The Fresh Shorts programme offers grants of up to $15,000 to six new or emerging filmmaker teams to make a short film.
As part of the Fresh Shorts development process, shortlisted teams of filmmakers will be supported to attend a three-day residential lab 8-10 November, and to receive mentoring while they refine their scripts and proposals. Filmmakers who have attended previous development labs have been overwhelmingly positive about the experience.
Script to Screen is delighted to have Karin Williams join the Script to Screen team as Fresh Shorts Facilitator. Karin was Development Executive for the New Zealand Film Commission 2015 to 2018 and is an independent producer. She brings extensive experience as a producer and script assessor, and is passionate about supporting the next generation of filmmakers.
The 2019 round of Fresh Shorts is now open. Guidelines, pointers and other supporting documentation can be found at the Script to Screen website
Applications are made via the Application Portal
Enquiries can be directed to Fresh Shorts Facilitator Karin Williams
Applications close 1pm Monday 19 August
Image used is from Fresh Short film Shadow Cut
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FRESH SHORTS is a New Zealand Film Commission initiative run in partnership with Script to Screen.
Script to Screen, in partnership with Northland Youth Theatre, presents a free four-day film workshop in the July school holidays for 16-25 year olds.
The workshop will help participants develop skills in crafting a story idea, writing a script, and acting. The aim of the workshop is to foster writing talent and encourage aspiring filmmakers. No experience or prior knowledge of filmmaking is necessary.
On Days 1 and 2, participants will hear from writer/director Michael Bennett (In Dark Places, Matariki) about finding a story, crafting the story so that it is compelling on screen, and writing a scene.
On Days 3 and 4, actor Laurel Devenie (Shortland Street), will lead an acting workshop, using the scenes that were written earlier in the week. Each participant will get a chance to act in a scene. On the last day we will tape the scenes and watch them back.
When: Tuesday 9th – Friday 12th July, 9am-2pm
Light morning tea and snacks are provided. Please bring lunch with you.
Where: Northland Youth Theatre, 86 Bank St, Whangarei 0110
How much: Free!
Registration: Places are limited – please register via EventBrite
Presented in partnership with:
Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) is an award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker and author. Michael’s second feature-length drama, IN DARK PLACES, tells the story of Teina Pora’s imprisonment for 21 years for crimes he did not commit. The television film is based on Michael’s book In Dark Places which won the Ngaio Marsh Award for best non-fiction book, and Michael made an award-winning documentary about Teina’s story. Michael’s short films COW and KEROSENE CREEK screened at numerous film festivals including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, London and New York, and his debut feature MATARIKI premiered at Toronto Film Festival and won awards in New Zealand and internationally.
Michael has written and directed for many television drama series. As well as his own film and TV and book work, Michael works in communities around New Zealand with Script to Screen working with locals to tell their stories on film, he works with developing filmmakers through the NZ Film Commission and Ngā Aho Whakaari, and is head of the screenwriting programme at South Seas Film School. Michael’s second book, Helen and the Go-Go Ninjas (a post-apocalyptic time travel graphic novel co-authored with Ant Sang) was published by Penguin / Random House June 2018.
In 2015 Michael founded 10000 COMPANY with Jane Holland to create and develop original film and television projects. Their first production was In Dark Places.
Laurel Devenie works as an actor, director, teacher and theatre-maker and is a graduate of Toi Whakaari and the John Bolton Theatre School. She has played the role of Kate Nathan on SHORTLAND STREET for the last three and a half years and has worked consistently throughout the country in many different theatrical arenas, involved in both professional and community theatre projects. She has worked with ATC, Silo Theatre, Capital E, Unitec, Prayas, Downstage Theatre, Red Leap and NYT. She teaches regularly and works with actors in one on one sessions. She is director and founder of Company of Giants and co-instigator of ONEONESIX and is deeply committed to developing an audience and contributing to the growth of a professional performing arts framework in Whangarei, as well as generating youth based opportunities within the arts. She has facilitated arts based community programmes to work with different sectors of the community, most recently a collaboration with the NDHB facilitating an Arts programme to support a diverse group of young people living with T1 Diabetes in Northland, co-ordinating performance, photography, song, sound artists and visual arts into a cohesive year long process.
Northland Film Workshop is made possible thanks to
New Zealand Film Commission and Foundation North.
New Zealand funding agencies, NZ On Air and the New Zealand Film Commission have partnered on the development of ten series ideas with international and domestic appeal.
The initiative, Raupapa Whakaari Drama to the World, will support each writer/producer team to develop distinctive, high-end scripted series with an initial grant of NZ$10,000. Each team will also attend a Series Drama Lab, held in conjunction with Script to Screen, where international advisors will give feedback on story and market to assist the teams to further develop their concepts and strengthen appeal to the international marketplace.
Following the Series Drama Lab and submission of the re-worked projects, four teams will be selected to receive additional development funding of up to NZ$80,000.
