Following the recent New Zealand release of The Moon is Upside Down, Loren Taylor (writer/director/actor) joins moderator and writer Duncan Sarkies (Scarfies, and Two Little Boys) to discuss her writing process, the challenges of creating stories and characters that come alive on screen, and how she and her team moved this unique and beautifully crafted feature from her initial idea to production and release.
With a production schedule of just 22 days and a budget of $1.5million The Moon is Upside Down is a significant achievement. This promises to be a fascinating discussion and a rare insight into processes that will appeal to filmmakers at all levels, especially those wanting to make their first feature film.
“With exceptional performances, a deft tone and universal themes, The Moon is Upside Down is destined to become a film festival favourite. Those looking for blockbuster razzle-dazzle won’t find it here. But those looking for something deeper and more meaningful, well, they’ll find a lot to connect with.” – NZ Herald
Wednesday 26th June 2024
6:30pm – 7:30pm – TALK
7:30pm – 8:30pm – Cash bar, socialising and pizza
$5.00 + GST + Booking Fee. Sales via Humanitix to secure your seat
Where:
Te Auaha NZ Institute of Creativity, 65 Dixon St, Te Aro, Wellington
After the TALK, stay and have pizza on Script to Screen. There will be a cash bar and socialising with fellow filmmakers.
This Script to Screen TALKS is made possible thanks to New Zealand Film Commission, White Studios and Images and Sound.
ABOUT LOREN TAYLOR
Photograph by Rebecca McMillian
Loren Taylor is a director, actor and writer. Her debut feature as writer and director The Moon is Upside Down had its world premiere in competition at Estonia’s A-List festival POFF Tallinn Black Nights November 2023 where it played to sell-out houses and was awarded Best First Feature. Vendetta will release the film in Aotearoa New Zealand in May.
Hey Brainy Man, the NZFC-funded short Loren co-directed with Jo Randerson, won NZ’s Best at Te Whānau Marama NZIFF 2023. Evoke, a VR experience she wrote and co-directed was awarded the XR Award at DocEdge 2023.
Loren attended the Sundance Feature lab and worked with Taika Waititi on their award-winning screenplay for Eagle vs Shark. She won Best Actress at the Newport International and St Tropez Film Festivals for her role as Lily. As a casting director Loren has worked on, among others, What We Do in the Shadows, The Light Between Oceans and Top of The Lake. She is known for her work with children, which began with casting and on-set coaching for the Oscar nominated short Two Cars One Night. She is an advisor for and Board member of Story Camp Aotearoa and has been a guest mentor at A Wave in the Ocean.
ABOUT DUNCAN SARKIES
Duncan Sarkies is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright and novelist. His work, heralded by critics for its originality, is best known for its eccentric plots and darkly comic portrayals of ‘the outsider’ and the disturbed.
Duncan’s career has been prolific across a variety of mediums. He wrote one episode for What We Do In The Shadows and two episodes for Flight of the Conchords. He has written several plays, a short story collection and two novels. Linda Herrick of the Weekend Herald describes Sarkies’ 2008 novel, Two Little Boys, as: ‘Quick, clever, twisted, acutely funny…This is the most amazing book. It’s dark, wildly funny, vivid, and brilliantly original.’ Two Little Boys, adapted in 2012 for the screen (starring Hamish Blake and Bret McKenzie) was co-written by Duncan and his brother Robert, as was the massively popular Scarfies. Duncan also wrote and contributed to the writing of four episodes of ABC’s show Maximum Choppage that aired in 2015, and script edited for ABC’s Soul Mates. He was the director, writer and co-creator of The Mysterious Secrets of Uncle Bertie’s Botanarium, a fantasy podcast series, which Loren Taylor acted in. 2025 will see Duncan release a third novel, Star Gazers, an allegory about the collapse of democracy in a society of alpaca breeders, while he is also developing a television project with comedian Barnie Duncan and a film project with animator Ned Wenlock.
Duncan currently lives in Te Whanganui a Tara.
Hear from some of the key creatives of TVNZ smash hit, After the Party, a series many are calling the best new Kiwi offering in years.
Story creators Robyn Malcolm and Dianne Taylor and producer/director Peter Salmon come together to talk about their collaborative process, from the very earliest story conversations to the writing, all stages of production, and publicity.
