Script to Screen presents a two-day filmmaking workshop for the Far North region, ‘Storytelling for the Screen’ with experienced writer/director Michael Bennett.
Is there a story from your community that you would like to tell through film but don’t know where to start?
Come and join us for a free two-day workshop that will give you the tools you need to take stories from your community and tell them on screen.
This workshop covers short film, short documentary and web series formats, and focuses on making a project on a low budget. The aim of the workshop is to foster local talent and encourage aspiring filmmakers to make their own projects, with the opportunity of working with a mentor.
The workshop is aimed at all levels, from those with screenwriting and filmmaking experience, to passionate storytellers looking for an introduction on how to develop stories that are cinematic. The workshop is suitable for ages 15+. We also welcome those who work with rangatahi in the Far North region, who would like to learn more about how to inspire their youth to write and make a film project with local content.
On Saturday the workshop focuses on the craft of storytelling, and on Sunday participants have opportunity to pitch their film project idea to the group for advice and feedback. Four of the projects pitched on Sunday will be chosen to work with an experienced mentor to progress their project. To be considered for mentoring, projects should be based in or strongly connected to Northland, and the mentoring is aimed at youth (recommended age 15-25 years old), so teams should include at least one filmmaker under 25 years old. School projects are welcome. Other filmmakers are welcome to attend, and pitch their idea and get feedback, but will not be eligible for ongoing mentoring.
Those who attended our workshop in February are welcome to join us at 5pm on Saturday for the noho marae, which includes film screenings and the opportunity to chat about their idea to the group after dinner. Otherwise join us on the Sunday morning, for the chance to pitch the idea formally in front of a judging panel. Teams that include filmmakers under 25 will eligible to be chosen for mentoring.
When: Sat 2nd – Sun 3rd May, 2015
Where:
Saturday 10am – 4:30pm – Northtec Rawene Campus, 26 Nimmo Street East. MAP.
Upon entering Rawene, Nimmo St East is the first right off Parnell St (main road) after Marmon Street. If you reach the shops you have gone too far!
Relocating to Tuhirangi Marae in Waima from 5pm on Saturday.
Noho marae at Tuhirangi Marae on Saturday night.
If you are joining us at the marae, please wait at the gate for us at 5pm. We aim to arrive at 5pm.
Sunday 9am – 4pm – Tuhirangi Marae, Waima. MAP.
Next to Waima School on Waima School Rd – off SH12, about half way between Rawene and Kaihoke.
Cost: $10 koha towards food – lunch, afternoon tea and dinner will be provided. Contributions of food also welcome. $10 koha towards accommodation for those staying at Tuhirangi Marae on Saturday night.
Registration: If you would like to attend, please rsvp to Eloise on eloise @ script-to-screen.co.nz or ring the office on 09 360 5400. This workshop is aimed at ages 15+.
Michael Bennett is a writer/director of Te Arawa descent (Ngati Pikiao, Ngati Wakaue), working extensively within short and feature film, web series, and documentary forms. Michael’s first short film Michelle’s Third Novel accompanied the US gala premiere of Pulp Fiction at the 1994 New York Film Festival. He has since gone on to write and direct internationally award winning shorts Cow and Kerosene Creek. In 2010 he co-wrote and directed the award-winning feature film Matariki which debuted at TIFF. He recently devised and wrote all 20 episodes of popular web series The Factory, and wrote and directed The Confessions of Prisoner T – an in-depth look at the Teina Pora case, of which he is now writing a book, and developing a feature film. As well as working on his own projects, Michael is an experienced script editor.
Schedule:
Day One – Saturday 2 May – Northtec Rawene Campus
10am – Welcome, tea and coffee
10:30am – 12:30pm – Morning session: The craft of storytelling in drama, documentary and web series (Michael Bennett – same as the morning session in the last workshop, for those who didn’t attend last time)
12:30 – 1:30pm – Shared lunch – sandwich ingredients will be provided. Please bring $10 koha or a plate to contribute.
1:30 – 4:30pm – Afternoon session 1: Finding the heart of your idea. Participants learn about pitch documents and how to get to the heart of their story.
4:30 – 5:00pm – Relocate to Tuhirangi Marae, Waima for an overnight stay.
5:00pm – 6pm – Pōwhiri
6:00pm – 8:30pm – Prepare and eat dinner
8:30 onwards – Film screenings and filmmakers have the opportunity to share their film ideas to the group for feedback.
Day Two – Sunday 3 May – Tuhirangi Marae, Waima
8:00am – Breakfast
9:00am – Tea and coffee for any participants just arriving
9:30am – 12:30pm – Teams pitch their film project ideas one by one and receive feedback on their idea.
