Last Updated 14/05/2020
The New Zealand Government has announced the country is now at COVID-19 Alert level 2. These are unprecedented times and now, more than ever, our industry needs to work cohesively for the benefit of the screen sector at large. For all the latest COVID-19 news head to covid19.govt.nz/
We at Script to Screen will return to our office from Mon 18 May after working from our homes during level 3 & 4. We are continuing to run our existing programme hubs online and are still available by email. There are great resources available to you while working in a reduced capacity, they’re detailed below.
Wishing you and your bubble safety in this time 👋❤️
If you feel like your mental health is in crisis or are worried about the mental health of someone you know, please visit the Mental Health Foundation website for a list of some of the services available in New Zealand that offer support, information and help. All services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week unless otherwise specified.
National helplines
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP)
Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
Healthline – 0800 611 116
Samaritans – 0800 726 666
Screen Sector COVID-19 Action Group
In response to the immediate impact of COVID-19 on the New Zealand screen industry, the sector has announced the formation of the Screen Sector COVID-19 Action Group and a screen-specific online information hub to address the immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry. This pan-sector team comprises many key screen industry guilds and organisations, as well as major stakeholders.
The www.screenindustrynz.co.nz website will act as a one-stop hub to assist screen producers and industry workers find screen-specific health and safety resources, wage and earning subsidy assistance and information, key updates on COVID-19 as well as relevant news and updates from screen guilds and industry organisations.
These unprecedented times call for calm and proactive decision-making in order to protect the local screen sector and to ensure that when recovery happens – and it will – the industry is ready to operate at maximum capacity again for our domestic productions and so that international line productions can return as soon as it is viable.
READ THE FULL RELEASE
VISIT THE WEBSITE
The New Zealand Film Commission
The NZFC has released a number of advisories on COVID-19. You can find the full releases on their website.
Their second advisory provides updated and clear information to producers and the wider production sector about what the NZFC is putting in place to support productions until the pandemic situation is resolved. All their funding opportunities remain open and available, other than the International Travel Grants programme which has been suspended.
In the immediate term, they are dealing with two distinct types of production that are being affected now.
1. Productions that have commenced principal photography or are in post-production
In response to the New Zealand Government’s COVID-19 alert level directive and advisory, all productions (as non-essential businesses) are now in hiatus. This is obviously distressing for everyone involved. We are committed to working alongside producers to underst…read more
2. Productions that have not yet formally closed finance or are yet to apply for funding but have a viable finance plan.
The NZFC continues to encourage and accept applications from producers for production financing if they have a viable finance plan, and continues to work on film closing documentation to ensure production can commence as soon as production dates and other relevant production details, are confirmed.. read more
