Script to Screen is proud to award eight filmmakers with places on the FilmUp Programme for 2016.
FilmUp is our high-end development programme for writers, directors and producers who have already shown considerable talent and tenacity in their work.
We are also delighted to award a senior mentorship for the first time to writer/director Jake Mahaffy (FREE IN DEED). Mahaffy is a critically acclaimed feature film maker and will be paired with an international mentor in the coming weeks.
The participants of the 2016 FilmUp Mentorship Programme are:
Gaysorn Thavat – Director
Georgina Conder – Producer
Joe Lonie – Writer/director
Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu – Writer
Max Currie – Writer/director
Nadia Maxwell – Producer
Tim Van Dammen – Writer/director
Yamin Tun – Writer/director
See a full list of their biographies here.
Each participant will be matched with a filmmaker mentor from NZ or Australia over the coming weeks, and will attend a series of hub days that include round tables, workshops, and group work as part of the eight-month programme that is tailored to participants individual needs.
We would like to thank all the filmmakers who applied.
FilmUp is made possible with support from the New Zealand Film Commission.
Script to Screen presents a two-day filmmaking workshop aimed at rangatahi in the Far North region.
Join us in the April school holidays 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.
The aim of the workshop is to foster local talent and encourage aspiring filmmakers. The workshop is suitable for ages 15+, and adults of all ages are welcome. No experience or prior knowledge of filmmaking is necessary – but those with experience are more than welcome and will also benefit from the workshop. The workshop covers short drama and short documentary formats.
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. Whānau are also welcome to attend.
On Day 1, participants will hear from esteemed filmmakers – writer/director Michael Bennett and producer Quinton Hita, about the essential elements of storytelling and how to bring ideas to life.
On Day 2 participants will have the opportunity to pitch their short film idea to the group for advice and feedback. A noho marae after Day 1 includes screenings of Māori and other NZ short films and short documentaries. Whānau and friends are welcome to join us for dinner and movies. There will also be the opportunity to discuss your film ideas with the group after dinner.
Up to four of the writers who pitch on Friday will be chosen to go on to develop their ideas into finished scripts alongside a mentor. The aim is to finish the scripts in July, and to make the films in October at a five-day workshop. 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). Projects can be pitched in teams, and to be eligible for mentoring the teams should include at least one filmmaker under 25 years old. School projects are welcome. Anyone is welcome to attend the workshop and pitch their idea for feedback, but only those aged 15-25 years old will be eligible for script mentoring.
When: Thursday 28th April 9am – Friday 29th April 5pm. Noho marae on Thursday night. (These are the last two days of the school holidays.)
Where: Matai Aranui Marae, 49 Wikaira Rd, Whirinaki.
Cost: A $10 contribution towards food and accommodation would be greatly appreciated. Lunch, afternoon tea and dinner will be provided. Contributions of food also welcome.
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+.
This workshop is the first in a series of three film workshops in 2016.
SCHEDULE – Workshop 1.0
Day One – Thurs 28 April
9:00am – Meet at Matai Aranui Marae
10:30am – Storytelling for the screen with writer/director Michael Bennett (Matariki, The Confessions of Prisoner T) Learn about the key points of what makes a great story for the screen and how to stay true to the heart of your idea.
12:30pm – Lunch
1:30pm – Michael Bennett leads a group session on writing
2:30pm – Bringing projects to life with producer Quinton Hita (Taua, Mt Zion) Learn about the role of the producer, and the obstacles and joys of bringing a film to life
5:30pm – Break/help prepare kai
6:30pm – Dinner
7:30pm – Film screenings in the whare – prepare for overnight stay
Day Two – Friday 29th April
8:00am – Breakfast
9:00am – Writing
9:30am – Teams pitch their film project ideas one by one and receive feedback on their idea
12:30 – Lunch
1:30pm – Pitching resumes
4:00pm – Judging panel convene – group helps clean the space
4:30pm – Judging panel announce projects to go on for mentoring
5:00pm – 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. You are welcome to work in teams. 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 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.
There will also be time to work on writing these outlines during the workshop, so don’t worry if you don’t have one when you arrive.
Pitching
You will have a chance to pitch your idea to the group on the Friday. 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. 2-4 ideas will be chosen to be part of a mentoring programme offering the chance to work one-on-one with an industry professional on writing the script and 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. Those over 25 are welcome to attend, pitch their idea and get feedback, but will not be eligible for the mentoring programme.
Mentoring
2-4 ideas will be chosen to be part of the Hokianga Film Project. Each writer will receive mentoring, including one-on-one script mentoring, with a focus on getting their projects made. The mentoring will take place in the July school holidays, so those chosen to participate will need to be available then. The aim is to finish the scripts in the July school holidays, ready to be made in a 5 day workshop in the October school holidays. See below for more details.
2016 HOKIANGA FILM PROJECT – OVERVIEW
April – Workshop 1.0 – Storytelling for the Screen – A two-day workshop open to anyone in the Far North who wants to learn about crafting stories to be told on screen. Participants have the opportunity to pitch their project to the group for advice and feedback. Up to four writers will be chosen to go on for script mentoring, with the aim of the films being made in October.
July – Workshop 2.0 – Script Writing – A three day screenwriting workshop aimed at rangatahi in the Far North. Learn how to take stories you have written, or stories from your community, and make them come alive on screen.