12:30 – 1:30pm Lunch
1:30pm – Pitching resumes
3:30pm – Judging panel convene
3:50pm – Judging panel announce projects to go on for mentoring
4pm – Workshop ends
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO THE WORKSHOP?
Project Idea – optional
To get the most out of the workshop, we encourage you come with a project idea. It’s best if you can write an outline of the idea and bring it along to the workshop.
The formation of creative teams for each project idea are welcomed and encouraged e.g. writers may want to bring along their director and producer if they have them, or start thinking about who they might work with to get the project made.
The workshop is aimed at those working on short-form film projects, that is short films, short documentaries or web projects.
Participants are welcome to bring along and pitch full length projects i.e. a feature film or a feature documentary, but these projects won’t be eligible for our Hokianga Filmmaker Mentorship Programme (see ‘Mentoring’).
If you don’t have an idea, come along and listen. You might develop an idea during the workshop based on what you are learning.
Writing an outline
The outline should be half a page, describing what your film is about, what happens in the film, and what you want people to feel when they are watching it. You could also include why this story is important to you or why this story needs to be told. Remember to include details like, how long you expect to be (short films are usually 5-15 mins long), whether it is a comedy or drama etc, and the characters’ names.
If your project is a series – like a web series, then it is helpful to include a description of how the story develops over the episodes. You may also want to include a short summary of what happens in each episode.
Pitching
You will have a chance to pitch your idea to the group on Sunday. Your idea might change throughout the weekend or you might end up pitching a new idea based on something you have learnt throughout the weekend.
Pitching the idea will give you a chance to get feedback on the idea itself and how to best communicate it. Four teams will be chosen to be part of a six month mentoring programme offering the chance to work one-on-one with an industry professional on writing the script or getting the film/project made. To be considered for mentoring, the project should be strongly connected to Northland – so either the team members live in Northland, or the story is set in Northland (or both). The mentoring is aimed at youth (recommended age 15-25 years old), so teams should include at least one filmmaker under 25 years old. School projects are welcome. Filmmakers over 25 are welcome to attend, pitch their idea and get feedback, but will not be eligible for the mentoring programme.
Mentoring
Four writers and their teams will be chosen to be part of our Hokianga Filmmaker Mentorship Programme. In the programme each team will receive 8 hours of mentoring, including a combination of group work and one on one mentoring, with a focus on getting their projects made. The programme will be carried out over a six month period. The details of the programme will be tailored by Script to Screen to suit the teams and their specific needs.
Script to Screen presents a one-day filmmaking workshop for the Far North region, Storytelling for the Screen with experienced writer/director Michael Bennett.
Is there a story from your community that you would like to tell through film but don’t know where to start?
Come and join us for a free one-day workshop that will give you the tools you need to take stories from your community and tell them on screen.
This workshop covers short film, short documentary and web series formats, and focuses on making a project on a low budget. The aim of the workshop is to foster local talent and encourage aspiring filmmakers to make their own projects with local content.
The workshop is aimed at all levels, from those with screenwriting and filmmaking experience, to passionate storytellers looking for an introduction on how to develop stories that are cinematic. The workshop is suitable for ages 15+. We also welcome those who work with rangatahi in the Far North region, who would like to learn more about how to inspire their youth to write and make a film project with local content.
When: Sunday 1 February, 9am-5pm
Where: Northtec Rawene Campus, Nimmo St, Hokianga
Cost: The workshop is free. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided. Please bring a plate to share for lunch.
Registration: If you would like to attend please rsvp to Eloise on eloise @ script-to-screen.co.nz or ring the office on 09 360 5400. This workshop is aimed at ages 15+. (The Script to Screen office reopens on 15th January so if you call or email prior to this day and we will reply on our return to confirm your place at the workshop.)
Michael Bennett is a writer/director of Te Arawa descent (Ngati Pikiao, Ngati Wakaue), working extensively within short and feature film, web series, and documentary forms. Michael’s first short film Michelle’s Third Novel accompanied the US gala premiere of Pulp Fiction at the 1994 New York Film Festival. He has since gone on to write and direct internationally award winning shorts Cow and Kerosene Creek. In 2010 he co-wrote and directed the award-winning feature film Matariki which debuted at TIFF. He recently devised and wrote all 20 episodes of popular web series The Factory, and wrote and directed The Confessions of Prisoner T – an in-depth look at the Teina Pora case, of which he is now writing a book, and developing a feature film. As well as working on his own projects, Michael is an experienced script editor.