Peter, Dianne and Robyn will discuss some of their learnings and how they managed challenges that inevitably arose along the way. With dynamic, talented speakers like these, this promises to be an interesting and stimulating conversation.
There are limited seats, book early, don’t miss out!
When: Tuesday 23rd April, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Arrive from 6:00 PM for a 6.30 start
Where: The Spinoff
1/615 New North Road, Morningside
(entrance is off Western Springs Road)
Please get in touch if you have any accessibility requirements.
Cost: General Admission $5.00 (Plus. GST+BF) via Humanitix.
Please be sure to arrive with plenty of time to be seated for a 6:30 prompt start.
Allow time to find a park. There are bus and train stops close to the venue.
ABOUT ROBYN MALCOLM:
Robyn Malcolm, a celebrated multi Award winning New Zealand actress is renowned for her iconic portrayal of Cheryl West in Outrageous Fortune. She is currently engaged in filming the feature Pike alongside Melanie Lynskey and features in TVNZ/ITV’s After the Party, which she co-created and stars in alongside Peter Mullan. Her diverse screen presence extends to Warner Bros/Discovery’s Far North with Temuera Morrison, Apple TV’s Black Bird with Taron Egerton and the late Ray Liotta. Notably, she has made significant contributions to Australian television through appearances in series such as Rake, Upper Middle Bogan, Wanted, and Harrow, and has graced notable films like Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lovely Bones, and Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake.
ABOUT DIANNE TAYLOR:
Dianne’s latest project is the six-part t.v drama, After The Party, (dir. Peter Salmon) which she created in collaboration with lead actor, Robyn Malcolm. It screened on TVNZ in late 2023 and is available to view on TVNZ+. Her previous work includes the feature film, Beyond The Known World, (dir. Pan Nalin) which was filmed in India and released in New Zealand in April 2016. Her first film, Apron Strings, 2008 (dir. Sima Urale co-writer, Shuchi Kothari) opened the NZ International Film Festival and screened in numerous film festivals around the world, including Toronto. Dianne also works as a script advisor and has mentored writers in the Show Me Shorts and Fresh Shorts development programmes. In 2023 she was invited to tutor at the FilmNomad Screenwriting Workshop in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
ABOUT PETER SALMON:
Peter Salmon is an award-winning director and producer working extensively in Australia and New Zealand. A co-founder of Auckland production company Luminous Beast, he co-created and directed the Sky Originals series INSiDE, winner of the 2021 International Emmy for Short-Form Series. His other directing credits include ABC’s Rake, Harrow for Hulu and ABC, Halifax: Retribution for the Nine Network, the CBBC/Seven Network/TVNZ co-production Mystic; the ABC’s The Beautiful Lie, starring Sarah Snook, the award-winning Nowhere Boys, Offspring for Network Ten, and Wanted for Matchbox Pictures and Netflix, for which he won the New Zealand TV Award for Best Director.
Peter produced and directed the acclaimed NZ drama After The Party and has recently completed directing Madam, starring Rachel Griffiths and Martin Henderson.
This TALK is made possible thanks to the support from the New Zealand Film Commission, Images and Sound, White Studios and The Spinoff.
Join Script to Screen and the New Zealand Film Commission for a live webinar on Tuesday 17th October 5:00-6:00 pm. You will hear about what’s needed to apply for Whiringa Tauatahi – Stage One of Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts and get a complete overview of the application process and the selection criteria.
Register for the webinar in advance and submit a question to help shape the discussion. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions during the webinar or you can email webinar questions to communications@script-to-screen.co.nz.
Webinar now available to watch on Youtube:
Image from I am Paradise written and directed by Hiona Henare 2021.
Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts is now open for Whiringa Tauatahi – Stage One applications. Applications are made via the Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts Funding Portal which is open until 1pm, Monday 6 November 2023.
The full criteria and requirements for the assessment of both Whiringa Tuatahi – Stage One and Whiringa Tuarua – Stage Two can be found on our website. Any enquiries can be directed to Emma Mortimer the Script to Screen Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts Programme Manager: freshshorts@script-to-screen.co.nz
If you are unable to join the discussion live, the Webinar will be available for you to refer to afterwards on Script to Screen’s YouTube and Facebook page.
