Foxtel, Matchbox Pictures back She Shoots initiative

Eight women have been selected from 57 applicants for the She Shoots initiative in NSW, to address the gender disparity in commercial unscripted television camera and sound departments.

Tamara Penniket, Charu Menon, Lara Del Arte, Alison Plasto, Gemma Thornton, Kaye Harrison, Aimee Mullins and Claudia Pickering will be trained in the area of camera and sound for reality TV beginning with a two-week camera and sound workshop at AFTRS.

Participants will visit the sets of Australia’s Next Top Model and The Voice and will spend time in post-production on Seven’s new production Zumbo’s Just Desserts.

Foxtel will fund two six-week attachments on its programs at $20,000. Matchbox Pictures will also host attachments, while Women NSW will offer support to graduates, through its partnership with the support network SALT – Supporting and Linking Tradeswomen.

Josie Mason-Campbell, Foxtel’s Head of Production and Development, said: “Foxtel is thrilled to part of a gender equality initiative in the television production sector. We work with a range of industry bodies to support programs which sustain actors, directors, writers, producers and the next generation of students.

“Finding the best talent to work on our Australian productions is a priority for us, and nurturing that up and coming talent to learn more and be creatively inspired through this AFTRS program is very exciting for the future of our industry.”

She Shoots is a partnership between Screen NSW, AFTRS, Women NSW, Foxtel, VA Digital Hire and the Executive Women’s Television Group.

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