Discover the Heart of Screen Fraser Coast
Unveiling Our Vision for the film industry
Join us as we champion the vibrant film industry on the Fraser Coast, connecting creators and audiences through compelling storytelling.
Mission, Values and Vision
Mission
Our mission is to develop a vibrant and sustainable screen industry on the Fraser Coast,
founded on our values, grounded by our vision to create positive change and growth for our regional communities.
Vision
Join us as we champion a culture where the screen industry work together to feed innovation, creativity, and economic opportunity, putting the Fraser Coast on the global map of destinations to produce impacting content.
As a regional screen film community, we have the ability to create a space where voices can be heard through screen and media and can provide a much-needed outlet to emerging creative to explore the social, cultural, environmental and moral issues of our modern day. Every day, media is making a difference in determining how the public understands issues and frames conversations. Screen Fraser Coast commits to being part of the positive change to these issues and conversations.
SFC is a diverse group of industry professionals, community builders and visionaries with a common goal of building a sustainable screen industry on the Fraser Coast. We are here to serve our regional townships by establishing a platform for creatives to tell their stories, garner support and build community. By creating workshops, events and industry networking we seek to foster a healthier ecosystem for the Fraser Coast screen community at large.
Values
SFC thrives in a dynamic, collaborative work environment that is grounded in our mission and the transformative power of artistic expression. We do this by practicing our core values.
Community
We embrace a culture of enthusiasm and shared learning. We offer a welcoming environment that encourages genuine engagement and an experience of belonging. A place to learn, grow, and give back.
Creativity
We believe that the screen industry exist to make positive impact in our society. We empower our members to walk in the fullness of their gifting and desires to create and share their unique story to the world, inspiring others to do the same.
Collaboration
We engage with stakeholders and partners in pursuit of mutually beneficial outcomes.
Collaborating is essential and we start with ourselves by practicing mutual empowerment, flexibility, and respect. We champion our committee and volunteer members to walk in truthful and transparent sharing of information, opening a culture of accountability and trust.
Financial Stewardship
We empower our staff to have ownership of our financial goals and are disciplined in fiscal management so that we can achieve the highest quality of mission impact alongside long-term sustainability.
Meet Our Dedicated Committee
Our Committee
Amy Friesen
Co-Chair
Amy Friesen traded the sunny climes of Queensland for the snowy peaks of Vancouver, where she launched her career in film. After attending acting and film schools in Brisbane, Los Angeles, and Vancouver, she earned her first writing and producing credit with the documentary Paths of Dust and Hope, filmed on location in Mozambique.
Since returning to her native Australia, Amy has expanded her producing and writing slate with numerous short films, features, and documentaries. Her work has earned accolades, including a Best Comedy Finalist award for The Cookie at both the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) and the Far South Film Festival. She has also produced and directed with production houses Why Documentaries and Yesterday Stories, focusing on social impact issues and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities.
As the owner of Freestyle Films, Amy leads a team of dedicated filmmakers who share her passion for crafting unique narratives that leave a lasting impression. Blending innovation with expertise, they bring stories to life with creative vision and technical precision. Furthermore, Amy has lent her passion for film to help establish and produce the Hervey Bay Film Festival and the Fraser Shorts Film Festival.
A humanitarian at heart, Amy aspires to one day write and produce a feature film that showcases the most unlikely cultural heroes of our time.
Samantha Gould
Co-Chair
Samantha (Sam) Gould is the founder of Gould Productions. With a career that began on stage, Sam’s journey is one of creative evolution. Her early years were spent immersed in acting, including for her HSC and in numerous theatre productions, giving her a deep, firsthand understanding of storytelling.
Sam discovered her true passion lies behind the camera, where she channels her genius for organisation and project management into bringing compelling screen stories to life. This blend of creative insight and logistical expertise is the driving force behind her production house, Gould Productions.
A central figure in her local screen community, Sam has been the Co-Chair of Screen Fraser Coast for the past 18 months. In this role, she actively champions the region’s growth as a production hub. This work is further supported by Gould Productions, a fresh force dedicated to producing original film, documentaries, and TV projects across the Fraser Coast. Her commitment to cinematic talent is also shown through her work as Festival Director for both the Hervey Bay Film Festival and the Fraser Shorts Film Festival.
Drawing on her background as the owner of the successful Gould Marketing, Sam brings a strategic and professional approach to the creative arts. She is dedicated to transforming ideas into impactful films, documentaries, and series, making her an invaluable partner for storytellers.
Brooke Walkam
Secretary
Brooke Walkem is an administration and finance professional with the Fraser Coast Regional Council, bringing strong organisational capability, governance awareness and attention to detail to every role she undertakes. With a solid background in administration, financial processes and stakeholder coordination, Brooke offers the structure, reliability and communication skills essential to the role of Secretary.
In addition to her professional work, Brooke is the Co-Founder of You Good? Clothing, a purpose-driven Australian streetwear brand focused on normalising mental health conversations and supporting grassroots suicide prevention initiatives. She leads brand strategy, product direction, digital engagement and community partnerships, demonstrating initiative, leadership and a strong commitment to meaningful community impact.
Brooke has a genuine passion for television and film and is a proud advocate for showcasing the creative potential of Hervey Bay and the broader Fraser Coast region. She is eager to support Screen Fraser Coast in strengthening local industry connections, promoting regional storytelling and ensuring effective governance and administration within the organisation.