KEY DATES
WHIRINGA TUATAHI – STAGE ONE
APPLICATIONS OPENED: Wednesday, 27 September 2023 (Apply via Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts Portal)
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 1 pm, Monday, 6 November 2023
ANNOUNCEMENT OF SHORTLISTED TEAMS: Early January 2024
WHIRINGA TUARUA – STAGE TWO
APPLICATIONS OPEN: Monday 15 January 2024
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 1 pm, Monday 26 February 2024
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FUNDED TEAMS: Late April 2024
DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP DATES: 8-9 June 2024
MENTORSHIPS: 10 June to 19 July 2024 (Six weeks)
Kōpere Hou – Fresh Shorts is a New Zealand Film Commission Short Film Fund and Script to Screen manages the reading, assessment, workshop and mentoring aspects of the Fresh Shorts Development Programme.
“The Convert ultimately represents a tremendous feat of reclamation, a Māori story told by a Māori director in the Māori language with a large Māori cast.”
Ankit Jhunjhunwala for The Playlist
Script to Screen is delighted to be presenting this special in-conversation with Lee Tamahori, one of New Zealand’s most successful and celebrated filmmakers. He is the director and co-writer of The Convert, a New Zealand & Australian feature film co-production starring Guy Pearce and Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, which had its world premiere at TIFF this month.
Lee Tamahori has an extraordinary body of work including Once Were Warriors, Mulholland Falls, Along Came A Spider, Die Another Day, and more recently Mahana aka The Patriach directing alongside Jitesh Mahana. Throughout his formidable career, Lee has continued to bring New Zealand stories to the international stage.
Paula Morris will moderate the discussion about The Convert, described at TIFF as a “Stunning, Sweeping & Action-Packed Historical Epic”. She will explore Lee’s approach to making the film, including story themes, ideology and past experiences that guided his decisions.
Tuesday 3rd October 2023
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
The Capitol Cinema, 610 Dominion Road, Balmoral, Auckland 1041
$5.75 (incl. GST) for sales via Humanitix to secure your seat.
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Optional socialising
After the TALK Script to Screen will provide pizza, and it’s buy your own drinks.
ABOUT OUR PANEL
SPEAKER: Lee Tamahori (Ngāti Porou)
Beginning as a commercial artist and photographer, Lee Tamahori joined the New Zealand film industry in the late 1970s as a boom operator. He became an assistant director a decade later. Making international award-winning commercials for 10 years, he has also directed several TV series.
His big break as a director came with Once Were Warriors (1994). The film went on to outgross Jurassic Park on its New Zealand release, and won audiences, acclaim and awards around the world. Shot in a style that mixes gritty realism with bold use of colour, Once Were Warriors examined a world of domestic violence and gangs for an urban Māori family. The movie’s unflinching depictions of the former matched Tamahori’s desire for films that evoke a response: films that “make you reel out of the theatre and you have to go to a bar and have a drink.”
Biography taken from IMDB and NZOnScreen.
Photo credit: Kirsty Griffin
MODERATOR: Paula Morris (MNZM, Associate Professor, English and Drama Director, Master of Creative Writing)
Paula Morris (Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāti Whātua) is an award-winning Auckland fiction writer and essayist. She writes on film for the site KoreaSeen, and directs the Master of Creative Writing at the University of Auckland. She is the editor of the new anthology Hiwa: Contemporary Māori Short Stories.
Photo Credit: Colleen Maria Lenihan
This Script to Screen TALK is made possible thanks to generous support from
New Zealand Film Commission, Foundation North, Images & Sound, White Studios and The Capitol Cinema.
Ever wondered how to start a career writing for film or television? Three highly accomplished and successful writers will share their stories about the pathways they took to a career in the screen industry. Hear about the discoveries they made along the way, difficulties they encountered, and how they overcame obstacles to establish successful screenwriting careers.
An exceptional group of New Zealand screenwriters, our speakers for this event now include Pip Hall (The Dance Exponents-Why Does Love, One Lane Bridge, Runaway Millionaires), Briar Grace-Smith (Cousins, Rurangi, Strength of Water), and Michael Bennett (The Gone, In Dark Places, Matariki). Jackie Dennis, Executive Director of Script to Screen, will moderate the TALK.
Each speaker has a unique story that demonstrates their choices on the road to success. Come along – they will inspire you on your journey.
