer mentor Ken Francis.
The program's inaugural participant was composer Rhyan Clapham, (DOBBY), who was mentored by APRA Screen Music Award-winning composer Amanda Brown. The creative outcome of the intensive resulted in Rhyan’s wonderful composition, 'SPRING'. He recently singed to Sony Music Publishing.
"Take this opportunity. Because if If you're anything like me — a producer or a songwriter or whatever — this program will throw you in a very supportive way into an immersive world where it will only help you to thrive as a musician, and you have people there who will support you and be able to soundboard ideas off of," said Clapham's to prospective applicants.
The program was developed in consultation with screen industry professionals with the goal to create, forge and develop self-determined pathways to employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Screen Composers through the development of a three-month creative immersive experience.
"The musical talent in our community is immense, and this program exists to address the underrepresentation in the sector and to generate essential opportunities for our mob to score music to our stories on screen and to soundtrack stories that reach audiences around the world," said Leah Flanagan, NATSIMO Director.
Applications are open to composers from all across Australia, but the program requires the participant to be based in Sydney for the duration of the residency.
Applications are open to composers from all across Australia, but the program requires the participant to be based in Sydney for the duration of the residency.
Participants will be exposed to and learn about the screen music business and key practices of screen composing and orchestration resulting in completion of a screen music project recording. They will be immersed in actual screen music production settings to observe and engage in the day-to-day practices of the screen music sector.
The program will consist of five key components:
MENTORSHIP
The participant will be paired with screen composer mentor, Ken Francis, who will assist in the creation of a soundtrack for a short film through a series of one-on-one sessions over the duration of the three-month program. This component is autonomous, and sessions are to be set by the participant and mentor at times best suited to their schedules. We recommend a minimum of 8 in person sessions over the period. NATSIMO is to be advised and notified once sessions have been scheduled.
RESIDENCY
The participant will have the Guest Suite Studio workspace allocated to them from 1st April – 30th June at Church St Studios in Sydney to develop their final assessment composition and to work on their creative practice throughout the immersion period. NATSIMO will discuss all studio specifications and technical requirements with participant to ensure they have all the appropriate technology to participate in the program.
ORCHESTRATION LESSONS
The participant will engage in foundations of scoring and orchestration with Jessica Wells of Jigsaw Music across the program period. An initial two sessions will be set at the beginning of the program and once the scoring component of the project begins, Jessica will work with the participant in the final recording stages of the project.
ASSESSMENT/ACTIVITY
At the beginning of the program the participant will be given a short film to work towards creating a score throughout the three-month immersion to be recorded at Trackdown Studios and delivered so that at the end of the residency.
NETWORKING
Supported by the Australian Guild of Screen Composers, the participant will receive an annual membership to the guild and will engage in networking opportunities facilitated by representatives of the Guild.
Applications close Friday 20 January 2023, 11:59pm AEDT
Questions? Please contact the NATSIMO team.