Elizabeth Stewart
Treasurer
Liz Stewart is very excited about the opportunity to be involved in this new initiative for the Fraser Coast.
She has spent the last three years with Fraser Coast FM 107.5 dealing with Accounts, administration, and Memberships, her most recent position as Treasurer.
She has a strong background in Live Theatre and Publishing, as well as having an association, with several Not for Profit organisations as Treasurer/Secretary.
Peter Pan
Committee
Peter Pan studied TV Production at TAFE and Digital Film at SAE. He spent eight years working in a Sydney-based video production and event company before relocating to Laos to establish a media company. Peter has had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects, including video production, film, design, live event production for corporate, local and international organisations, and government clients. With over 20 years of hands-on experience, Peter has developed a deep understanding of the technical and creative aspects of filmmaking and live production . He is honored to be a part of Screen Fraser Coast.
Jennifer Waithman
Committee
Sam Donsky
Committee
Sam believes every frame tells a story. From his first camera to studying a Bachelor of Film & TV at JMC Academy, his goal has always been to pursue his passion for regional storytelling through visual media. Aspiring to become a broadcast director, he is focused on building a creative network that empowers local talent and contributes to the growth of the Australian film industry. Sam is committed to youth involvement on the Fraser Coast and aim to elevate young filmmakers, giving them a chance to thrive.
Kevin Friesen
Committee
Kevin Friesen hails from the Canadian prairies, but found himself head first in an acting/stuntman career by the age of 21, in Vancouver BC. What was supposed to be a long and successful acting career for Kevin, was sneakily intercepted by an unknown skill and passion for directing, perhaps coming out of his own personal understanding as an actor. He quickly learned the ropes working as a director with Boldfish Entertainment on corporate videos and gained further experience on the documentary Paths of Dust and Hope, shot in Mozambique. Kevin later shot and directed corporate videos and short films in Sydney and Siem Reap and after a short film school in Newcastle, directed his finalist awarded short film, The Cookie. Whether it’s acting, directing, writing or just running a few cables on set, Kevin loves the film industry and is keen to see it grow in regional areas making it accessible to the regional communities. Kevin is known to get 3am script ideas which he pens down and is looking forward to sinking his teeth into a good ‘ole action film in the near future.
Jodi Good
Committee
Jodi is an experienced Project Manager with key expertise in developing ideas, research and analysis, preparation of rationale and costing, problem solving and stakeholder management. She has worked across varied industry sectors, State, Local and Federal government fostering partnering relationships. The challenge of delivering tangible outcomes that can benefit stakeholders and the wider community appeals to Jodi’s sense of social conscience in addressing economic, social and environmental needs. She has been completing a Bachelor of Creative Industries at the University of Sunshine Coast studying creative writing, collaborating on a creative writing anthology titled Anywhere but Here which involved writing and substantive editing, journalism, screen production and drama. Jodi lives in Hervey Bay and wants to be part of building creative capacity in the region which has so much to offer.
Rebecca Greenshields
Committee
In 2017, Bec moved with her husband and two children to Hervey Bay. She is proud to call Hervey Bay ‘home’. The family own and operate the multi-award winning local marine tourism business, Whalesong Cruises.
Nicole Fuss
Committee
Nicole is a Fraser Coast Community ambassador, born in Maryborough and residing in the region for more than 25 years. She has a wealth of knowledge of our region and is committed to supporting the community of the Fraser Coast.
With more than 10 years local government experience in various roles; 5 years overseeing the operations of WetSide Waterpark located on the Esplanade of Hervey Bay, 18 months in Customer Service and for the past 4 years working in the Grants team. In her current role she administers Council’s Community Grants program and assists in the coordination of Council’s incoming grants and considers herself a Grant nerd.
Nicole’s only experience relating to the film industry is acting in Hervey Bay High School’s musicals many years ago where she played the Devil’s jester one year and a Chinamen in another, clearly this shows that she is a bit of a character. Nicole is enthusiastic to support the local film industry and is excited to learn more about the industry along her journey.
Zac Shaw
Committee
Zac Shaw is an award winning filmmaker who has been making movies since he was just 7 years old. He is many things, but the most accurate description is story teller.
His love of film culminated in him starting his own videography business when he was 14 and since then he has worked in many genres and on a myriad of shorts and television series, including a stint with FOX Studios. He prides himself on being an all-rounder on set and in post production, however cinematography is his true calling.
Zac now lays his hat in Hervey Bay and has a dedicated local clientele, while still making himself available for passion projects and features with his former peers.
Our Key Initiatives
Empowering the Film Industry Across Fraser Coast
Networking Events
Join our regular meet-ups and workshops designed to connect filmmakers and industry experts, fostering collaboration and innovation.
Local Project Promotion
We actively promote and support local film projects, helping them gain visibility and reach wider audiences.
Scouting Locations
We actively support filmmakers and the industry and are here to find the perfect locations for your next movie shoot.
Talent Development
Our programs aim to nurture emerging talent through mentorship and hands-on experience in the film industry.
Industry Partnerships
Collaborate with leading industry professionals and organisations to enhance your filmmaking journey.
Community Screenings
Participate in our community screenings to showcase your work and engage with local audiences.
Get Involved with Screen Fraser Coast
Join us in our mission to elevate the local film industry. Whether you’re a filmmaker, enthusiast, or supporter, there’s a place for you here. Become a member, volunteer at our events, or simply attend and enjoy the vibrant film culture we nurture.