Emma Pritchard

When Eden Cansdell’s nan shared a Facebook post with her highlighting a regional crew development program with Screenworks and Netflix, the 20-year-old from Minnie Water jumped at the opportunity to pursue her dream career in the film industry. 

A creative young woman with a keen eye for detail and interest in designing spaces, Miss Cansdell eagerly applied to participate in the program and recalls her excitement when she was announced as one of four trainees to successfully gain a place.

She will spend the next 12 months learning about different industry roles and developing her knowledge through a variety of paid on-the-job placements in Northern NSW while completing a Certificate III in Screen and Media via on-campus training at the TAFE NSW Lismore Campus.

And she couldn’t be happier.

“There is limited accessibility for people in regional areas to get into the film industry, and when I heard about this program, I was super grateful to have the opportunity to be involved,” she said.

“This is really going to help me develop my career and industry knowledge going forward.”

Miss Cansdell has always loved designing spaces and would love to work professionally as a set designer.

“I’ve always been a super creative person,” she explained.

“With set designing, you’re using your imagination a lot more to create a certain atmosphere, and that’s really fun and exciting.

“I love seeing how everything comes together.”

Crediting set designs on films including La La Land and Stranger Things as some of her favourite inspirations, Miss Cansdell is excited to explore new genres as she embarks on her traineeship.

She said she is inspired by new levels of diversity emerging in the film industry and is looking forward to working with different stylists.

Her long-term goal is to work in the film industry in Australia and overseas.

“That would be fantastic,” she said.

Miss Cansdell commenced her traineeship on February 7.