FIVE INDIGENOUS INTERNS PLACED WITH CLEVERMAN SEASON 2

Five emerging Indigenous screen practitioners have been given a step up the career ladder with paid internships on the second season of landmark ABC/SundanceTV series Cleverman, currently shooting in Sydney.

Screen Australia’s Indigenous department, Screen NSW and the producers of Cleverman, Goalpost Pictures & Pukeko Pictures, have supported the five placements.

Daniel Collins, originally from the Tiwi Islands and now based in NSW, is working alongside the Producers whose credits include The Sapphires, Holding the Man and Felony; Mia Boe, from NSW (Newtown), is working in the Art Department under acclaimed Indigenous Production Designer Jacob Nash (Bangarra Dance Theatre); Ebony Jessup from NSW (Yamba), is working within the award-winning Make Up team spearheaded by Kath Brown (I, Frankenstein, The Hobbit); Joel Brown, from South Australia (Huntfield Heights), is working as a 1st AD attachment to John Martin (Redfern Now, Rake); and Petris Torres, from Western Australia (Broome), will be working out of Peter Jackson’s own post-production house Park Road Post during post- production in New Zealand early next year.

“I'm thrilled with the number of Aboriginal interns we have on the show this year. It’s just as important to have Aboriginal practitioners behind the camera as it is in front of the camera. Seeing more Aboriginal people join the crew makes every day feel like you're working on something really special,” said Ryan Griffen Producer / Concept Originator.

“We wanted to offer as broad a range of opportunities as possible to young Indigenous creatives to work with us on this series and I am especially grateful to both Screen Australia and Screen NSW for their commitment to our endeavours and making this a reality,” said Rosemary Blight, Producer at Goalpost Pictures.

Mia Boe said that the internship has been invaluable.

“My experience as the Art Department intern has been a gateway to the behind the scenes of all things I love; film, design, and art. It has opened my eyes to the amazing hard work and initiative a career within design entails, and provided me with skills that will stay with me forever,” Boe said.

“Few emerging screen practitioners have the opportunity to work with such outstanding talent on a show as groundbreaking as Cleverman. Ryan Griffen's own career began with a Screen Australia -supported internship at Goalpost Pictures, so we know this program works and are proud to be championing this new generation of Indigenous screen creatives,” said Penny Smallacombe, Head of Indigenous at Screen Australia.

Courtney Gibson, CEO of Screen NSW, said: “Screen NSW congratulates all the interns on their work on Cleverman 2, and applauds Rosemary and Ryan at Goalpost for making it happen. The more Indigenous practitioners working in all kinds of roles in our sector, the better!”

For further information or to request an interview please contact: Tracey Mair, TM Publicity, Ph: 02 8333 9066 or 0419 221 493