The Big Screen Symposium presents an annual snapshot of our screen culture framed by the guiding principles that filmmaking is both a creative and practical endeavour. Delegates are immersed in two-days of conversations, masterclasses, workshops, panel discussions and case studies with a stellar line-up of local and international filmmaker speakers.
After being postponed TWICE due to COVID-19, Script to Screen and janda productions are thrilled that the Big Screen Symposium is going ahead in Auckland on 4 – 5 December at the ASB Waterfront Theatre. With support from BSS’s fantastic sponsors, we have kept tickets at early bird prices as we know the pandemic has negatively impacted many filmmakers finances.
Now in its 8th year, the Big Screen Symposium will once again present inspiring and accomplished speakers to the New Zealand film and television community.
Hear from Academy Award-winning Chilean director Sebastián Lelio (A Fantastic Woman, Gloria, Disobedience), Cowboy Bebop showrunner André Nemec, renowned producer Finola Dwyer (Brooklyn, An Education), Australian writer/actor Scott Ryan (Mr Inbetween), two-time Emmy winning filmmaker Arielle Kilker (Cheer, Last Chance U), writer/actor Sophie Henderson (Fantail, Baby Done, Justice of Bunny King) and the makers of box office hit Savage director Sam Kelly and producer Vicky Pope. Sneak previews from five up-and-coming New Zealand films will be shown on Friday before everybody closes the day with Networking Drinks. Sebastián Lelio, Arielle Kilker and Scott Ryan will be live-streamed.
You heard it here first – Hon. Carmel Sepuloni, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage will join the $50M Premium Production For International Audiences Fund session. Pre-recorded interviews from Jonathan Frank, Senior Vice President Current Programming, FX Networks and Nathaniel Grouille, Director Nonfiction Series, Netflix were recorded especially for the event and will not be seen outside of Big Screen Symposium 2020.
This year’s programme is crafted around the theme of Transforming Culture and explores the transformative power of story and the transformation of the film industry through technological and sociological advances. Six mini keynote addresses will speak to this theme.
You really do need to be there.
Join the conversation: bigscreensymposium.com/stay-connected/
The full 2020 programme is available now on bigscreensymposium.com/2020-programme/
“This workshop honestly transformed my thinking about storytelling structures and opened up new possibilities in exciting and practical ways. It incorporated both big ideas thinking and also specific craft tools, which I will begin to use immediately in my writing. The workshop was rich in content and spoke well to many levels, including experienced, working screenwriters. ” – 2019 Melbourne Workshop Participant
We are excited to be bringing script guru Stephen Cleary to New Zealand to present this brilliant 2-day workshop in Auckland and Wellington.
Split into single-gender groups, people tell stories differently. Men often tell stories with all-male characters. Women rarely tell stories with all-female characters. Women together tend to maintain a theme across their stories. Men don’t. Women talk less. Men reveal less about themselves.
Gender variations within storytelling matter. Our understanding of screenwriting mostly comes from work done by men trying to figure out how the stories they told worked. The vast majority of those stories centred on male characters who were powerful or had access to power.
This workshop is about characters who aren’t male and powerful. How do you dramatise their stories, those characters, to make them compulsive? How do you tell stories about people who struggle for power, or who will never have power? Does power work differently for male and female characters (answer: yes)? How? Come to this workshop and find out, and with any luck change how you think about story structure, forever.
READ THE FULL WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
WELLINGTON
7 – 8 NOV 2019
Venue: Hunter Building Lecture Theatre 119 (HULT119),
Victoria University, Kelburn Parade, Wellington
Cost: $250 (+ GST). Tickets available via Eventbrite.
What to Bring: Pen and paper. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided. BYO Lunch.
Prepare for the Workshop: Links to Films and series that will be referenced during the lab are available here.
Presented in partnership with Victoria University of Wellington.
Stephen Cleary is available to do a limited number of assessments while he is in Auckland. To be eligible for one of these assessments you must have booked your ticket to the Power, Gender and New Story Structures workshop and register for an assessment by Friday 22 Nov, 9am.
You will get a one-on-one 90-minute meeting and 2 pages of notes. The script assessment fee is $500 +gst.
If you would like a TV series assessed, Stephen will need either the first episode script plus outline of the rest of the season and an overview of the project, or a synopsis of the story overall and a breakdown of episodes. Each spot is not actually reserved until payment is received.
Payment details:
Account Name: Script to Screen – Te Tari Kupu A Whakaahua
Account Number: 03 0255 0178775-00
Reference: Cleary90min – Your Name
REGISTER FOR A SCRIPT ASSESSMENT
“This workshop honestly transformed my thinking about storytelling structures and opened up new possibilities in exciting and practical ways. It incorporated both big ideas thinking and also specific craft tools, which I will begin to use immediately in my writing. The workshop was rich in content and spoke well to many levels, including experienced, working screenwriters. ” – 2019 Melbourne Workshop Participant
We are excited to be bringing script guru Stephen Cleary to New Zealand to present this brilliant 2-day workshop in Auckland and Wellington.
