0/5

Call for Entries: Heath Ledger Scholarship

Eka Darville is 2018 Ambassador of $30,000 scholarship for Aussie actors.

Applications are now open for The Heath Ledger Scholarship for actors from 18-35 years of age.

The scholarship, now in its 10th year, is valued at $30,000 and includes $10,000 cash.

Australians in Film Foundation have announced Eka Darville (Jessica Jones, Empire) as 2018 HLS Ambassador.

Kate Ledger, Heath’s sister and AiF Board member said, “We want this scholarship to open doors for Australian actors who otherwise wouldn’t get the chance. Australia has an amazing variety of talent to showcase. We are especially encouraging actors of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, those from rural and remote areas, those with disabilities and people from the LGBTQI communities to apply.”

Darville added, “This is the 10th anniversary, and this is an era and a time in our industry where the tectonic plates are shifting. Everything is changing from the stories that we tell, to the people that are represented, to the way in which we make film and TV. I personally could not be more excited to see this shift happening I think it’s so long overdue.”

Recipients will be announced on September 20 at the Chateau Marmont, Hollywood.

In keeping with the amazing opportunities that Heath was given in his career and his generous spirit of helping others, the Foundation will also be looking for actors who may not be afforded the same opportunities or access that Heath had. Bolstered by the amazing diversity of last year’s applicants, AiF is building on that and encouraging actors from diverse and underrepresented communities to apply.

The 10th year anniversary scholarship is valued at US$30,000. The recipient will join past winners which include: last year’s winner Mojean Aria, who is set to star opposite Rachel Griffiths in the SBS upcoming crime thriller Dead Lucky, and has just been cast in the Stuart Beattie penned film Danger Close opposite Travis Fimmel, Ashleigh Cummings who has just completed shooting the highly anticipated Warner Bros/Amazon co-production of The Goldfinch opposite Ansel Elgort and Nicole Kidman, Cody Fern, the breakout star of Ryan Murphy’s American Crime Story: Versace and next seen in House of Cards opposite Robin Wright, and Bella Heathcote, lead in the new Ridley Scott|CBS drama Strange Angel.

The prestigious scholarship, created in the generous creative spirit of the iconic Academy Award-winning actor, will be given to an Australian actor who is pursuing a global career, or wishes to train internationally. The recipient should display an extraordinary commitment to their craft and an exceptional ability to transform their art onto the screen. The scholarship is open to actors from 18-35 years of age.

Adelaide Hills’ winery, Bird in Hand, a producer of fine wines and lover of arts and culture, will present the 10th Anniversary Heath Ledger Scholarship (#HLS10) joined by longstanding partners Qantas, Ausfilm and Screenwise.

AiF is thrilled to welcome this year’s media partners – Vogue Australia and GQ Australia as well as The Standard West Hollywood, to be the #HLS10 official hotel partner.

Screenwise – Australia’s Leading Film and TV School for Actors – will provide a $10,000 grant designed to assist the Scholarship Recipient’s living expenses during their time in Los Angeles.

All ten finalists will be flown to Los Angeles courtesy of Qantas and will stay the Standard West Hollywood. They will attend the exclusive three-day HLS conference featuring intimate group conversations and panels with leading Hollywood executives and creatives.

The conference is aimed at providing the finalists with insight into how the Hollywood industry works, as well as other skill-based sessions including classes on audition technique.

Finalists will also watch I am Heath Ledger documentary at The Standard West Hollywood and attend networking events with US & Australian producers, directors, casting directors, managers and agents.

The conference will culminate with the Recipient’s Announcement, when Bird in Hand presents the 10th Anniversary Scholarship (#HLS10) event at the iconic Chateau Marmont on Sunset Blvd, where the inaugural Heath Ledger Scholarship announcement took place. Bird in Hand recently launched Emmy Award-winning producer Bruna Papandrea’s production company, as well as the Australian Oscar Nominees Reception, and #HLS10 continues their philosophy of hosting beautiful intimate events celebrating arts on the world stage with their amazing wines.

The 10th Anniversary Scholarship Prize will include;

· Two round-trip Qantas economy airfares from Australia to Los Angeles
· US$10,000 towards a living allowance, rent and transport assistance in Los Angeles
· Group Acting classes and personal coaching from Lisa Robertson Studio
· Movement and Voice classes with Kennedy Brown
· Dialect coaching with Joy Ellison
· Group acting classes from Nancy Banks Studio
· Group acting classes and personal coaching from Jean-Louis Rodrigue and Kristof Konrad at Alexander Techworks
· Private acting classes from Guru Monteiro
· Immigration services from Kate Raynor & Associates
· Reel editing by Top LA editor Darwin Serink
· Headshot Sessions from Sally Flegg Photography
· Hair and Makeup styling for headshot sessions by Sophia Lee
· Gym classes from Training Mate
· Dinner + Medallion from EP & LP
· Hair Styling by Hello Darling Salon
· Lifetime AiF membership, which includes access to the creative workspaces, Charlie’s at Raleigh Studios, including invitations to exclusive AiF Events such as The Australian Oscar and Emmy Nominees Reception
· General meeting introductions to Hollywood Casting Directors.
· Mentoring by leading actors working in Hollywood.

Entries close on Saturday June 16th at 11am (AEST)

Leave a Reply