What is MMW?
Media MENTORSHIP for Women (MMW) is a unique program that establishes one-to-one mentor relationships between industry professionals and emerging women filmmakers who are seeking to further their careers in key technical areas such as Cinematography, Editing, Sound Design, Script Writing and other areas in which women are consistently under represented.
Who is eligible to apply?
- Only women above the age of 18 are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must be current WIFT NSW members.
- Must have some relevant training or at least 1 year experience in the chosen Mentorship area.
- Applicants may be located anywhere in Australia.
- Proactive, eager to learn and committed to the successful completion of the mentorship program if selected.
How many mentorship rounds are there each year?
The Mentorship Program will have TWO rounds every year and the duration of each round will be 6 months:
Mentorship Round 1: October 2008 - March 2009 | Mentorship Round 2: April 2009 - September 2009
At the moment we are accepting applications only for Round 1.
What Mentorship areas are being offered in Round 1?
The program focuses on mostly technical areas such as cinematography, editing, sound design, directing, producing, animation, script-writing and other areas in which women are consistently under represented. Applicants may list as many areas as they want in order of preference. If your area of interest is not listed, please specify area and specialization (if applicable) in your application form and we will include it in our program.
How do I apply?
Please download and read the Mentorship Conditions & Guidelines from the mentorship website www.nsw.wift.org/MENTOR.
Then download the Mentorship Application Form which is divided into 4 Sections:
Section A: Mentorship Details | Section B: Applicant Details | Section C: Payment Details | Section D: Agreement
Step 1: Please computer type Section A and B and email as word (.doc) attachment along with updated resume to wift.mentorship@gmail.com. (Please ensure that the email subject and attached file names contain your full name.)
Step 2: Section C and D need to be completed, printed, signed and mailed along with Application Fee to: Media MENTORSHIP for Women, WIFT NSW, PO Box 12, Potts Point, NSW 1335, AUSTRALIA. Please make your cheque payable to WIFT NSW.
What is the deadline for applying to Mentorship Round 1?
Applications for Round 1 will be accepted between 8th July and 15th August 08. Please email us your application form and mail your application fee by 6pm on 15th August (postmark deadline). Late applications will not be accepted.
How many months do Mentorships last?
To be successful the mentorship must last at least 4 months. Although all mentorships will officially end after 6 months, the mentor and mentee may continue meeting for as long as they decide. If you are unable to start or end the mentorship as per our timeline due to prior project/ studies or travel commitments specify details on your application and we will try to accommodate you.
How much will it cost?
There will be a $25 Mentorship Application fee to cover the costs of the program. This fee is non-refundable. The application fee is waived for women with a disability and those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Please make
Does applying guarantee that I will be matched with a Mentor?
No. We will try our best to find an appropriate mentor for each of our applicants but we cannot guarantee a successful match for everyone.
Applicants who are not matched in round 1 will be given preference if they re-apply in future mentorship rounds.
What benefits do applicants get?
Besides trying to find the best mentors for our applicants, we will make the following benefits available to ALL applicants:
Invitation to Mentorship launches events, Free Workshops, i-Mentoring – online forum, MMW Podcasts, Online Articles and other resources.
What is i-Mentoring?
Anonline forum called 'i-Mentoring' will become active in October 2008 and will be open to all applicants. Applicants will be able to post questions, events, jobs etc and can seek guidance on career and industry related issues from online mentors and peers. i-Mentoring is designed to benefit women who live in regional areas.
What is MMW Podcasts?
MMW Podcasts is a feature on our website especially for women filmmakers who live in Regional areas. If you miss our Sydney events you will be able to download podcasts of our workshops, forums and talks from wherever you are. This feature will be available on our website in October 2008.
What are the prerequisites for Mentors?
- Mentors can be men or women who have at least 6 years experience in the media industry.
- Mentors may be located anywhere in Australia or overseas.
- Willing to volunteer their time to guide, inspire and share their experience and knowledge with their Mentee.
