044: Deep Dive with Fiona Kelly: Building a Career as a Screenwriter

In this episode, Kirsty chats to screenwriter, story producer and script editor Fiona Kelly, about her 30 years’ experience writing for Australian television.Fiona has over 280 episodes of Australian drama to her name on shows including Home and Away, All Saints, Sea Patrol, and recently Scrublands Silver S2 and NCIS Sydney S3.Fiona shares her journey as a screenwriter from her early days to returning to study through a Master of Arts in Screen Business at AFTRS, including her tips for those wanting to forge a writing career today.Listen to hear Fiona discuss:Her initial journey into screenwritingThe changing landscape of televisionThe difference between a writer, story producer and script editorWhy she decided to pursue further studyThe Master of Arts in Screen Business at AFTRSAdvice for aspiring screenwritersHer big idea to change the shape of the industryListen to Episode 44 on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe & leave a rating or review to help the show find more listeners.Follow Fiona and her work:Fiona on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-kelly-16002056 Fiona on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1282210If you’re interested in the Master of Arts Screen: Business at AFTRS, applications for the 2026 mid-year cohort (commencing August this year) are open now, until the 2nd of June. Designed for a new generation of screen leaders, AFTRS’ Master of Arts Screen: Business is Australia’s foremost creative screen business course. You can find out more at the links below:https://www.aftrs.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MASB-Course-Guide-2025.pdfhttps://www.aftrs.edu.au/award-course/master-of-arts-screen-business/This Deep Dive interview is hosted and edited by Kirsty Stark.If you’re enjoying the podcast, please leave a rating on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and we’d love you to forward this episode to a friend!Follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠This episode is sponsored by AFTRS, the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. Head to aftrs.edu.au to find your course and enrol.Don’t forget to subscribe & get weekly episodes in your inbox.