Friday, 11th August 2023
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – TALK
Screen CanterburyNZ Office
ChristchurchNZ – BNZ Centre, Level 3, 101 Cashel Street
For access to the venue, there is a lane off Cashel St Mall between Michael Hill & Spark. Lifts are on the left.
Wheelchair access is available.
$5.75 (incl. GST) for sales via EventBrite to secure your seat.
7:15 pm – 8:15 pm – Optional socialising
After the TALK we will move to the Kaiser Brew Garden for socialising with other attendees. Script to Screen will provide pizza, and it’s buy your own drinks.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Pip Hall
Pip Hall has written for television and theatre, and won awards in both mediums. She started her screen career writing for sketch shows like Skitz and Telly Laughs, and enjoyed a long working relationship with soap Shortland Street. She went on to work on the scripts for Kiwi TV movies Why Does Love? and Runaway Millionaires, miniseries Jonah (about Jonah Lomu) and crime show One Lane Bridge.
“I love telling stories because I want to share the human condition, so that we know we are not alone in this big, crazy world; so we can celebrate our similarities and our differences.” – Pip Hall
Briar Grace-Smith
Briar Grace-Smith is of Ngā Puhi descent and a writer of short fiction, stage plays and feature films. Her plays include Ngā Pou Wāhine, Purapurawhetū and When Sun and Moon Collide. She is an Arts Foundation Laureate and was recently made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to film, television and theatre. She has worked as a Development Executive for the New Zealand Film Commission and taught ‘Writing for Theatre’ at IIML (2015). Briar is a Sundance alumni and the writer of the feature films The Strength of Water and Fresh Meat. Her television credits include Fishskin Suit, Being Eve, Kaitangata Twitch and the Australian children’s television series, Grace Beside Me (2017). She was a director and co-writer of the short film, Nine of Hearts, and wrote and directed Charm for the feature project Waru (2017). She collaborated with Toi Whakaari, directing Krystal, a short film by Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu. She was the screenwriter and co-director of the feature film Cousins, and is a writer and co-director of Rūrangi, Series 2. Briar was made a member of the Directors branch of the Academy in 2022.
Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) is an award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker and author. He is the 2020 recipient of the Te Aupounamu Māori Screen Excellence Award, awarded by the NZ Film Commission for excellence in Māori filmmaking. Michael’s short films and feature films have screened and won awards internationally, including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, Locarno, New York, London, ImagiNative and Dreamspeakers. Michael devoted many years of his recent career to the fight for justice for Teina Pora, a young Māori man wrongly imprisoned for 21 years. Michael made the documentary The Confessions of Prisoner T, which lead to the discovery of evidence pivotal to Teina’s exoneration. Michael directed and co-wrote the feature film In Dark Places (2019) about Teina’s case, which was finalist for a record 11 awards in the NZ Television Awards, winning Best Film and Best Director. Michael has been head writer or showrunner for many dozens of hours of prime-time television drama including The Gone (NZ / Ireland crime thriller), Vegas (crime thriller), Te Kohu (supernatural drama), Mataku (the Māori Twilight Zone). Michael’s debut novel Better The Blood, a crime thriller, was published in 2022 in the UK, USA, Australia and NZ, with nine international translations. Better The Blood was a finalist for the fiction prize at the 2023 New Zealand literary awards (The Ockhams), the first time a crime novel has been shortlisted for the premiere NZ literary award. Michael is currently adapting his novel for television, and writing the second book in the series, Return To Blood.
This Script to Screen TALK is made possible thanks to generous support from
New Zealand Film Commission, Te Puna Matarau, Screen CanterburyNZ, Images & Sound and South Island Media.
This STS TALK will cover the essentials of a rigorous development process, and how to create a standout application for further advice or funds. Having a strong idea and a great filmmaking team is just the beginning.
Nicole Dade, visiting from Sydney, will demystify the development process, from your story idea onwards. She will delve into what makes a great application, including all the essential documents you’ll need and how to know if you and your story are ready to apply. She will also talk about working with producers and script consultants during that development phase. There will be an opportunity for questions. You will leave knowing how to take your application and your project to the next level.