Split into single-gender groups, people tell stories differently. Men often tell stories with all-male characters. Women rarely tell stories with all-female characters. Women together tend to maintain a theme across their stories. Men don’t. Women talk less. Men reveal less about themselves.
Gender variations within storytelling matter. Our understanding of screenwriting mostly comes from work done by men trying to figure out how the stories they told worked. The vast majority of those stories centred on male characters who were powerful or had access to power.
This workshop is about characters who aren’t male and powerful. How do you dramatise their stories, those characters, to make them compulsive? How do you tell stories about people who struggle for power, or who will never have power? Does power work differently for male and female characters (answer: yes)? How? Come to this workshop and find out, and with any luck change how you think about story structure, forever.
READ THE FULL WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
AUCKLAND
30 Nov – 1 Dec 2019
Venue: Lecture Theatre WG404, Sir Paul Reeves Building
Auckland University of Technology – City Campus,
2 Gov Fitzroy Place, Auckland City
Cost:$250 (+ GST). Tickets available via Eventbrite.
What to Bring: Pen and paper. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided. BYO Lunch.
There are cafes in the area if you want to buy lunch.
Prepare for the Workshop: Links to Films and series that will be referenced during the lab are available here.
This workshop is presented in partnership with AUT
Stephen Cleary is available to do a limited number of assessments while he is in Auckland. To be eligible for one of these assessments you must have booked your ticket to the Power, Gender and New Story Structures workshop and register for an assessment by Wed 20 Nov, 5pm.
You will get a one-on-one 90-minute meeting and 2 pages of notes. The script assessment fee is $500 +gst.
If you would like a TV series assessed, Stephen will need either the first episode script plus outline of the rest of the season and an overview of the project, or a synopsis of the story overall and a breakdown of episodes. Each spot is not actually reserved until payment is received.
Payment details:
Account Name: Script to Screen – Te Tari Kupu A Whakaahua
Account Number: 03 0255 0178775-00
Reference: Cleary90min – Your Name
REGISTER FOR A SCRIPT ASSESSMENT
The Big Screen Symposium brings the filmmakers of Aotearoa NZ together once a year to hear from an unbeatable line-up of local and international speakers. Join us to be energised, challenged, and part of the conversation.
This year’s Big Screen Symposium will take place over two days on Oct 26 & 27, at the ASB Waterfront Theatre.
The theme of #BigScreen18 Tuning into the Zeitgeist explores the forces that influence us both collectively and alone. How do the characteristics of our age and the politics of now manifest in our imaginations, and how does that impact the stories we tell and how they connect with audiences?
Early bird tickets are available on iTicket NOW. Check in at www.bigscreensymposium.com for announcements of our exciting speaker line up for this year.
The Big Screen Symposium is brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions.
NZ’s biggest film industry event of the year, the Big Screen Symposium, takes place on 24/25 September. Join us as an impressive group of international and local speakers address this year’s theme – Playing with Risk.
For the full list of exciting speakers and events, check out the program on our website here.
You don’t want to miss out on this amazing networking and learning opportunity. Be there to be informed, inspired, and be part of the community.
Follow us on facebook and twitter and be part of the Big Screen Symposium community.
You can now relive (or experience for the first time) some of this year’s Big Screen Symposium with this selection of summer viewing.
We’d like to thank filmmaker and 2014 FilmUp participant Michelle Savill, who has curated a series of short excerpts around this year’s theme, “Strengthening our Collaborative Spirit”, including Rachel Griffiths, Alison Maclean, Anthony McCarten – not to mention the brilliant Jane Campion.
Also a big thank you to the students of SAE Institute and Images and Sound for making these videos possible.
Watch the highlights here or on VIMEO.
From everyone at Script to Screen, all the best for the festive season and we’ll see you in 2016 for another exciting year!
To find out more about the Big Screen Symposium, please go to our website: bigscreensymposium.com.
The Big Screen Symposium 2015 is nearing and it’s all go! This year’s symposium takes place on 10/11 October 2015, at the University of Auckland Business School.
The Big Screen Symposium is New Zealand’s premiere film event of the year, where over 400 delegates come together for two days of conversations, workshops, panel discussions and case studies with a stellar line-up of local and international speakers. This year’s programme will be shaped around the theme ‘Strengthening Our Collaborative Spirit.’
Early bird tickets are on sale now until midnight, Thurs 10 September. So get in quick for the best rates, and secure your spot at the biggest industry weekend of the year.
The Big Screen Symposium captures the hearts of the film community.
“It was a wonderful experience for me in every possible way. I was touched by the warmth in which I was received across the board and it was an honour to be there.” – US producer Alix Madigan (WINTER’S BONE)
“I was struck by the positive energy of both the speakers and the participants. It reminded me of one of the core reasons why we make films – to share (and experience) a unique point of view.” – 2014 Speaker, AUS director Jennifer Kent (THE BABADOOK)
Come and join your filmmaking peers, and feel a sense of camaraderie as you learn more about your craft and get that injection of inspiration needed to carry your projects through.