Writers’ Room
Training Program:
with Showrunner
Osamah Sami
WHEN Saturdays 25 OCT- 22 NOV 2025
WHERE Footscray, Maribyrnong
FORMAT In-person writers’ room
COMMITMENT 5 x full-day Saturday sessions
SUPPORT Participants receive a stipend for their involvement
Photo by Gary Compton
About the Program
Cinespace invites aspiring screenwriters, creatives, and storytellers to join a unique five-weekend writers’ room intensive in the heart of Footscray. Together, participants will learn real-world skills in how a writer’s room works in creating a season of television or streaming drama.
Writers in the room will collaborate to develop an ORIGINAL WEBSERIAL set in Foostcray in Melbourne’s west – a story world that reflects the vibrancy, humour, and humanity of our intercultural communities - as the basis of a proposed non-commercial training production by Cinespace to train and inspire the next generation of writers, creatives, cast, and crew for screen industries.
This initiative is funded by Creative Victoria Projects funding.
2019 Cinespace Writers’ Room
What You’ll Experience
PROFESSIONAL WRITERS’ ROOM ENVIRONMENT
Work collaboratively in a structured, industry-style writer’s room, under the guidance of acclaimed writer, actor, and showrunner Osamah Sami, co-creator of ABC’s House of Gods, co-writer of Ali’s Wedding, and star of Sundance winner Shayda.
Hollywood Insights/ Industry Access
Thanks to Australians in Film, selected writers also gain insider knowledge on how professional Hollywood writer’s rooms operate with a free observational pass to Insider Sessions: Inside a U.S. Writer’s Room on Wednesday evenings starting October 21.
Guest Masterclasses
Hear directly from industry development executives and other leading practitioners about story craft, pitching, and pathways to screen.
Original IP Development
Co-create the concept, characters, and story arcs for a season of a new training serial production set in Footscray.
Who Should Apply
This program is open to:
Emerging writers and creatives (18+) with a passion for storytelling.
Participants from diverse backgrounds across Victoria
Individuals eager to gain hands-on screen experience, even if they don’t yet have professional writing credits.
No prior industry experience is required – just ideas, commitment, and enthusiasm. Participants will have to commit to attending all sessions.
Why Join?
This is a rare opportunity to step inside the engine room of television writing and help shape a brand-new serial. The experience will give you:
A training credit on the project.
A network of peers and mentors.
Skills and insights that will carry into your own future projects.
APPLY NOW
Tell us why you want to be part of this initiative. We welcome your personal statement (100–200 words) and ideally, a short writing sample in screenplay format (1–3 pages, any genre).
Applications closed Saturday 18 October 2025, 5pm (selected writers notified by Wednesday 22nd October 2025)