New Zealand Film Commission CEO Annabelle Sheehan said “There really has never been a better time to tell stories than now, thanks to the global expansion of mega platforms such as Netflix, Amazon and now Disney with Disney Plus and then its takeover of Hulu this week. Drama to the World will support New Zealand writers and producers to develop distinctive projects and stand-out in a crowded global competitive landscape. “
“NZ On Air is thrilled to be supporting local creatives to potentially tell their stories on an international stage through this initiative. The incredibly high quality of the applications received spoke clearly of the depth and breadth of talent we have working in New Zealand” says NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson.
“Script to Screen is delighted to be delivering the Series Drama Lab, supporting New Zealand screen makers to tell extraordinary stories. The Lab will connect, upskill, and energise the participants and foster international pathways for their stories, and our industry” says Executive Director Jackie Dennis.
The ten successful projects are:
More information on the teams and projects, can be found here
Many of us long to see ourselves and our communities represented on screen. Filmmakers are in the unique position of being able to bring to life the diverse characters and worlds we want to see. But with power comes responsibility.
It can be a hard task navigating the balance between staying true to your story while satisfying the audience’s expectations for your character. Especially if those characters are the first of their kind on screen.
Please join us to hear from Shuchi Kothari (Coffee & Allah, Apron Strings, A Thousand Apologies), Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa (Three Wise Cousins, Hibiscus & Ruthless) and Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu (Waru, Ani) as they share their experiences finding the sweet spot between great stories and responsible representation.
Moderated by Dr Suzanne Woodward.
Tues 21 May, Galatos (17 Galatos St, Auckland)
6pm doors and bar open
6:30-7:30pm TALK
Cabaret style seating (chairs and tables)
$5.75 (incl. GST) Pre-sales available via EventBrite or bring $5 cash for the door.
Stay afterwards for a drink and a slice of pizza on us
*Parking in the vicinity is free from 6pm, or the Mercury Lane parking building is close by.
Script to Screen is proud to award eight filmmakers a place on the 2019 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 2019 FilmUp Mentorship Programme are:
– writer/director, Briar March
– writer/director, Catherine Bisley
– writer/director, Chris Dudman
– writer/director, Claire van Beek
– producer, Jane Holland
– writer/director, Jeremiah Tauamiti
– writer/director, Judah Finnigan
– writer, Lani-rain Feltham
Read the participants’ biographies here.
We had an unprecedented number of applications this year and the standard was high. We would like to thank all of the filmmakers who applied.
FilmUp is made possible thanks to financial assistance from New Zealand Film Commission.
Eight new scripted stories by, for and about Pasifika and Asian peoples have been selected for development under a new initiative from NZ On Air . The teams selected will participate in a development programme run by Script to Screen, including follow up mentoring to guide them as they prepare to submit production funding applications.
The successful projects going into development are:
QUEEN STREET – Crystal Vaega, Mario Faumui, Leki Jackson-Bourke
SIS – Hanelle Harris, Gaby Solomona, Maiya Thompson, Destiny Momoisea, Leki Jackson-Bourke
BRUTAL LIVES – Sandra Kailahi, Vela Manusaute
RUMBLE – Danny Aumua, Elizabeth Koroi
THE MACKENZIE BROTHERS – Mayen Mehta, Benjamin Teh, Hweiling Ow, Calvin Sang
SOME LIKE IT – Tema Pua, Julie Zhu, Callum Freeman
INKED – Zijun Yang, Mingjian Cui
LULLABIES – JJ Fong, Ally Xue, Michelle Ang, Rachel Fawcett
Script to Screen looks forward to working with these creative teams as they develop their projects to submit to NZ On Air for production funding.
About the initiative:
NZ On Air recently issued a Request for Proposals for projects meeting a brief to extend the range of Pacific and Asian storytelling available to New Zealanders. In particular NZ On Air were looking for newer storytellers. The initiative is one of six funded with the one-off extra allocation to NZ On Air in Budget 2018 to support the production of diverse local content that will reach under‐served audiences.
Scripted Pasifika and Asian Storytelling is brought to you by NZ on Air and Script to Screen.
WELLINGTON Monday 1st April, 6pm, Penthouse Cinema
AUCKLAND Wednesday 3rd April, 6:30pm, Academy Cinemas
Jeff Wexler (Chief, International at Studio Ponoc and former Chief, International/Board Director and current consultant at Studio Ghibli) joins us from Tokyo to share insights into successfully bringing culturally specific stories to global audiences.
Studio Ghibli (SPIRITED AWAY, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, PRINCESS MONONOKE, among many other celebrated films) and Studio Ponoc (MARY AND THE WITCH’S FLOWER) are world-renowned for their ability to break into international markets and take seemingly unique Japanese stories worldwide. Jeff will share his ideas on embracing film localisation during the creative process and how doing so has supported growth of the global phenomenon that is Studio Ghibli and the launch of Studio Ponoc.
Drawing on films from Studio Ghibli and Studio Ponoc, Jeff will delve into internationalising IP, the nuances of dubbing and subtitling, and the importance of building—and sticking to—a philosophy for localisation that prioritises creative integrity.
The talk will be followed by a special private screening of Studio Ponoc’s latest production, the anthology feature MODEST HEROES: PONOC SHORT FILMS THEATRE, VOLUME 1 (53 mins).
