Becoming a script editor

Lily Ng

Establishing a career as a script editor is not easy, but Macquarie University postgraduate student Lily Ng is well on her way to doing this, with determination and creativity.

Ng followed a BA (Hons) in Linguistics and Cinema Studies from La Trobe University with a Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Writing and a Postgraduate Diploma in Editing and Publishing, both from Macquarie University. She also has a clutch of qualifications in web design and publishing, and has completed short courses in acting at NIDA, and in screenwriting at Metro Screen and the University of Sydney.

Ng began her career at Visual Event Management editing their company profile, human resource documents and job pitch proposals to high-profile corporate clients. She also wrote press releases for their website in addition to her main role of event coordinating.

Along the way she has accumulated a wealth of experience, both paid and voluntary, in the film and performance world.

In film production she gained experience on short films, first as a make-up artist on Boy Serpentine, then as a script editor on Distracted. She found work as a casting director, stills photographer and publicist on the yet-to-be-released Australian feature Twists Of Fate. Most recently, she was script editor and casting director on the short film Along The Songline.

Ng also has a strong interest in theatre which led her to volunteer with Theatre 4a (T4a), an initiative of the prestigious Asian Australian Artists Association. She is now the organisation’s General Manager and her responsibilities include the development of its website http://www.theatre4a.org.au, marketing and communications, long-term organisational strategies, fundraising initiatives, editing new scripts for future productions, and project management.

She has performed in film, theatre and television productions including Stingers, CNNNN, and the independent short film Boy Serpentine, which screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2002 and was nominated for the Silver Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival in 2000.

Ng also works voluntarily as a producer and film reviewer for Cinemascape at 89.7FM Eastside Radio, where she discusses new films every fortnight with the Cinemascape team. It is in this medium that she next plans to combine her creativity and skill – to write a play for radio.  

“Writing and editing skills can be used in almost any industry,” says Ng. “What makes it interesting is the diversity of content and form which they can apply to, from fictional scripts to corporate documents.”

As for advice, Ng says, “Gaining access to industries of your interest may be difficult, so being persistent and doing voluntary work can help you to achieve this and make it fun while also giving back to the community. However, once you’re in, you have to have the skills to prove yourself and gain credibility. This is where a practical, higher-level education from Macquarie University has given me the edge.”

For more information contact Dr Marcelle Freiman (Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Writing): mfreiman@hmn.mq.edu.au or Associate Professor Pam Peters(Postgraduate Diploma in Editing and Publishing): ppeters@ling.mq.edu.au

December 2004

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