Raising production finance for your series demands great imagination, inventiveness and resilience. Although it can seem so unreachable, financing your series and reaching your audience in New Zealand and overseas, is possible.
There is an increase in the number of international co-productions in place to finance series that are conceived in New Zealand, and an increase in commissions from broadcasters / platforms / distributors as well.
To help demystify the process Executive Producer Richard Fletcher of Libertine Pictures will present a case study on the financing of three seasons (29 episodes) of Mystic. In the telling of this financing story you will learn how a NZ production company created an international series and how the parties involved contributed to the development, financing, along with false starts, alliance changes, and conditions that came with the money. The case study will cover the unofficial co-production with UK production company Slim Film + Television, bringing on an international distributor, and the broadcasting arrangements in NZ, Australia and the UK. Plus a candid look at the behind the scenes challenges and obstacles in getting the series into production.
This Deep Dive Workshop is a rare opportunity to hear about the pieces of the puzzle that came together to get Mystic into production and on screens around the world. Come along and be inspired by how you might do it too.
About Mystic
Mystic is a co-commission by UK children’s BBC channel, CBBC and TVNZ with investment from NZ On Air and Te Puna Kairangi (Series 2 and 3) with financing from Fulcrum Media Finance and is coproduced by Libertine Pictures and Slim Film + Television. The series is distributed by Daro Film Distribution and has sold to over 65 territories worldwide, including North America, Germany and France and to broadcasters including, ABC, ZDF, Canal +, Netflix and Disney +. It is based on New Zealand author Stacy Gregg’s internationally bestselling book series Pony Club Secrets with a combination of NZ and UK writers and was entirely shot and post-produced in New Zealand.
When: 9:30am-12:30pm Tuesday 18 October, with a 30min morning tea break
Where: Covert Theatre, 51 Mackelvie Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Who it is for: Mid-career and experienced practitioners who write, produce and direct projects
Cost: General Admission $80.00 (incl. GST)
ABOUT RICHARD FLETCHER
Richard has more than 20 years’ experience in international film and television production. He has produced and executive produced a range of feature films, documentaries and TV series, including Under the Vines, Mystic, We Are Still Here, Muru, Gloriavale, Griff’s Canadian Adventure, The Letter for the King, Rhys Darby: Big in Japan, The Legend of Baron To’a, Griff’s Great Kiwi Road Trip, Daffodils, Yellow is Forbidden, Belief: the Possession of Janet Moses, Wild Survivor, Walking with Dinosaurs 3D, The Last Ocean, Boy, Under the Mountain and River Queen. His productions have played at major international festivals including Berlin, Busan, Melbourne, Shanghai, Sundance, SXSW, Toronto and Tribeca film festivals and he has worked with a range of partners including the ABC, BBC, Disney, ITV, National Geographic, Netflix, Network Ten, Sky, TVNZ and Twentieth Century Fox.
Richard previously worked at the New Zealand Film Commission as Head of Business Affairs and in distribution in Australia for Beyond Films and in the UK for the Feature Film Company.
He has extensive domestic and international relationships across all sectors of the screen production industry. He has practical experience of film and television drama and factual production, financing and distribution in multiple jurisdictions. In addition, Richard has considerable experience in successfully managing the requirements of government funders, private investors and distributors.
For more information about Richard’s background and experience, visit his page at www.nzonscreen.com