Studio Ponoc’s debut feature MARY AND THE WITCH’S FLOWER is available on digital platforms (iTunes, Microsoft Online and Google Play) and DVD/Blu-ray. If you haven’t already seen it, Jeff suggests watching the English version of the film ahead of this talk.
WELLINGTON
Monday 1st April
6pm-8pm – Talk + Q&A (60mins) and screening (53mins)
Penthouse Cinema, 205 Ohiro Rd, Brooklyn, Wellington
Tickets $11.50 (incl. GST) via EventBrite
Co-presented by New Zealand Centre for Literary Translation
AUCKLAND
Wednesday 3rd April
5:45pm Networking & cash bar
6:30pm-8:30pm – Talk + Q&A (60mins) and screening (53mins)
Academy Cinemas, 44 Lorne St, Auckland
Tickets $11.50 (incl. GST) via EventBrite
Script to Screen TALKS are made possible thanks to New Zealand Film Commission, Foundation North, White Studios and Images & Sound.
Script to Screen and Show Me Shorts Film Festival are proud to announce the names of eight screenwriters who have been selected from 72 applicants, to participate in the 2019 Aotearoa Short Film Lab.
Congratulations to:
Gary Davies (Waikato)
Grace Goulter (Auckland)
Mia Maramara (Auckland)
Stef Harris (Nelson)
Sarah Harpur (Kapiti)
Steven Chow (Wellington)
Victoria Thompson (Australia)
Michael Kam (Singapore)
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 six New Zealand short film makers 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. Victoria Thompson from Australia and Michael Kam from Singapore 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), Zia Mandviwalla (Nightshift, Amadi, Eating Sausage), Dianne Taylor (Apron Strings, Beyond the Known World), Matthew Saville (Hitch Hike, Dive) and Alyx Duncan (The Tide Keeper).
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 (Charmer, Tree) and Show Me Shorts Festival (Zinzan, Baby?).
The Aotearoa Short Film Lab is possible thanks to support from Pub Charity Ltd, the Media, Film and Television department of the University of Auckland and New Zealand Film Commission.
Aotearoa Short Film Lab 2019 is brought to you by Script to Screen and Show Me Shorts Film Festival.
Script to Screen presents a one-day screenwriting workshop for both emerging and experienced filmmakers of Dunedin.
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.)
When: Saturday 9 March, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Petridish, 8 Stafford St, Dunedin
Cost: General Admission $23 (incl. GST) or Student/Unwaged $11.50 (incl. GST). Tickets available via Eventbrite
What to Bring: Pen and paper. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided. There are cafes in the area.
Duncan Sarkies is a screenwriter, novelist, performer and short story writer. In screen he is known for his screenplays SCARFIES and TWO LITTLE BOYS (adapted from his novel of the same name). He has also written two episodes of FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS, and has written for the forthcoming US TV version of WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS. His recent project is the podcast THE MYSTERIOUS SECRETS OF UNCLE BERTIE’S BOTANARIUM.
Script to Screen workshops are made possible thanks to generous support from Creative Communities Dunedin & NZ Film Commission.
The New Zealand Film Commission and NZ On Air in conjunction with Script to Screen present RAUPAPA WHAKAARI: DRAMA TO THE WORLD, a new initiative designed to develop and package distinctive high-end series drama for the international market.
The initiative supports writer/producer teams through a dual approach of project development funding and advice from international drama practitioners at the top of their game.
Applications for Raupapa Whakaari: Drama to the World will close April 1, after which up to 10 writer/producer teams with distinctive series concepts and a strong track record will be selected. Successful applicant teams will be notified on or before Monday, May 6. Each selected team will attend an immersive five-day Series Drama Lab and receive a grant of $10,000 to further develop their concept into a strong pitch.
The Series Drama Lab is five-days of intensive project development under the tutelage of high-level international advisors, including craft-based workshops, story feedback sessions and writers’ tables.
Following the lab each team will have the opportunity to submit a re-worked pitch and a plan for packaging their project for the international market, with four grants available of up to $80,000.
“This initiative will support ambitious New Zealand visions for global series drama. New Zealand screen writers and producers have a real capacity to engage in what is a pervasive global appetite for unique stories supported by the Raupapa Whakaari Funding,” said NZFC CEO, Annabelle Sheehan.
“We are thrilled to partner in Raupapa Whakaari. The potential to deliver larger-scale local stories for New Zealand audiences that have a good shot to compete internationally, is exciting. It represents an exceptionally good opportunity for local creative talent to shine on a world stage,” said NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson.
“We are delighted to conceive and deliver the Series Drama Lab for the Raupapa Whakaari fund. Esther Cahill-Chiaroni brings her expertise and nurturing spirit to the Lab as Programme Director. She will match international advisors to the stand-out filmmakers selected so they can develop ground breaking shows for a global audience”, said Jackie Dennis, Executive Director of Script to Screen.
Applications open: 18 February 2019, 9am
Applications close: 1 April, 9am
Applicants notified: Monday May 6
5-day Series Drama Lab: June 10-15, 2019
RAUPAPA WHAKAARI: DRAMA TO THE WORLD is a New Zealand Film Commission and NZ On Air initiative run in conjunction with Script to Screen.