Script to Screen is proud to award eight filmmakers places on the 2018 FilmUp Mentorship Programme.
FilmUp is our high-end development programme for writers, directors and producers who have already shown considerable talent and tenacity in their work.
Each participant is matched with a filmmaker mentor, and will attend a series of FilmUp hub days that include round tables, workshops, and group work as part of the eight-month programme that is tailored to their individual needs.
The participants of the 2018 FilmUp Mentorship Programme are:
Armagan Ballantyne
Awanui Simich-Pene
Chelsie Preston Crayford
Ivan Barge
Jess Feast
Michele Powles
Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa
Vea Mafile’o
See the participants’ biographies here.
We would like to thank all the filmmakers who applied.
FilmUp is made possible with financial assistance from the New Zealand Film Commission.
6pm Thursday 12 April
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Following a full house in Wellington, Script to Screen brings Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa’s Talk to his home town.
In 2016 Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa (aka S.Q.S.), released THREE WISE COUSINS which took just under $1million at the NZ Box Office and went on to a successful Australian, USA and Pacific release. Passionate about telling NZ Pasifika stories, in January this year he released his second feature film HIBISCUS & RUTHLESS.
Join Stallone as he talks about the process of making his two self-funded films and the uphill battle of self-distribution. Stallone examines his journey as a first time filmmaker, what he learned along the way, what he would do differently, and his decision to stick to the self-funded route a second time – for better or for worse.
After the Talk, stay and have pizza on Script to Screen.
6 – 7pm: Talk
7 – 8pm: Cash bar & socialising with fellow filmmakers
$5 Koha for those who can afford it
Thank you to Auckland Council for their on going support.
EPISODIC LAB AOTEAROA is for writers or teams who have already demonstrated talent and tenacity writing or creating for television, web series, theatre or film.
If you are applying as a team, the team should include those who are actively working on the story only. You may be a team of writers, or your team may include a director, producer, and/or actor(s) but only if they play a central part in story generation. You cannot apply without at least one writer.
Each writer or team can submit one or two episodic concepts.
The independent selection panel will consider the strength of applicants’ prior produced work, the quality and originality of the episodic concept, the craft ability of the writer(s), and the feasibility of getting the series up onto the screen.
Applications opened: Thursday 29 March, 2018
Applications close: Monday 7 May 2018, 10pm
5-day immersive lab: July 23-July 27, 2018, Auckland*
*Travel and accommodation will be provided for participants who live outside of Auckland
To apply you will need to provide the following in one .pdf document:
There is a $20 application fee. Please deposit this to the following account: Script to Screen Te Tari Kupu A Whakaahua – 0302550178775-00 Ref: Episodic Lab – Applicant name.
Note: Script to Screen and its EPISODIC LAB AOTEAROA partners, selectors, participants and advisors are contractually bound to confidentiality in relation to all projects submitted and workshopped as part of the lab. Participation in the lab does not require writers or teams to share or relinquish any intellectual property rights in relation to their projects.
The EPIDOSIC LAB AOTEAROA is made possible thanks to generous support from NZ On Air, Lightbox, the New Zealand Film Commission and Images & Sound.
Script to Screen and Show Me Shorts Film Festival have announced the names of eight screenwriters who have been selected from 72 applicants, to participate in the 2018 Aotearoa Short Film Lab.
Congratulations to
Aotearoa Short Film Lab is a prestigious hothouse mentoring scheme for screenwriters and aspiring screenwriters to workshop new ideas for short film. Established in 2010 as a partnership between Show Me Shorts and Script to Screen, the Lab offers eight New Zealand short filmmakers the opportunity to develop their short film concepts and scripts with the guidance and advice of experienced industry mentors during a full-day workshop.
Two international short film makers will also participate in the workshop. Sofia Rodriguez from Chile and Ragini Bhasin from USA will fly to Auckland to develop their scripts with the expertise of local mentors.
Festival Director of Show Me Shorts, Gina Dellabarca, who was among the selection panel commented: “After reading this year’s Lab applications, there is no doubt that our short film screenwriters are leading the way in putting forward an increasingly diverse range of types of story. Hollywood could learn a lot from these bold and talented filmmakers. It is heartening for the industry that screenwriters and aspiring screenwriters are working on such a variety of stories. I only wish we could include more of them in our Lab.”