July – Workshop 3.0 – Let’s Make the Films – Everyone who attended the first workshop and more! are welcome to come back to this 5 day workshop to help up to four writers make their films. Volunteer filmmakers will be present at the workshop to help get the films made.
Registrations for the April workshop are now open. Email Eloise to sign up.
For so many in the filmmaking team, work is done when the picture is locked. But the producer’s race to get the film an audience has only just begun.
Producers Leanne Saunders and Carthew Neal return from Sundance, where their film HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (Taika Waititi) and Carthew’s doco TICKLED (David Farrier) both pushed through obstacles to achieve coveted outcomes: successful premieres, great reviews and strong sales. HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE sold North American distribution rights to The Orchard for just under $2million, while TICKLED sold North American and world theatrical rights (ex. Aus/NZ) to Magnolia, and US TV rights to HBO. Similarly Leanne Saunders’ 2015 hit dance film BORN TO DANCE sold to 9 territories including to US distributor FilmBuff after a Toronto premiere and an appearance at Berlinale.
Join us to hear Carthew and Leanne talk to producer Julia Parnell about positioning their films from conception through to release. From taking the project to market, getting the right sales agents on board at the right time, to selling the film, come and hear what they’ve learnt along the way.
Join us before the talk for a drink and stay afterwards for a slice of pizza on us.
Tues 5 April, The Classic, 321 Queen Street, 7pm drinks, 7:30-8:30pm talk. $5 koha appreciated.
“The insights and inspiration I have received have been exponentially more beneficial than I ever imagined.” – Producer Julia Parnell (FilmUp 2015)
Calling screenwriters, directors and producers!
FilmUp returns in 2016, providing talented and tenacious filmmakers an individually tailored development programme to hone their creative practice, and take a step up in their careers.
Now in its fourth year, Script to Screen’s FilmUp offers up to eight writers, directors and producers a place on the eight-month programme. Participants receive 20 hours of one-on-one mentorship with an established filmmaker, regular hub days including workshops and round tables with guest speakers, and tailored additional support from Script to Screen.
FilmUp has gone from strength to strength, thanks to the generosity of our previous mentors: producer Jan Chapman (THE PIANO), director Ray Lawrence (LANTANA), writer/show-runner Neil Cross (SPOOKS), directing coach Brita McVeigh, producer Tim White (SON OF A GUN), writer/showrunner Alice Bell (THE BEAUTIFUL LIE), director Garth Davis (TOP OF THE LAKE), producer Helen Bowden (THE SLAP), director Leanne Pooley (BEYOND THE EDGE), screenwriter/script editor Keith Thompson (THE SAPPHIRES), producer Tim Sanders (LOTR), screenwriter James Griffin (800 WORDS), writer/director Rolf de Heer (CHARLIE’S COUNTRY), writer/director Jackie van Beek (THE INLAND ROAD), distributor Michael Eldred (BOY), and producer Vicky Pope (TWO LITTLE BOYS).
We’re excited to consider applicants with a strong track record for another year in this rewarding programme.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday 14th March 2016, 5pm
Read about our previous FilmUp mentorship pairings here.
Note: FilmUp Script Development will not run in 2016.
FilmUp is made possible with the financial assistance of the New Zealand Film Commission.
Come and join us for our first event of 2016 – an evening with Benjamin Illos, selector for the coveted Directors’ Fortnight section at Cannes Film Festival.
NZ short films have enjoyed considerable attention at Cannes, with nearly 30 being screened over the last few decades. However Directors’ Fortnight, a section dedicated to innovative and independent work, remains elusive to our filmmakers – the most recent film to screen being Christine Jeff’s RAIN (2001).
Hear Benjamin Illos talk to NZ writer/director Max Currie as they go behind the scenes at Cannes, exploring what goes into shaping the one of the world’s most prestigious festival sections.
Directors’ Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalisateurs) aims to identify and celebrate unique and powerful directorial voices from across the globe, and screens a mix of short film, feature film and documentary. The section can claim the first Cannes screenings of many universally acclaimed auteurs including Herzog, Scorsese and eventual Palme d’Or winner Ken Loach.
Join us for a drink beforehand and stay afterwards for a slice of pizza on us.
Tues 23rd February, The Classic, 321 Queen Street, 7pm drinks, 7:30-8:30pm talk. $5 koha appreciated.
Script to Screen returns to Christchurch to present a free one-day workshop for filmmakers with actor, writer, director and producer Jackie van Beek.
This is a highly participatory workshop where participants will be challenged to think about their stories in fresh and exciting ways. We welcome filmmakers of all levels, from beginners to those with experience.
What to bring? Participants must bring two ideas for a short film, with enough knowledge about the story to pitch it very briefly (one minute max). The day will be spent exploring these ideas through writing, acting and directing techniques.
When: Sat 27th February 2016, 9am – 5pm
Where: CPIT Broadcasting School, Television Studio – 171 Madras Street, accessible through the car park on the corner of Madras Street and Southwark Street, Christchurch. MAP.
Cost: The workshop is free
Coffee, tea, biscuits and fruit provided. Please bring your own lunch or buy from one of the cafes nearby.
Registration: Please RSVP to Eloise eloise@script-to-screen.co.nz or 09 360 5400.
This workshop is made possible with support from the Creative Communities Scheme.