Thomas Wilson-White is the first recipient of the new AFTRS Charlie’s Grant. Thomas is a Masters of Screen Arts alumni and an award-winning film director, screenwriter and author. He graduated from AFTRS in 2017.
Charlie’s Grant is a new initiative which AFTRS launched earlier in the year in collaboration with Australians In Film (AiF). It gives one AFTRS alumni the opportunity to get their project off the ground in Los Angeles by covering flights, accommodation and access to the American Film Market in November. The successful applicant flies Qantas and stays at The Ramada Plaza Hotel, West Hollywood whilst stationed at Charlie’s AFTRS hot desk at the Australians In Film office.
Charlie’s is a bespoke hub for the Australian film-making community in Los Angeles, offering a unique creative workspace to conduct business, collaborate and network. Named after Charlie Chaplin and located at the historic Raleigh Studios, in the heart of Hollywood where Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks made films and frequently played cards, Charlie’s is co-funded by Screen Queensland, Create NSW, AFTRS, Film Victoria and the South Australian Film Corporation as an invaluable home base for Australian film-makers while they are in Los Angeles.
Georgie McClean, Acting CEO of AFTRS said “we are thrilled to announce that Thomas is the recipient of the inaugural Charlie’s Grant. We had an impressive number of fantastic applications from talented AFTRS graduates, and we are really pleased to back Thomas with this great leg up. It’s incredibly important for students and recent graduates to have the opportunity to connect to the global industry, and Charlie’s Grant demonstrates AFTRS commitment to this. It is also a wonderful opportunity for AFTRS to continue our relationship with Australians In Film, who show such great support for Australians working in LA.”
Peter Ritchie from Australians In Film said: “AiF are excited to be partnering with AFTRS on Charlie’s Grant and look forward to working with Thomas later this month when he is in residence at Charlie’s in Los Angeles. The AFM is such a vibrant market and will provide Thomas with a great insight into the business in North America.”
ABOUT AUSTRALIANS IN FILM: Founded in 2001, Australians in Film is a Los Angeles based non-profit screen organization that supports its members with career development and education programs including the prestigious Heath Ledger Scholarship, Mentor LA, Village Roadshow/Animal Logic Entertainment Internship, Greg Coote Fellowship, Gateway LA and The Writers Room. AiF is based at Charlie’s, a shared workspace at the historic Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. Charlie’s is a bespoke hub for business, collaboration and networking for the Australian screen community in Los Angeles and it is where AiF holds its industry education programs. Get more information on Charlie’s Desk here and about joining AiF here. Follow AiF on Twitter: @australiansfilm and Instagram: @AustraliansinFilm.
