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Denmark screenwriter and ex-footballer Jesse Laurie received one of two $100,000 Screenwest development grants last week for early career screenwriters to develop new feature projects.
Mr Laurie received a Bill Warnock Talent Accelerator grant along with fellow WA writer Gary Hamaguchi.
According to Mr Laurie, the funding was a big helping hand in getting him one step closer to reaching his screenwriting career goals.
“The funding is absolutely incredible, it means I get to be involved in so many more projects, but also that I get to meet people I just wouldn’t have been able to otherwise,” he said.
“It lets me get out in the industry and prove to these people I am capable and good at what I do.”
After an early career as a footballer in the WAFL, Mr Laurie pivoted to screenwriting after his AFL dreams fell through in 2009.
His feature screenplays have received national and international accolades, and his short film, Raising Thunder was shortlisted for the Australian Writer’s Guild Monte Miller Award in 2021.
Mr Laurie said the dedication and mental skills he learned through playing AFL helped him to make such a drastic career pivot.
“I feel like that was something I was able to transfer from my footy days, the discipline and training that I learned to dedicate to whatever task I put in front of myself,” he said.
“All that mentality I learned I’ve just transplanted to screenwriting, and where I’m at now is the result of 10 years of work.
”I’m genuinely so excited and appreciative to have been selected for the Bill Warnock Talent Accelerator.
“The opportunity to progress my career in a tangible, meaningful way will be invaluable, and I can’t wait to see where I am 12 months from now.”
Across the next 12 months, Mr Laurie and Mr Hamaguchi will each invest $80,000 in their professional development, and invest $20,000 towards development of their own slate of projects.
Gary Hamaguchi is a Jaru/Noongar/Japanese writer and director living in Broome, and said the challenges of following a creative career while living in the regions were well worth it.
“Receiving the Bill Warnock Talent Accelerator will allow me to travel, immerse myself in the industry, attend networking events and still call Broome home,” he said.
The program honours the late Bill Warnock, who was a revered playwright, screenwriter, novelist, poet and activist, and passionate about the arts in Western Australia.
Screenwest chief executive officer Rikki Lea Bestall said she was “thrilled” to be able to continue Mr Warnock’s legacy through supporting early career screenwriters.
“I am thrilled, as are Bill’s children, Kylie and Adam, and their families, that his legacy and long-term commitment to filmmaking in Western Australia should result in two writers of such wonderful quality being the recipients of this exciting initiative,” she said.
“We’re so pleased to be supporting you both as you take the next steps in your careers.”
Denmark screenwriter and ex-footballer Jesse Laurie received one of two $100,000 Screenwest development grants last week for early career screenwriters to develop new feature projects.
Mr Laurie received a Bill Warnock Talent Accelerator grant along with fellow WA writer Gary Hamaguchi.
According to Mr Laurie, the funding was a big helping hand in getting him one step closer to reaching his screenwriting career goals.
“The funding is absolutely incredible, it means I get to be involved in so many more projects, but also that I get to meet people I just wouldn’t have been able to otherwise,” he said.
“It lets me get out in the industry and prove to these people I am capable and good at what I do.”
After an early career as a footballer in the WAFL, Mr Laurie pivoted to screenwriting after his AFL dreams fell through in 2009.
His feature screenplays have received national and international accolades, and his short film, Raising Thunder was shortlisted for the Australian Writer’s Guild Monte Miller Award in 2021.
Mr Laurie said the dedication and mental skills he learned through playing AFL helped him to make such a drastic career pivot.
“I feel like that was something I was able to transfer from my footy days, the discipline and training that I learned to dedicate to whatever task I put in front of myself,” he said.
“All that mentality I learned I’ve just transplanted to screenwriting, and where I’m at now is the result of 10 years of work.
”I’m genuinely so excited and appreciative to have been selected for the Bill Warnock Talent Accelerator.
“The opportunity to progress my career in a tangible, meaningful way will be invaluable, and I can’t wait to see where I am 12 months from now.”
Across the next 12 months, Mr Laurie and Mr Hamaguchi will each invest $80,000 in their professional development, and invest $20,000 towards development of their own slate of projects.
Gary Hamaguchi is a Jaru/Noongar/Japanese writer and director living in Broome, and said the challenges of following a creative career while living in the regions were well worth it.
“Receiving the Bill Warnock Talent Accelerator will allow me to travel, immerse myself in the industry, attend networking events and still call Broome home,” he said.
The program honours the late Bill Warnock, who was a revered playwright, screenwriter, novelist, poet and activist, and passionate about the arts in Western Australia.
Screenwest chief executive officer Rikki Lea Bestall said she was “thrilled” to be able to continue Mr Warnock’s legacy through supporting early career screenwriters.
“I am thrilled, as are Bill’s children, Kylie and Adam, and their families, that his legacy and long-term commitment to filmmaking in Western Australia should result in two writers of such wonderful quality being the recipients of this exciting initiative,” she said.
“We’re so pleased to be supporting you both as you take the next steps in your careers.”
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