Rock Island Mysteries welcomes sustainability internship

Filming continues on the Gold Coast on Season 2 of Rock Island Mysteries.

The series by Fremantle comprises 20 new episodes for Network 10 and Nickelodeon.

Screen Queensland has partnered with Fremantle Australia to offer an Environmental Steward Internship to Brisbane-based filmmaker Zachary Lurje. He will work on the production for six weeks, alongside the production’s Sustainability Coordinator, to track and review carbon footprint calculations and research appropriate recycling options across all departments, from art to catering.

The sustainability internship is the first of its kind in Australia. The screen industry’s primary contributors to negative environmental impacts include electricity and fuel consumption, and general waste including the disposal of costumes, sets and props.

Screen Queensland Chief Creative Officer Dr Belinda Burns said, “Fremantle Australia is an industry leader and part of a huge multi-national network, so they are expertly positioned to provide mentorship in this space and work with us to form new, environmentally conscious industry standard practices.

“The Environmental Steward Internship was launched as a valuable training opportunity in a growing job area in the physical production sector, allowing an emerging Queensland film practitioner hands-on experience while making a positive impact on our industry and planet.”

Fremantle Australia’s Jonah Klein, Development Executive and Producer added, “Fremantle is proud to partner with Screen Queensland on this first-of-its-kind attachment to support training in the area of sustainability within the screen industry.

“Fremantle is additionally working with albert — an environmental organisation encouraging the film and TV production industry to reduce waste and its carbon footprint — to achieve ‘sustainable production certification.’ Resources from albert will inform and support Rock Island Mysteries and all of our projects moving forward, to develop best practice in this area.

“We welcome Zachary Lurje as our inaugural attachment in this field with his varied skills and experiences as an emerging filmmaker, a teacher and a sustainability advocate.”