Audience Plan

An audience plan discusses who the material/project will appeal to and outlines the strategy the applicant will employ to reach that audience.  Applicants will be expected to consider their eventual audience from early stage development. The plan must demonstrate the commercial viability and a clear understanding of the target market. Length: up to 1 page

Budget -
A-Z Budget

The preferred format for production submissions (where MovieMagic Budgeting is not available).  The standard format for the A-Z Budget is available on the Screen Australia website: http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/a-zbudget

Concept
Document

A document summarising the conceptual scope of the project, mostly applicable to animation and new media applications and, where appropriate, can outline conceptualisation of design through illustration, models, pre-vis and animatics.

Development
Attachment

A Screen Queensland initiative that will support less-experienced producers/writers/directors and Queensland businesses. A position is created within a production company to generate a significant increase in development activity through the employment of the applicant. Positions generally last one year and four positions are available each financial year.

Development -
Early Stage

The project is in its infancy; Screen Queensland investment is sought to develop a project to market-ready stage.

• Film/TV drama: This may include writing drafts of the script, working with a script editor, workshops to take the project to a market-ready stage, etc.;
• Factual: Working up a concept/treatment for which there is initial marketplace interest for the purposes of securing a letter of interest from a broadcaster.

Generally, a producer should be attached at this stage of development.

Development -
Late Stage

The project has been significantly developed and requires additional development to secure financing and move into production. This may include attaching a director to the project, pitching, further drafts of the script, travel, marketing materials, finance plan, casting, etc. A producer must always be attached at this stage of development.

Development
Plan

The applicant's strategy for the project's progression through the various stages of development. Applicants should consider how they envisage making the project and how this will impact on the script, personnel choices, marketing, financing, and target audience. Length: 1-2 pages

Director's
Notes

A director's notations and break down of his/her vision for the script as it stands. This incorporates the script ideas and breakdown of the script from a shooting perspective.

Distribution
Guarantee

A guarantee by a distributor to pay an agreed sum on or after delivery of a project.

Finance Plan

The financial contributions that will be made to meet 100% of the proposed budget. Proposed contributions may include agency investment and loans, presales, equity and gap.

Letter of
Intent

A short form statement from an investor outlining the intention to invest in the project and the key terms of that proposed investment.

Letter of
Interest

A letter from a broadcaster, sales agent or distributor indicating a level of interest in the project that qualifies the project as having demonstrated market interest.

Location
Breakdown

The breakdown of locations according to the shooting script.

Logline

Sometimes the same as the poster tagline, this is a single pithy sentence that sells the concept of the project.  (see also Synopsis)

Marketing
Plan

A document outlining the specific efforts that the producer will make to penetrate the target market and describing the path that the project needs to travel to screen. The producer must identify the partners/companies/distributors they will be/hope to be affiliated with to bring the project to fruition. The plan should also include key markets and festivals at which the producer intends to represent the project. Length: 1-2 pages

One-pager

A pitch document, or selling tool, that incorporates key information about the project, including: a one paragraph synopsis, logline, tagline, key art, major production details (format, length, episodes, dates, key personnel), and contact information.  Standard formats tend to be single or double-sided A4 sheets, although may also appear as a postcard, a folded pamphlet, etc.  It is recommended that the one-pager is designed and printed to the highest specifications and indicates the stage the project is at or what the producer is currently seeking from the marketplace. Marketing information should also be outlined with particular reference to the target audience.

Outline

The outline identifies the main characters and the significant turning points in the story. It highlights the characters' goals and main obstacles they face in gaining them. Often used as a selling tool, the writing is crisp and concise.  It can sometimes employ pitch elements, which highlight the dynamic elements of the story and characters. Length: 4-8 pages

Overheads

Costs the producer may incur in its own business in the course of producing the project.

Producer
Offset

A Federal Government initiative. Please see link: http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/producer_offset/

Producer's
Statement

A document that includes expectations of the market and how attending the market will benefit the projects and professional development of the applicant. The document identifies how this market, and the applicant's attendance, are pivotal to the development of the projects and a statement of what the applicant is seeking from the market i.e. co-production, financiers, broadcaster interest.

Production
Schedule

A schedule detailing all key commencement/completion dates as the project moves through various stages of production from prep to final delivery.

Professional
Placement

A qualified industry practitioner working on a production in a role designed to be of mutual benefit to the production and professional development of the practitioner. Expected areas of work will be in various departments including but not exclusive to producers, directors, writers and camera.

Queensland
Resident

Individuals who are currently on the Queensland electoral roll and have been for a minimum of six (6) months or, if not, who can substantiate proof of residency in Queensland for at least six (6) months prior to the production commencing.

Queensland
Production
Expenditure (QPE)

The following can qualify as Queensland expenditure:

• Wage payments to Queensland residents;
• Payments to suppliers whose principal place of business; whilst not in Queensland, can nonetheless demonstrate that the physical delivery of the goods and services that they provided was made by an office or branch that does carry on business in Queensland;
• Above the line payments (i.e. director's, producers', lead actors' fees, etc.) made to those individuals who declared Queensland residency or have declared they are or have been on the Queensland electoral roll for a minimum of six (6) months prior to the execution of the declaration and, further, that those persons are currently permanent residents of Queensland, notwithstanding that the payment may have been made, on their behalf, to interstate based agents.

Recoupment
Structure and
Profit Share

An outline of the recoupment schedule and net profit entitlements of all the investors.

Scene
Breakdown

A scene by scene outline summarising the major plot points within each scene. It is more detailed than a treatment and is often used to assist the restructuring and reworking of a screenplay.

Script Editor's
Notes

An assessment of the current and previous drafts of the material and a summary of the future direction of the script and what this necessitates. Length: 2-3 pages

Script Notes

The writer's analysis of the material and proposed strategies for future drafts. The writer may address story, character, theme, dialogue, mood, structure, genre and point of view. Length: 2-3 Pages

Shooting Script

A script that is production-ready.

State of the
Market Report

A report required by Screen Queensland from each recipient of marketing funding. There are two components to this:

1.     The confidential report summarising the outcomes of the market which specifically addresses the producer's application. Length: minimum 2 pages

2.     A general statement about the market which may be shared at the State of the Market breakfast or posted on the Screen Queensland website.
        Length: 1-2 pages

Synopsis

A brief and succinct description of the screenplay. The purpose of the synopsis is to highlight the plot and motivation of characters.  Projects should have both a one paragraph and a one page synopsis. The synopsis must be written in a way that is dynamic and grabs the attention of the reader, as this is often the first thing read by assessors, producers, distributors or network executives. Along with a good script, the synopsis is a powerful selling tool for your project. (see also Logline)

Treatment

A detailed document summarising the storyline of the project, developed beyond the conceptual stage by the applicant. Developing a concept to treatment level involves properly preparing the story and cinematic structure paying attention to themes, structure and character arcs. Length: 20-30 Pages

Writer's
Statement

A statement outlining how the writer will develop the project within the Writers' Room during the allotted twelve month period. It should address:

• Expectations of the programme;
• Benefits to the project and professional development of the applicant;
• Target market and audience.

Length: 1-2 pages

Writers'
Room

A Screen Queensland initiative that will support selected experienced writers for up to a year to write a project judged to have potential.