How do I nominate a Mentor?
Do you have a particular mentor in mind who you would like to nominate? All you need to do is give us their name and contact info (email or website) and we will contact them and try to bring them on board. You are not required to contact potential mentors directly. Mentors can be men or women and can be located anywhere in the world (long-distance mentoring may take place via email/ phone). You can nominate as many mentors as you want in order of preference. We are unable to pay any of our mentors but we will offer several publicity options. If you cannot think of a particular person, you may nominate a media company or TV station and we will try to partner with them to design an internship/ mentorship for you. If we are unable to bring any of your nominated mentors on board we will continue our search for an appropriate mentor for you. Nominating is optional but highly recommended as it will increase your chances of being matched successfully.
Are Mentors paid?
No. Although we are unable to pay any of our mentors we can assure them that mentoring will prove to be a very rewarding experience for everyone involved. To show our gratitude for the time and energy our mentors volunteer to the program, we will offer them and their company/organization publicity options such as Spotlight on our website, post their events on our online Calendar, post their articles and links on our resources page, upload logos on our website and other online groups such as Facebook and Myspace. We value our mentors immensely and will acknowledge them at our workshops, forums, launch events and any other opportunities that may arise.
I am interested in being a Mentor. What is the next step?
Please contact the Mentorship Coordinator, Ana Tiwary at wift.mentorship@gmail.com.
Will I be notified when my application is received?
We will notify applicants as and when we receive their application fee. Applications will be processed and reviewed by a selection committee starting in mid August 2008. (Please refrain from emailing or calling us for updates on the status of your application.)
Do I need to submit my showreel or samples of work?
No. Only shortlisted applicants may be asked to send a show-reel or samples of work in September 2008.
How will matching take place?
Matching shortlisted applicants with a pool of potential mentors will start in mid-September. Shortlisted applicants’ resumes will be emailed to mentors and they will make the final selection based on merit, need, location and other applicant preferences. No two mentorships will be the same. The relationships established will be formal yet very flexible to suit the needs of the mentee and the schedule of the mentor. Mentorships may be as basic as email exchanges/phone conversations or as elaborate as internships/assistantships. Selected mentees will be matched with mentors very carefully to make sure it is a productive and rewarding experience for everyone involved. Both parties should aim for realistic, focused goals and maximize their time by using the phone, e-mail, and other timesaving strategies. Mentors and mentees should talk honestly about their relationships, including expectations, limits, preferred ways of interacting and the fact that they'll need to part one day.
When will I know if I am successful?
Applicants selected by mentors will be contacted by us by October 1st 2008. We will discuss the details with successful applicants and if they are happy with the match the mentorship will be finalized. If however, they are not completely satisfied with their potential mentor, we will try to find a more suitable match.
When will unsuccessful applicants be notified?
Applicants who are not matched in round 1 will be given preference if they re-apply in future mentorship rounds. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by October 1st 2008. All applicants (successful and unsuccessful) will be invited to attend free workshops, the launch event, participate in our online mentoring forum and access MMW podcasts and all our online resources.
Do I have to be a member of WIFT NSW to apply?
Yes. Only WIFT NSW members can apply. If you are not a current member please download the membership form from www.nsw.wift.org/membership and mail it to us with the appropriate membership fees. Discounts are available for applicants based outside NSW. WIFT Victoria members are eligible to apply if they include proof of membership such as a photocopy of the membership card.
What is WIFT NSW?
Women in Film and Television [WIFT] NSW is a membership based non-profit organization committed to improving the status of women, both on and off the screen, by supporting and advancing women working in the Australian film, television and related screen industries. For more information go to www.nsw.wift.org.
What is WIFTI?
WIFT NSW is part of a global organisation, Women in Film and Television International [WIFTI], which provides a foundation for global co-operation as well as a public voice representing and unifying our members worldwide. For more information go to www.wifti.org.
Enquiries: Ana Tiwary, Mentorship Coordinator, email:wift.mentorship@gmail.com