The mentors guiding participants to develop their stories are experienced short film and feature film screenwriters: Michael Bennett (Cow, Matariki), Shuchi Kothari (Coffee & Allah, Apron Strings), Jake Mahaffy (Wellness, Free in Deed), Gerard Johnstone (Housebound, The Jaquie Brown Diaries), Kathryn Burnett (Shelved, The Cult, The Strip) and Dianne Taylor (Apron Strings, Beyond the Known World).
Previous Short Film Lab participants have described the interactive workshop as “invaluable” and many projects have gone on to be funded and produced. Films developed with the assistance of the Lab have premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival (I’m Going to Mum’s), NZ International Film Festival (Tree) and Show Me Shorts Festival (Zinzan, Baby?).
The Aotearoa Short Film Lab is possible thanks to support from The Wallace Foundation and the Media, Film and Television department of the University of Auckland.
Script to Screen is delighted to launch a brand new pilot programme to develop distinctive writing talent in television drama. EPISODIC LAB AOTEAROA is the first programme of its kind in New Zealand.
“Globally, this century has seen an explosion of television storytelling. In New Zealand we have diverse talent coming through in the web sphere and the question is, where next? The Episodic Lab will increase the number of New Zealand writers – and the types of writers – creating longer form work that reaches the screen” says Script to Screen’s Executive Director Esther Cahill-Chiaroni.
“NZ On Air is supporting the Episodic Lab initiative as a way to encourage writers with fresh ideas that add to the range of television storytelling options. Better options for development was a key theme that came through the industry drama day we hosted last year,” says NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson. “We hope to see great New Zealand stories come through this initiative that win platform and financing support.”
Writers and/or teams with a track record will compete for 8 places in the pilot Episodic Lab, where they will workshop their concepts with experienced television writer advisors from New Zealand, Australia and beyond. The programme starts with five immersive days working on story after which participants go on to receive follow up mentoring and support, including introductions to the executives of episodic television platforms, production houses and funders.
NZ streaming service Lightbox, announced earlier this year, their commitment to invest in local content and continued support of homegrown talent. Lightbox Head of Content Charlotte Hill commented, “As fellow lovers of TV storytelling, Lightbox is delighted to play a part in cultivating the next generation of New Zealand writing talent and fostering the important growth of NZ voices on screen. We are proud to support the inaugural Episodic Lab and applaud Script to Screen for developing this groundbreaking initiative.”
Applications will be open from late March until the end of April, and the five-day lab takes place in Auckland July 23-27.
Esteemed international and local Episodic Lab advisors will be announced over the coming months.
The EPIDOSIC LAB AOTEAROA is made possible thanks to generous support from NZ On Air, Lightbox, the New Zealand Film Commission and Images and Sound.
Script to Screen presents a one-day screenwriting workshop for both emerging and experienced filmmakers of Christchurch.
What Do You Want?: screenwriter, playwright and novelist Duncan Sarkies leads a workshop on character objectives: how an understanding of what your character wants and the obstacles that get in their way can be used to generate ideas for your film. The day will be interactive with fun practical exercises to help you explore the power of motivated characters. (Bring a pen and some paper and limber up your writing hand and your brain.)
Date: Saturday 17 March
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Venue:150 Madras St, Christchurch. NZ Broadcasting School, Ara Institute of Canterbury
Cost: $20. Please bring cash on the day. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided but you will need to bring your own lunch.
Registration: Places are limited so please register
This workshop was made possible with the support from the Christchurch Creative Communities Scheme.
Reading a script is easy. Assessing a script and giving useable feedback is a skill.
Most scripts are in development for years, evolving through many drafts. A great script assessment delves into the heart of the what the draft needs and useful notes will excite the writer about the next evolution of the story.
This Talk will discuss what to consider with character, structure, story, dialogue, tone and dramatic premise and how best to communicate that to the writer.
If you are part of a development team join us to hear about the fundamentals of assessing and writing notes that will improve the next draft of your project. Christina Milligan, Brendan Donovan and Dianne Taylor are script assessors and script writers with a wealth of hands on experience and expertise to share.
5:45 for 6pm start, Thursday 15 February
The Basement, Lower Greys Ave, Auckland
Koha $5 for those who can afford it
Stay afterwards for pizza