HIGH-END TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT
GUIDELINES
HIGH-END TELEVISION
DEVELOPMENT
First released 18 October 2013
This version issued 21 April 2015 (see p6 for change log)
Screen Australia reserves the right to change its program guidelines from
time to time. Please ensure you check the website for the latest version.
These guidelines should be read in conjunction with Screen Australia’s
Terms of Trade.
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HIGH-END TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT
HIGH-END TELEVISION
DEVELOPMENT
Screen Australia recognises the unprecedented audience and market growth
of internationally driven high-end television – ambitious, authorial, emotionally
engaging storytelling that can connect with global audiences – that has
included shows such as True Detective, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad,
Top of the Lake, House of Cards and The Bridge.
The High-end Television Development Program aims to assist Australian
producers and writers to develop high-end television driven by an
international market. The program will make available funding to develop an
inventive concept into a series bible, series outline, first draft pilot script or
first episode script, subject to creative assessment and written evidence of
strong interest from a major international broadcaster or major internet
streaming company (such as Netflix). Authorial voice and vision is crucial to
this fund and an Australian writer must be attached to the project.
The aims of the fund are to:

support Australian producers to identify, conceptualise and develop
inventive, bold, high-end television series ideas (minimum three
episodes) where the key market is international, the stories are specific
but universal and the vision is creatively ambitious

enable Australian talent to work in an international broadcasting
landscape and capitalise on solid commissioner interest

enable Australian production companies to engage high-calibre writing
talent at an early stage

encourage the cross-fertilisation of strong cinema and television talent.
This fund is distinguished by its focus on projects whose key market is
international. The attachment of an Australian broadcaster is not required.
Applicants must provide written evidence of strong interest from a major
international broadcaster or major internet streaming company (not an
international distributor). A key part of the assessment will be the quality of
the interested entity including its relevance to the project scale, and its
assessment of the project’s international potential.
Applicants must submit the materials (concept document, details of proposed
team, etc) which were the basis on which the written interest was provided.
Applicants may apply for up to $40,000 to develop a series bible, series
outline, first draft pilot script or first episode script. If applying for first draft
funding only, the applicant must submit the series bible and/or the creative
materials on which the written interest was provided.
This fund does not support the ongoing development of any one high-end
television project. It is designed to enable producers and writers to develop
their concept and story to pilot first draft.
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HIGH-END TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT
Funding available
Up to $40,000 for early stage development of a high-end television series.
This can include:

writer fees for series outline, series bible, first draft script for pilot episode
or first draft script for first episode.

initial option fees for the underlying work, ie novel, non-fiction book, play,
comic book, newspaper article.

writers’ room costs

travel costs

director’s fee.
If an applicant is applying for first draft development of a pilot script or first
episode script, they must submit the series bible and/or the materials which
formed the basis of the written interest.
Application timing
Applications can be submitted at any time.
Maximum turnaround time for application decisions is approximately eight
weeks.
Eligibility
An application must first meet the following eligibility criteria in order to be
competitively assessed for funding through this program.
The application must come from an eligible Australian producer.
The applicant producer must be considered an ‘experienced producer’. An
‘experienced producer’ is defined as having at least one credit as producer
on:
- a feature film that has been released on a minimum of five commercial
screens in one territory, OR
- a primetime broadcast drama mini-series or telemovie.
Funding is for Australian citizens or residents (as defined in Screen
Australia’s Terms of Trade), and any non-Australian partners may not receive
payment from these funds. Key writer(s) must be Australian. Exceptions may
be made for script editors or consultants.
There are no restrictions on setting or genre.
Companies currently in receipt of funding through Screen Australia’s
Enterprise Program or Games Enterprise Program are not eligible for Screen
Australia development funding.
The applicant must hold all underlying rights and the rights to the concept
materials.
The applicant must provide written evidence of strong interest from a major
international commissioner (broadcaster, premium cable network or major
internet streaming company such as Netflix) not an international distributor.
Up to two projects per company may be submitted for assessment during any
round.
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HIGH-END TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT
Applicants must also meet the general eligibility requirements set out in
Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade, including the requirement for the
applicant company to be incorporated and carrying on business in Australia,
and to have its central management and control in Australia.
Application process and materials
You must apply using the application form available on the Screen Australia
website. As set out on the form, you will need to submit:

a full CV for each Key Principal, as well as for the Script Editor or
Development Executive if attached

written evidence of strong interest from a major international broadcaster
or internet streaming company

a copy of proposal materials submitted (ie pitch/concept document,
proposed team, etc) and used to secure the written interest from a major
international broadcaster or internet streaming company

a series bible if applicable (Note: If an applicant is applying only for first
draft funding they must submit a series bible and/or the materials which
formed the basis of the written interest)

a development plan which identifies the project’s creative and conceptual
strengths and potential challenges as well as the strategy and timeline
details for the proposed development plan

a writer’s statement describing his or her vision for the project

a producer’s statement describing his or her vision for the project and
addressing the following:
- the stage and intended materials to be developed, together with a
rationale for these materials
- the potential of the proposed project to reach its target audience relative
to its key market; and
- the viability of the project in terms of the development plan, estimated
production budget and financing strategy

if a project is based on an underlying work and an option is secured,
evidence of the option agreement and length of option period.
Funding decisions
Eligible applications will be considered by a combination of Screen Australia
executives and industry specialists/peers as required. Funding decisions will
be made against the following criteria:

The creative potential of the project, including:

concept, premise and capacity of the story to provide character arcs,
themes and tone that will connect with the intended audience

distinctive authorial voice

a development plan that demonstrates how the vision will translate
to the screen.

The commercial potential of the concept including the viability of the
project and whether it can be realised for a budget relative to its audience

The skills and experience of the team and its ability to deliver the project

The quality of the entity providing the written interest, including its
relevance to the project scale, and its assessment of the project’s
international potential and capacity to progress the project.
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HIGH-END TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT
Decisions on applications are final. Screen Australia will advise applicants in
writing of the outcome of their application. Where an application is declined,
the applicant will be advised of the reason.
Terms of funding
Funding through this program is provided as a limited recourse loan.
Where Screen Australia subsequently invests in the production, its
investment in the development phase will be recognised in the production
budget and will become part of Screen Australia’s total investment in the
project.
Where the project goes into production without Screen Australia production
funding, development funding provided by Screen Australia is not repayable.
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HIGH-END TELEVISION DEVELOPMENT
Change log
21 April 2015

Application timing:
Removed references to deadlines and replaced with ‘applications can be
submitted at any time’.
27 November 2014

Funding available:
removed the breakdown of costs ‘up to $15,000 for creation of series
bible’ and ‘up to $25,000 for first draft development of a pilot script or first
episode script’ and replaced with ‘writer fees for series outline, series
bible, first draft script for pilot episode or first draft script for first episode;
initial option fees for the underlying work, ie novel, non-fiction book, play,
comic book, newspaper article; writers’ room costs; travel costs; director’s
fee’.

Eligibility:
in place of a Letter of Interest, ‘The applicant must provide written
evidence of strong interest from a major international commissioner
(broadcaster, premium cable network or major internet streaming
company such as Netflix) not an international distributor’.

Application process and materials:
added the following submission material – ‘a writer’s statement describing
his or her vision for the project’.

Funding decisions:
Under ‘the quality of the entity providing the written interest’ criterion,
added ‘and capacity to progress the project’.

Terms of funding:
Revised as per our new Terms of Trade.
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