Matthew Barker(VIII)
- Writer
Matthew Barker is a screenwriter living in rural Victoria, Australia who has been writing for several years. While he enjoys writing in many genres, his favourite is horror, and hopes to develop elevated horror features and television with strong, complex characters within dynamic, innovative stories that stick in people's minds long after viewing.
As a trained counsellor in trauma, grief, and addiction, Matthew aspires to create authentic characters that reflect the real human struggle that brings an added reality to the escapism of horror and which ultimately makes the experience more rewarding to the audience. As a gay man, Matthew wants to reflect under-represented people and communities on the screen such as those from the LGBTIQA+ community, where their story isn't solely about their difference or their struggle with it. Where gay or transgender men and women of all ages and colours get to save the day too, just as they do in the real world.
Matthew won an Australian Writers' Guild national screenwriting competition for an un-produced screenplay and has had work win or place well in national and international competitions and programs, including being shortlisted in the Australians in Film Gateway LA Screenplay Program. He has had screenplays optioned in Australia and been hired by international producers to rewrite existing IP.
As a trained counsellor in trauma, grief, and addiction, Matthew aspires to create authentic characters that reflect the real human struggle that brings an added reality to the escapism of horror and which ultimately makes the experience more rewarding to the audience. As a gay man, Matthew wants to reflect under-represented people and communities on the screen such as those from the LGBTIQA+ community, where their story isn't solely about their difference or their struggle with it. Where gay or transgender men and women of all ages and colours get to save the day too, just as they do in the real world.
Matthew won an Australian Writers' Guild national screenwriting competition for an un-produced screenplay and has had work win or place well in national and international competitions and programs, including being shortlisted in the Australians in Film Gateway LA Screenplay Program. He has had screenplays optioned in Australia and been hired by international producers to rewrite existing IP.