Day Schedule:
9am – Intro, morning tea
9:30am – 12pm – Morning session: The craft of storytelling in drama, documentary and web series
12 – 1pm – Lunch – please bring a plate
1 – 4pm – Afternoon session : A chance to share your project ideas for discussion and feedback
4-5pm – Ngā Aho Whakaari presents Waka Kiriata – a screening of Māori short films – snacks provided
After a hugely successful weekend at our annual South Auckland Short Film Workshop, we are excited to be able to announce the six talented storytellers whose pitches incited the imaginations and attentions of our guest judges.
Participants of the free two-day workshop, held at MIT School of Visual Arts in Otara, were encouraged to bring a short film idea to work on while hearing sessions on screenwriting, directing, casting and working with actors. The sessions were delivered by experienced filmmakers including actor/writer/director Rene Naufahu, writer/director Michael Bennett, writer/director Zia Mandviwalla, casting director Yvette Reid and actor/director Rachel House. At the end of the workshop all 28 participants were given 4 minutes to pitch their short film idea to experienced industry professionals.
Congratulations to the following winners, and their pitched ideas:
Vela Manusaute – The Messiah
Levi Matautia-Morgan – Whakarongo
Mary Campbell and Maria Walker – Matakite
Louise Tu’u – Déjeuner
Lene Aiono – The Cut Doctor and the Boxer
Isaac Weeks – Lost
These winners will be offered a place on our new six-month mentorship programme in which they will be guided by industry professionals through the filmmaking process. The ultimate aim of each mentorship will be to get each short film off the ground, whether this means writing a script, preparing for a funding application, or making the film on a micro-budget.
Warmest thanks to our judges who made the tough decisions: writer/director Michael Bennett (Te Arawa) and Performing Arts Tutor at MIT, Chris Molloy (Ngati Manawa, Ngai Tuhoe). Also thanks to Whetu Fala (NZFC) for her presence and support at the workshop. The calibre of the pitches this year was phenomenal, and truly exemplary of the quality of the stories and storytellers in the South Auckland community.
This pilot programme is made possible through financial assistance from the ASB Community Trust.
Script to Screen presents a filmmaking workshop on the web series format, with guest speakers Kiel McNaughton (creator/director/actor) and Kerry Warkia (creator/producer/actor), both of whom were key creatives in the successful NZ web series Auckland Daze and new series Nia’s Extra Ordinary Life.
Come and join us for this productive and inspiring one day workshop to learn about this growing medium, and the opportunities and challenges it provides. This workshop is free and open to anyone who is passionate about making film or TV. It is suitable for beginners through to people with filmmaking and/or screenwriting experience.
What is a web series? Web series are episodic dramas or documentaries – like a TV series, but only available online through TV on Demand, youtube, vimeo, the Web Series Channel, or a dedicated website for the series. Web series can be anywhere from self-funded to high budget, and episode lengths range from 2-100mins. Successful NZ web series include the NZonAir funded Auckland Daze and Reservoir Hill, which both screen on TVNZ Ondemand. Auckland Daze has returned for its second season as a broadcast show.
Why make one? Web series are usually shows with characters and themes that may not ever get mainstream TV funding, because they are too ‘niche’. Filmmakers can make short episodic drama about characters that they connect with, and use online avenues to find an audience. Some NZ filmmakers like Roseanne Liang (Flat3) are now turning to self-funded web series as a means to continue to produce creative work in between projects. It keeps the creative juices flowing while also allowing them to test ideas and processes on a lower budget.
Come and hear creator/director Kiel McNaughton (Auckland Daze, Nia’s Extra Ordinary Life) and creator/producer Kerry Warkia (Auckland Daze, Flat3, Nia’s Extra Ordinary Life) discuss the creative possibilities of the web series format. The morning session will cover writing, directing and producing a web series yourself, using clips to demonstrate. Followed by a fun afternoon session of sharing and discussing ideas.
WHEN: Sat 22nd March, 9am – 5pm
WHERE: CPIT Broadcasting School, 171 Madras St, Christchurch MAP
COST: The workshop is free but please bring your own lunch. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided.
WHAT TO BRING: A formed idea! You will have the chance to share your idea for a web series and get feedback.
REGISTRATION: Please RSVP to Eloise eloise@script-to-screen.co.nz
SCHEDULE:
9am – 10am Welcome, info, refreshments
10am – 12pm What does it take to get a web series off the ground?
12 – 1pm Lunch. Please bring your own lunch or use the cafés nearby.
1 – 2:30pm Let’s work through your ideas!
2:30-3pm Afternoon tea
4:30-5pm Wrap up, evaluation
Script to Screen and Ngā Aho Whakaari present a filmmaking workshop on the web series format, with guest speakers Kiel McNaughton (creator/director/actor) and Kerry Warkia (creator/producer/actor), both of whom were key creatives in the successful NZ web series Auckland Daze.