ABOUT NICOLE DADE
Nicole Dade is a screenwriter, story developer and story/script producer with 15 years’ international experience in TV, film and online scripted content. She is a screenwriter of original and commissioned work and also contributes to writers’ rooms as writer, script editor or script producer. A skilled story and script consultant, Nicole is highly regarded for her creative and strategic insight and for her expertise in screen story and genre craft. She has extensive development experience working with writers, production companies, screen agencies and broadcasters at all stages of a project’s life cycle, from the kernel of an idea through development and production. As a senior creative executive, Nicole’s roles include development executive at Screen Australia, where she worked with many of Australia’s finest filmmakers. She is an industry consultant and assessor for international funding agencies.
Nicole is passionate about the power of storytelling and in fostering and championing diverse stories and voices. She designs and leads talent programmes internationally, and presents workshops using her Elements of Story programme, which she created to demystify the principles of screen storytelling.
Friday 30 June 2023
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – TALK
Screen CanterburyNZ Office
ChristchurchNZ – BNZ Centre, Level 3, 101 Cashel Street
Access to the venue is down Five Lanes between Michael Hill & Spark.
Wheelchair access is available.
$5.75 (incl. GST) for sales via EventBrite to secure your seat
Script to Screen TALKS are made possible thanks to generous support from:
New Zealand Film Commission, Te Puna Matarau, and Screen CanterburyNZ .
Script to Screen welcomes BAFTA and AWGIE winning screenwriter Anthony Mullins to Aotearoa.
Join us as Anthony discusses screenwriting and how writers can explore and excel in telling more complex, intricate, authentic stories. Anthony challenges the conventions of story structure and character arcs, expanding your possibilities as a storyteller.
This is a fantastic opportunity to hear from one of Australia’s leading screenwriters, and author of the book Beyond the Hero’s Journey: Crafting Powerful and Original Character Arcs for the Screen.
Essential for anyone interested in writing scripts for film and TV series, this TALK will take place in both Wellington and Auckland in early May.
ABOUT ANTHONY MULLINS
Anthony is a BAFTA and AWGIE award winning screenwriter, director and script producer. The projects Anthony has written and directed have won numerous international awards including a Primetime Emmy, an International Digital Emmy, two BAFTAs and five Australian Writer’s Guild awards. One of Anthony’s first short films (STOP, 2000) was nominated for the Palme d’Or for short films at the Cannes Film Festival. One of Anthony’s first TV assignments was writing and directing two spin-off web series for the hit US television series LOST, one of which won a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Interactive Television (Dharma Wants You, 2009). In 2022, Anthony’s play, The Norman Mailer Anecdote was a finalist in the Queensland Premier’s Drama Awards. His book Beyond the Hero’s Journey is based in part on his doctorate and was released by New South Publishing (UNSW) in 2021. It has so far been released in Australia, the UK, the United States and will be released in China in 2023.
WELLINGTON TALK
Tuesday 2 May 2023
6:30 – 7:30pm – TALK
7:30 – 8:30pm – Cash bar, socialising and pizza
Tapere Iti, Te Auaha NZ Institute of Creativity, 65 Dixon St, Te Aro, Wellington
After the TALK, stay and have pizza on Script to Screen. There will be a cash bar and socialising with fellow filmmakers.
$5.75 (incl. GST) for sales via EventBrite to secure your seat
AUCKLAND TALK
Wednesday 3 May 2023
6:30 – 7:30pm – TALK
7:30 – 8:30pm – Cash bar, socialising and pizza
Capitol Cinema, 610 Dominion Road, Balmoral, Auckland
After the TALK, stay and have pizza on Script to Screen. There will be a cash bar and socialising with fellow filmmakers.
$5.75 (incl. GST) for sales via EventBrite to secure your seat
Script to Screen TALKS are made possible thanks to generous support from
New Zealand Film Commission, Foundation North, Te Auaha NZ Institute of Creativity, The Capitol Cinema and White Studios.
Take care of our children. Take care of what they hear. Take care of what they see. For how the children grow, so will the shape of Aotearoa.– Dame Whina Cooper
So many screen stories start with a personal or memorable experience that often includes other people. When developing a script based on actual events, it helps to understand your place in the story, how far you can stray from the truth, and who you need to consult with. This TALK will cover those challenges and other considerations for autobiographical projects and stories about a public figure.
Hear from three outstanding writer-directors, Welby Ings (Punch, Sparrow), Mathew J. Saville (Juniper, Dive) and Paula Whetu Jones (Whina, Waru), as they discuss their recent experience weaving screen stories from truth, memory, and social history. Moderated by filmmaker Karin Williams (SIS, Teine Sa), this promises to be an insightful and valuable conversation.
