Ms Seema Devashri

Seema Seraphina Devashri is currently researching screenwriting empowered female protagonists under the guidance of Simon Weaving at the School of Creative Industries. Her research explores how to rewrite a female heroine to ensure she has agency throughout the narrative with a practice-based methodology that includes a feature length screenplay adaptation of The Little Mermaid (1837), a content analysis of the original text and two adaptations, and a professional learning journal that tracks the creative and development process. 

Using a conceptual framework derived from sociological and feminist theorists, this Masters of Philosophy project is influenced by the power of media and representation, the lack of empowered women on our screens, the pervasive influence of myth and the art of screenwriting, adaptation and character development. Seema is currently completely the screenplay through workshops with UCLA Extension.

Prior to starting at the University of Newcastle, Seema spent a couple years learning the craft of screenwriting with Max Adams. She wrote two feature screenplays, Responsibility and Artificial Sweeteners, and five shorts, loglines of which can be viewed seraphinaswords.com/screenplays. She has a passion for the writing process and in developing the best possible script for the story.

Seema is a casual academic at both the School of Creative Industries and the School of Humanities and Social Science, teaching and marking in a variety of subjects that reflects her past professional experience throughout the communications sector and her academic experience within the arts. She is currently the Course Coordinator for Film Studies (FMCS1200) and Hollywood and Beyond (FMCS2300) and this is her third year teaching in Media Storytelling (CMNS1090) and Digital and Social Media (CMNS1000). Other subjects have included professional writing, journalism and cultural studies.

Seema is also a Research Training Coordinator at the Office of Graduate Research. She is part of the team that oversees training workshops, events and communications with HDR students.

Seema also freelances various creative and marketing services, including styling, social media management and event direction to businesses and venues in the Hunter region. Before turning to screenwriting after the birth of her son, she worked in PR and marketing for various brands and organisations, including CHOICE, ICE and multiple fashion labels, artists and venues. She has worked as a journalist for News Limited and as a freelance writer and editor at a variety of magazines and publications. She has launched several of her own creative ventures, which can be viewed on seraphinaswords.com/projects.  

Seema is passionate about teaching and the university experience. This is some of the feedback received from her wonderful students during 2020:

• Very thorough when explaining content and answering questions. Supportive and understanding throughout whole semester. Great at generating class discussion and class participation. Overall an enjoyable teacher to be taught by.
• She was super friendly, very clear about what she expected from students. Knew the course content well and also connected it to real-world scenarios. Great at connecting with younger students.
• Clearly loved teaching the course and was always there to lend a hand. Also valued class discussion a lot which I appreciate in the online space.
• Seema explained all aspects of the course thoroughly, giving each member of the course individual feedback and assistance.
• Seema had a friendly approach to the class and delivering content. She always tried to make time to include everyone in the class on each week's topic, and always gave strong feedback on our work so we could improve.
• Seema has a lot of industry experience which is valuable to first year students.
• Seema has extensive experience in media storytelling and I really cherished being able to learn things from her. I valued very highly how she paid particular attention to every student and was always forthcoming when asked for help. Seema did an EXCELLENT job of teaching via Zoom during the shutdown period, especially given how difficult and unpredictable that must have been.
• Seema is very informative and guides the class well through the learning.
• Seema was really kind and an engaging teacher. What I valued the most was Seema's encouragement and interaction with the class.
• She provided insightful feedback and was extremely helpful with all of my queries.
• She shared a lot of her own experience with her work which was inspiring. Also the time taken with everyone to make sure they understood what they were doing.
• She was really nice and very approachable, gave good feedback and presented all of the content clearly. She was very patient and always made sure we understood what she was saying.