Come and join us for this productive and inspiring one day workshop to learn about this growing medium, and the opportunities and challenges it provides. This workshop is free and open to anyone who is passionate about making film or TV. It is suitable for people for beginners through to people with filmmaking and/or screenwriting experience.
What is a web series? Web series are episodic dramas or documentaries – like a TV series, but only available online through TV on Demand, youtube, vimeo or a dedicated website. Web series can be anywhere from self-funded to high budget, and episode lengths range from 2-100mins. Successful NZ web series include the NZonAir funded Auckland Daze and Reservoir Hill, which both screen on TVNZ Ondemand. Auckland Daze has returned for its second season as a broadcast show.
Why make one? Web series are usually shows with characters and themes that may not ever get mainstream TV funding, because they are too ‘niche’. Filmmakers can make short episodic drama about characters that they connect with, and use online avenues to find an audience. Some NZ filmmakers like Roseanne Liang (Flat3) are now turning to self-funded web series as a means to continue to produce creative work in between projects. It keeps the creative juices flowing while also allowing them to test ideas and processes on a lower budget.
Come and hear creator/director Kiel McNaughton (Auckland Daze) and creator/producer Kerry Warkia (Auckland Daze, Flat3) discuss the creative possibilities of the web series format. The morning session will cover writing, directing and producing a web series yourself, using clips to demonstrate. Followed by a fun afternoon session of collaborative group work. Bring your ideas to the table and get something made!
Sun 8th December, Rawene Hall, South Hokianga, 9am – 4:30pm, MAP
The workshop is free but please bring a plate to share for lunch.
If you would like to attend, please rsvp by email Eloise at eloise@script-to-screen.co.nz
SCHEDULE:
9am – 10am Mihi Whakatau, info, refreshments
10am – 12pm What does it take to get a web series off the ground?
12 – 1pm Shared Lunch, everyone brings a plate
1 – 4pm Let’s work through your ideas!
4-4:30pm Wrap up, evaluation
For any queries or to rsvp please email Eloise at eloise@script-to-screen.co.nz
Is there a story from your community that you would like to tell through film but don’t know where to start?
Script to Screen and Ngā Aho Whakaari present the 2013 South Auckland Short Film Workshop. This two-day event will give you everything you need to know to make a short film, guiding you through each stage – from the initial concept, writing, directing, the crucial element of casting and finally to pitch your idea for funding.
Come and listen to five experienced industry professionals who have all worked on successful short films, including Matthew Horrocks, who has produced or executive produced 7 local short films including Brave Donkey, and Zero, Hamish Bennett, whose short film The Dump played at festivals here and across the globe and was the winner of the 2012 NZ Writers Guild Award for Best Short Film Script, Christina Asher, the casting director responsible for many of New Zealand’s shorts, features and television series including Sione’s Wedding and Matariki, Zia Mandviwalla, whose debut short film Night Shift premiered at Cannes in 2012, and has since gone on to win awards at numerous international film festivals, and Michael Bennett, writer/director of Matariki whose short film Michelle’s Third Novel was chosen to screen prior to the gala premier of Pulp Fiction at the 1994 New York Film Festival. Hear also from last year’s pitching competition winner, Aroha Awarau.
Date: Sat 16 / Sun 17 November, 2013
Time: Saturday 9am-4:30pm, Sunday: 10am – 4:30pm
Venue: Manukau School of Visual Arts, 50 Lovegrove Crescent, Otara 2023
Cost: The workshop is free. Please bring a $15 koha to cover lunch for the weekend. Refreshments will be provided.
Registration: Spaces are limited so you must register your interest. Please rsvp to Eloise on eloise @ script-to-screen.co.nz or ring the office on 09 360 5400.
SCHEDULE:
Day One – Saturday 16 November
9am – 10am: Tea/Coffee and Introduction
10am – 12pm: Big Picture with Matthew Horrocks
An overview of what it takes to get a short film off the ground, driving a project from conception to completion and managing the team
12pm – 1pm: Lunch
1pm – 3pm: Writing with Hamish Bennett
Learn about the key points of storytelling and forming a structure that will grab the audience
3pm – 3:30pm: Break
3:30 – 4:30pm: Casting with Christina Asher
Learn about the important role that casting plays in bringing your story to life
Day Two – Sunday 17 November
10am – 12pm: Directing with Zia Mandviwalla
Learn about the directing process, forming a strong vision for your story and bringing it to life
12pm – 1pm: Lunch
1pm – 4:30pm: Pitching Session with Michael Bennett and an appearance from last year’s winner Aroha Awarau
Participants pitch their short film ideas to the class and mentors for some practice and feedback. One participant will be chosen to receive ongoing mentoring through Script to Screen.
If you have any questions please contact Eloise Veber on 09 360 5400 or at eloise @ script-to-screen.co.nz.