Screen Australia Unveils NCIS: Sydney Script Department Program

Screen Australia has established the NCIS: Sydney Script Department Program, a collaboration with Endemol Shine Australia (a Banijay company) and Paramount+.

The program will offer up to five early- to mid-career screenwriters the opportunity to be embedded in the script department for NCIS: Sydney season one, the local iteration of the global franchise.

The selected writers will be given the opportunity to join the series’ script department and benefit from the backing of experienced creatives, including senior script coordinators, writers and editors, who will guide the process and contribute directly to the writers’ learning and professional development.

Screen Australia’s head of content, Grainne Brunsdon, said: “We’re thrilled to facilitate this program, which will enable early- to mid-career writers to completely immerse themselves and learn in a writer’s room of an established world-leading franchise here in Australia. It’s an exceptional chance to upskill our local creatives and position them to achieve global success with local productions.

“In an increasingly competitive global entertainment landscape, this insight and experience are invaluable. We’re pleased to be working with partners Paramount ANZ, CBS Studios and ESA, who share our passion for creating career pathways in the local sector.”

Executive VP and chief content officer at Paramount ANZ, Beverley McGarvey, said: “We are so pleased that the first international series of the iconic NCIS franchise will be shot here in Australia. NCIS: Sydney comes with many fantastic opportunities for local actors, production crew and writers to be part of such a legacy franchise, and now with the NCIS: Sydney Script Department Program, there is even more scope for Aussie writers and creatives to learn, grow and contribute on a global scale.”

CEO of Endemol Shine Australia, Peter Newman, said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Screen Australia for this very important writer’s initiative on NCIS: Sydney, the first international iteration of this iconic franchise. We are proud to champion local emerging creative talent and look forward to seeing them thrive, learning alongside a number of Australia’s most experienced screenwriters to deliver an incredible series for Paramount+. We can’t wait for NCIS: Sydney to showcase Australian storytelling on an international stage.”