Join us at Tapac on Wednesday, the 29th of March, at 6:30 pm.
Wednesday 29 March 2023
6:30 – 7:30pm -TALK
7:30 – 8:30pm – Cash bar, socialising and pizza
TAPAC, 100 Motions Rd, Western Springs, Auckland
After the TALK, stay and have pizza on Script to Screen, there will be a cash bar and socialising with fellow filmmakers.
$5.75 (incl. GST) for sales via EventBrite to secure your seat.
$5.00 cash at the door.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
WELBY INGS is a multi-award winning designer, filmmaker, and writer. His short films, Boy, Munted and Sparrow have been selected in competition at over 80 international film festivals. His critically acclaimed LGBTQI+ feature film Punch had its international premiere last year in Tallinn Black Nights, and it is currently programmed across a spectrum of international festivals. As well as being a film director Welby is also a Professor in Narrative Design at Auckland University of Technology.
MATTHEW J. SAVILLE is an award-winning writer, director and actor. Having graduated from New Zealand’s National Drama School, Toi Whakaari, it was directing that really sparked Matt’s passion. HIs directorial debut – 2012’s NZFC funded short film Hitch Hike – thumbed its way to festivals all around the world and Matt’s sophomore effort, the multi-award winning Dive, premiered at the prestigious Telluride Film Festival. Both films have garnered millions of views online. In 2021 he wrote and directed his first feature film Juniper, starring Academy Award nominee Charlotte Rampling. Aside from a strong festival run, Juniper opened theatrically worldwide in territories including the UK, Scandinavia and Australia and will be released theatrically in the US and Canada in January 2023.
PAULA WHETU JONES
Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Whakatohea Ngati Porou.
Born and raised in Hastings, I went to film school where I specialised in things I never went on to do but I did learn the processes and discipline of film and TV. My foray into documentary came from being tired of people perpetuating stereotypes and getting “our” stories wrong. For me, it is all about context. If you don’t know the world, it’s much harder to get authenticity in your story.
I’ve been in the industry for over 20 years and have worked in all production areas, but lately I have moved from doco to drama. I recently co-directed and co-wrote the feature film Whina and was one of the Māori Women writer-directors on Waru. I am currently a co-writer and co-director on a Warner Bros NZ series, the creator, co-writer and co-director of a series for Neon, and I’m in the second draft of a historical NZ feature script for Sweetshop and Green.
KARIN WILLIAMS is a descendant of British settlers in Aotearoa and ancestors from the South Pacific island of Aitutaki. She began her career as a reporter at the Cook Islands News in Rarotonga, going on to work as a writer, director and producer for broadcast networks in New Zealand and the USA. She founded Multinesia Productions to support global indigenous storytelling and has worked with first nations communities in Canada, Alaska and the Pacific. Her independent film projects have screened at festivals around the world. Recent credits include Teine Sā, a Pacific horror/anthology series for Sky NZ Originals, and the acclaimed Polynesian sketch comedy series, SIS for Comedy Central.
Script to Screen TALKS are made possible thanks to generous support from New Zealand Film Commission, Foundation North and White Studios.
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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Anton Monstead
Music Supervisor Elvis, Head of Music Amazon Studios
Anton Monsted is a music producer and industry executive best known for his role as the head of music at Amazon Studios. In this position, he is responsible for overseeing the music strategy for the studio’s original content, including films and television shows. Anton brings a wealth of experience to his role, having worked in the music industry for many years as a producer, executive, and consultant. He has a deep understanding of the music business and is known for his ability to identify and develop new talent, as well as his expertise in music supervision and licensing. With his extensive network of industry contacts and his passion for music, Anton is well-positioned to lead Amazon Studios’ music efforts into the future.
