Rhythm Content announced to lead the Different Lens diversity mentoring initiative

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Rhythm Content announced to lead the Different Lens diversity mentoring initiative

Screenwest and Carers WA have announced Rhythm Content will be provided with a $50,000 production grant to produce 12 disability-led, short projects and provide mentoring to four filmmakers with a disability, through the Different Lens initiative.

 

The Different Lens initiative was created in partnership by Screenwest and Carers WA to offer screen skills development opportunities for Western Australian disability diverse screen practitioners, produce local disability-led content, build capacity within the local screen sector to be more inclusive and promote visibility of disability diverse onscreen talent.

Paul Rogers, Business Development and Disability Service Manager, of Carers WA said, “Carers WA received support from the Department of Communities to deliver outcomes in three areas: Employment, Sport and Arts and Leisure. In partnering with Screenwest we have already achieved numerous positive outcomes, both intended and unintended, and we look forward to seeing storytellers and screen practitioners with disability working with Rhythm Content to deliver the twelve short filmed projects and many more outcomes in the near future.”

Willie Rowe, CEO of Screenwest explained, “Building the capacity of local screen practitioners to work in a more inclusive way and expand and develop the pool of WA disability diverse screen practitioners is exceptionally important for the vibrant WA screen industry, and we look forward to seeing the documentary series come to life.”

The Different Lens initiative will be facilitated by Rhythm and a talented cohort of filmmakers who have been handpicked to act as mentors for the initiative.

Rhythm Content founders Gemma and Adam Rule (pictured) said “When this opportunity was presented to us we jumped at the chance to work with and support a group of storytellers and filmmakers, led by Screenwest and Carers WA, to produce excellent disability-led content.

“As a collective of creatives and artists, we each share a passion for telling unique stories about people from all walks of life. The added bonus for our team will be the chance to mentor some up-and- coming talent and grow in our own understanding of what it is like to live with a disability in today’s world. One of Rhythm’s objectives is to be leaders in producing quality, diverse and social impact content, so Different Lens feels like a perfect fit for us.”

Screenwest and Carers WA were inundated with expressions of interest and are thrilled to announce the following storytellers, filmmakers and mentors have been selected:

Storytellers
Malcolm Anderson
Josef Bandera
Matthew Bartels
Eleana Bredemeyer
Sue Edge
Julia Hales
Tina Fielding
Curtis Hatton
Madison Heady
Nang Nguyen
Julianne Ryan & Katrina Barber
Tayla Stone

Film makers
Rafael Gonzalez – Writer / Director Attachment
Mitchell Nock – DOP Attachment
Joe Teakle – Editor Attachment
David Thai – Sound Attachment

Mentors
Adam and Gemma Rule – Executive Producers
Lauren Elliott – Producer
Frank Carroll – Writer / Director
Justin Griffiths – DOP
John McGovarin – Editor
Richard Hubbard – Sound Recordist
Justin Braine – Sound Designer

The series kicks off development this week and will be released online at carerswa.asn.au in late 2020.