Page 63 - Tropic Magazine Issue 38

TROPIC • SOUND AND SCREEN

Filmmaker Shontell’s tips for aspiring

feature screenwriters

Whether it’s reading scripts, watching
SCREENWRITING YouTube videos, attending writers’
Cairns woman Shontell Ketchell workshops or a short course, collaborating
with other writers on their projects, sitting in
is making massive waves in the on writers’ tables as a note taker - whatever
screen industry. you can do to get more exposure and
experience, try it. It will only make you grow
Words: Renee Cluff as a writer and become a better storyteller.
A documentary about an aspiring
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
screenwriter who works at a Queensland
coal mine has earned Shontell Ketchell
rave reviews. You could say the inspiring “My goal is to continue to develop and Since then, Shontell has written sketches
story is somewhat autobiographical. write Aboriginal and Torres Strait for Black Comedy on the ABC, written for
Sistas in Mining was both written and Islander documentaries, television shows children’s show Barrumbi Kids on NITV,
produced by the Aboriginal (Kaanju and films and share stories from our created her first feature film Adorkable,
Nation) and Torres Strait Islander (Badu perspective. The future of the industry, produced her first short documentary
& Mer Island) woman, whose mission is I feel, is in a really exciting place. Naytive (about Naomi ‘Nay’ Wenitong,
to help mob share their stories. “There is a push for diversity. We as a singer, songwriter and rapper from
“Growing up, I rarely saw people who First Nations creatives are a part of the Cairns) and was a co-writer for Mungo,
looked like or talked like me on TV consultation and development process, which was a Cannes Film Festival finalist.
or in cinema,” she said. “This is why which is deadly. No stories about us Sistas In Mining was made possible
representation is so important – it allows should be without us.” through the 2021 SBS/NITV Curious
people to see characters like themselves, Shontell started in the industry five short Australia initiative supported by Screen
it allows people to see characters unlike years ago when she took part in a Writing Queensland in partnership with Screen
themselves as relatable. The art of for TV workshop hosted by the Australian Australia and other state and territory
storytelling is a powerful tool; it can be Film Television Radio School (AFRS). screen agencies. It premiered in August.
used to inform, challenge stereotypes, She completed an Advanced Diploma
empower, humanise and represent of Screenwriting: Feature Film with the MORE: screenqueensland.com.au
our people. AFRS the following year.

Shontell is now working on
A kids animation project
Another documentary about a
phenomenal First Nations choir
(can you guess who?)

Co-production of a comedy
series set in the 1850s Gold
Rush era

A short documentary about a
boxing legend from Cherbourg

1
1. Sistas in Mining, credit: SBS/NITV

63 • tropicnow.com.au