Amos Newman
Amos Newman currently heads the Music Department at FIFTH SEASON, formally Endeavor Content. Amos oversees all music-related matters across FIFTH SEASON’s film and television studios. His group recently received their first Emmy nomination and win for Teddy Shapiro’s brilliant score on Apple TV’s Severance. Other notable FIFTH SEASON projects include Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Oscar-nominated film The Lost Daughter, the critically-acclaimed tv shows; Killing Eve and The Morning Show, and the documentary series McCartney 3, 2, 1 hosted by Rick Rubin. Amos’ role extends to producing music-based IP. He is currently developing an Otis Redding bio-feature, as well as a feature-length documentary about the legendary band Earth, Wind and Fire. Prior to joining FIFTH SEASON, Amos was a partner agent, and Head of the Music for Visual Media Group at William Morris Endeavor. There he guided the careers of notable composers such as Hans Zimmer, Ludwig Göransson, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Randy Newman and many more. Amos lives with his wife and two children in Los Angeles, CA. He is a graduate of the USC School of Music.
Karyn Rachtman
Music Supervisor
Karyn Rachtman is an American music supervisor, producer, best known for her work in the film and television industries. She has been responsible for overseeing the music for numerous high-profile productions, including the iconic films Pulp Fiction and Boogie Nights, as well as popular television shows like Breaking Bad. With a deep knowledge of music and a keen ear for discovering new talent, Karyn has become one of the most sought-after music supervisors in the entertainment industry. Her innovative approach to music supervision has earned her a reputation as a true tastemaker, helping to shape the sound of modern film and television. In addition to her work as a music supervisor, Karyn is also a talented producer, having released several compilation albums and worked with a wide range of artists.
Serj Tankian
System of A Down Founder, Composer, Artist & Activist
Serj Tankian is an Armenian-American singer, songwriter, and political activist. He is best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and keyboardist of the Grammy-winning alternative metal band System of a Down. With his unique and powerful voice, Serj has become one of the most recognizable figures in the heavy metal genre, known for his politically charged lyrics and socially conscious message. In addition to his work with System of a Down, Serj has released several critically acclaimed solo albums, incorporating a range of musical styles including classical, jazz, and world music. He is also an outspoken political activist, using his platform to advocate for a variety of causes, including human rights, environmentalism, and animal welfare. Serj’s music and activism have made him a powerful voice in the world of rock music and beyond.
Carol Dunn
Executive Proudcer, Human Worldwide
Carol Dunn is an Experienced Executive Producer with over 25 years demonstrated history of working in the entertainment industry – record labels, music publishing and advertising. Skilled in Music Supervision, Licensing, Music Production, Music Entertainment, Business Development, Sales, Marketing & Branding, Diversity & Inclusion Advocate, Culture & Talent Manager.
Carol has 17 years of content creation production experience; specializing in pre and post-production music for advertising.
Gerard Johnstone, in conversation with Dominic Corry, will talk about the big picture intentions he had approaching the film as well as some deep detail on methods he used to scare us and make us laugh.
M3GAN is short for Model 3 Generative Android, and is written by Akela Cooper (Malignant) from a story by James Wan (Saw, Aquaman). The animatronic doll is created by combining a doll, a dancer/performer, a voice artist and CGI. We’ll hear how Gerard brought this unique android character to life and the local talent he worked with in the process.
Shot partly in Auckland in 2021, the film moved from Canada to New Zealand due to the pandemic, employing New Zealand cast and crew and working with WETA Workshop.
This film has revealed a distinct directing style for Gerard Johnstone as his pathway takes him from low-budget comedy horror Housebound to working with Blumhouse Productions and one of Hollywood’s big film studios, Universal Pictures.
Come along to this talk to hear how Gerard did it!
Tue 31 January 2023
7:30 – 8:30– Online TALK
This is a FREE Online event. Those who purchased tickets for the in-person event will be fully refunded.
GERARD JOHNSTONE
After twice winning the 48Hours film contest, Gerard Johnstone used some of the prize money to make a pilot for a comedy. Though the project went nowhere, TV3 went on to screen two seasons of his award-winning comedy The Jaquie Brown Diaries. In 2014 Johnstone’s first movie — horror comedy Housebound — garnered acclaim, awards and interest from America. In 2016 Johnstone rebooted 80s series Terry and the Gunrunners as Terry Teo. The show’s online debut won headlines, after it was judged too mature to screen in a children’s slot. Johnstone’s second feature is Blumhouse horror movie M3gan, from an idea by James Wan.
DOMINIC CORRY
Dominic Corry has been one of New Zealand’s most vocal and enthusiastic film critics for over ten years.
Script to Screen TALKS are made possible thanks to generous support from
New Zealand Film Commission & Foundation North. A special thanks to our venue sponsor Capitol Cinema.