News| Aug 21, 2018

Screenwest has welcomed three new members to the Development and Production team: Franziska Wagenfeld, Ross Grayson Bell and Gabrielle Cole.

Franziska Wagenfeld

Franziska joins Screenwest as the new Factual Executive.

“I am delighted to join Screenwest at such an exciting time of change,” said Franziska.

Western Australia is known for its thriving documentary sector and I very much look forward to working with experienced industry figures Seph McKenna, Matthew Horrocks and Ross Grayson Bell in growing and adding value to the WA screen industry.

Franziska has been working in the Australian film industry as a producer, screen executive and an educator for over two decades. Franziska was Development and Investment Manager at Film Victoria, managed the Victorian office of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), and was an Executive Producer at Open Channel Productions.

As an independent film-producer, her credits include feature films, documentaries, short films and one-off television dramas, including the independent feature film Playing For Charlie and the Australian feature film Irresistible, produced with David Parker and starring Susan Sarandon, Sam Neill and Emily Blunt.

Originally from Berlin, Franziska studied documentary filmmaking in San Francisco and sociology & politics in Berlin.

 

Ross Grayson Bell

As announced earlier this month, Ross joins Screenwest as the new Scripted Executive.

“Screenwest has been punching above its weight for a while now,” said Ross.

With four films going into production this year and the TV series The Heights currently shooting, it is a busy and exciting time to be joining the team. I’m looking forward to working with the creative teams to build on the agency’s momentum.

Ross has had a successful career in Hollywood, where he most notably developed and produced Fight Club and executive produced Under Suspicion.

Ross also went on to find success as a screenwriter in London. His adaptation of Tom Spanbauer’s novel The Man Who Fell in Love with the Moon landed him on the “Brit List” of best unproduced screenplays.

In 2009, Ross returned to Australia to take up a position as the Head of Screenwriting at AFTRS. In addition to his focus on industry liaison at the school, he convened numerous panels at festivals and conferences around the country.

In 2014 Ross was senior judge, and delivered the keynote address, at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. Most recently Ross was commissioned to adapt Susan Duncan’s bestselling memoir, Salvation Creek, which was selected for Screen NSW’s Aurora Film Development Program in 2013.

He remains active as a speaker, producer, screenwriter and script consultant.

 

Gabrielle Cole

Gabrielle also joins Screenwest as the new Production Attraction and Services Coordinator.

Gabrielle said,

I’m incredibly excited to join the talented team at Screenwest and have the opportunity to support and contribute to the thriving WA screen industry!

Gabrielle has been an active member of the Western Australian screen industry since 2014. Her impressive list of production coordinator credits includes:

  • Breath, directed by Simon Baker;
  • Hounds of Love, written and directed by Ben Young;
  • Three Summers, written and directed by Ben Elton; and
  • 1%, produced by Ticket To Ride, which has its Australian cinematic release later in 2018.

Gabrielle has also worked as a locations assistant on productions including Red Dog: True Blue and Looking for Grace.

Gabrielle has a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television, as well as Masters in Professional Communications, Screen Studies.