Supporting Documents

EPONA Development Pitch Deck 

The pitch deck provides an overview of EPONA, including the story, creative vision, cultural governance approach, development plan, audience and distribution strategy, production pathway, team, budget and funding request. The Supporting Documents page contains links to the full supporting materials referenced throughout the application.

1. EPONA Executive Summary 

Provides a concise overview of the story, development need, cultural governance, creative team, audience pathway, funding request and outcomes that Minderoo Pictures support would enable.

2. EPONA Draft Screenplay

Presents the current screenplay draft and establishes the story world, characters, mythology, themes and creative foundation that the proposed development program will substantially strengthen.

3. EPONA Screenplay Development Plan

Identifies the four major creative priorities for the next development phase, including the Epona and OLC character arcs, culturally authorised First Nations story development, feature structure and mythology, and a stronger climax led by Epona’s defining choice.

4. EPONA Development Framework: Methodology and Delivery Plan

Sets out the six month development methodology, schedule, governance, workstreams, decision points, deliverables and completion measures that will move EPONA from its current draft into a finance ready feature film package.

5. EPONA First Nations Cultural Governance, Consultation and Collaboration Framework

Establishes the principles, responsibilities, consultation pathways, cultural authority, Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property protections, compensation arrangements and ongoing community governance processes that will guide the project throughout development and production.

6. Walcha First Nations Letter of Interest and Support

Confirms the willingness of representatives of the Walcha First Nations community to participate in screenplay development under the Cultural Governance Framework while making clear that further permissions and future stage involvement must be discussed and agreed separately.

7. EPONA Development Investment Summary

Summarises the AUD 297,000 development program, the AUD 267,000 requested from Minderoo Pictures, the AUD 30,000 VAM Paddock Productions contribution, the three workstreams, intended outcomes and the agreed repayment position should the film proceed into production.

8. EPONA Development Budget and Cashflow

Provides the detailed allocation and timing of the AUD 297,000 development investment across screenplay development, cultural governance, research, production feasibility, audience strategy, market preparation, administration and delivery.

9. EPONA Audience Development, Marketing and Media Strategy

Explains how EPONA will begin building a trusted and measurable audience during development through its people, horses, landscape, cultural collaboration, community participation, content strategy, media positioning and existing VAM audience infrastructure.

10. EPONA Distribution and Pathway to Audience

Outlines the proposed pathway across festivals, theatrical release, regional activation, community screenings, education, television and digital platforms, supported by the producer controlled distribution model established through Just A Farmer.

11. EPONA Production Governance and Producer Structure Framework

Defines the production company authority, producer responsibilities, reporting pathways, financial oversight, approval processes, risk management and operational governance intended to support the project from development through distribution.

12. EPONA Preliminary A to Z Production Budget

Provides an indicative production estimate based on the current creative and logistical assumptions, allowing assessors to understand the potential production scale while recognising that the budget will be revised following screenplay development, breakdown, scheduling and feasibility work.

13. EPONA Key Creative Team Bios and Credits

Introduces the attached and proposed producing, writing, cultural, production, horse, legal, music, cinematography and cast team, demonstrating the experience and specialist capability being assembled around the project.

14. Signed Writer Engagement and Rights Assignment Agreement: Leila McDougall

Confirms Leila McDougall’s writing engagement, intended equal writing credit and assignment of her screenplay and development contributions to VAM Paddock Productions for the worldwide life of copyright.

15. Signed Writer Engagement and Rights Assignment Agreement: Shannon Green

Confirms Shannon Green’s writing engagement, intended equal writing credit, assignment of her screenplay contributions and the requirement for separate consultation and permissions concerning First Nations cultural knowledge and material.