Friday on My Mind Sydney - Writing New Australian Drama: The Principal's Kristen Dunphy & Alison Addison

Australian Film Television and Radio School - Theatre 1
Writing New Australian Drama The Principal's Kristen Dunphy & Alison Addison

What makes a great screenplay? How do you write great drama for film and television?

Two of Australia's most established screenwriters, Kristen Dunphy and Alice Addison recently penned the gritty four-part drama for Essential Media which was nominated for an AWGIE this year in the Television Mini-Series Original category with the first episode of the murder mystery airing this Wednesday on SBS. Created by Ian Collie and Rachael Turk, The Principal was inspired by several real-life Sydney School principals in what has been described as an inspirational-teacher genre story fused with the murder mystery. Directed by Kriv Stenders (Red Dog, Kill Me Three Times), his first TV drama, the look and feel is Australian suburban noir. Alex Dimitriades plays the title character, which revolves around a high school in Sydney’s tough, multicultural southwest.

With experienced and credentialed writers on board who worked closely with the creators and the director, The Principal was described after its premiere at this year's Melbourne International Film Festival as a "don't miss" show by The Weekly Review who also called it "gripping," "tightly written" and "stylishly directed".

Kristen Dunphy has 25 years experience writing, producing and script editing Australian television drama including episodes of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, The Straits, East West 101, Water Rats, All Saints, Wildside and Heartbreak High (and three AWGIE awards and nominations for numerous writing awards). Alison Addison adapted the 2011 feature film The Hunter, starring Willem Dafoe (which was nominated for 13 AACTA awards including Best Adapted Screenplay), the TV movie The Silence, a murder investigation thriller directed by Cate Shortland starring Richard Roxburgh and Esse Davis, was part of the writing team on the acclaimed mini-series The Devil's Playground and is working on the upcoming TV adaptation of Tomorrow When the War Began.

Kristen and Alison will share their experiences writing for Australian drama, which is currently, according to the producer of The Principal Ian Collie in a "healthy state".

Guests:
- Kristen Dunphy
- Alison Addison
Doors Open 5:30pm
AFTRS Theatre 1

Building 130, Lang Road Moore Park
2021 NSW Australia
Friday
Doors Open 5:30pm
Link: aftrs.edu.au/events/friday-on-my-mind