Script to Screen is delighted to announce the 14 participants selected for Strength in Numbers 2020.
Strength in Numbers is a programme that gives participants the time and tools they need to create business models that will sustain their future in film. These models are the building blocks of new ways of financing, distributing and collaborating that will ultimately shape the industry itself.
Three experienced industry practitioners including course leader David Court (Executive Director of Compton School) read all of the applications taking into consideration the participants, their business, and projects in development when making their selection. However, with 55 applications and many of them very strong, it was a difficult task.
David Court said “this was a very strong field. Clearly, there are many producers wanting to grow their business. We would have taken more participants if we could have”.
“Initially we set out to select 12 participants”, said Jackie Dennis Executive Director of Script to Screen, “but we had two business co-owners wanting to attend together and we could see the benefit of this, so Script to Screen increased participation to 14”. Of the 12 screen businesses participating three are from Wellington, one is from Christchurch and the remainder are Auckland based.
The programme is made possible thanks to Screen Wellington and Screen Canterbury covering travel and accommodation costs for the participants from their region, Screen Auckland providing a workshop venue, and financial support from Auckland Council’s Regional Arts and Culture Grants Programme and the New Zealand Film Commission Strategic Training Fund.
The 14 participants and their businesses selected for Strength in Numbers 2020 are:
READ MORE ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS
Script to Screen and the New Zealand Film Commission have partnered on the development of 16 short films. The teams behind the films were selected from a very competitive round of 106 applications; and will attend a three-day residential development lab this November as part of the Fresh Shorts initiative.
The Fresh Shorts programme offers grants of up to $15,000 to six new or emerging filmmaker teams to make a short film. The selection also includes experienced filmmakers in new roles. As part of the selection process, each team will attend a three-day development lab in the Auckland region where they will receive tailored script feedback from industry mentors and participate in group workshops to further develop their scripts and strengthen their skills for future projects.
Following the lab and submission of the re-worked projects, six teams will be selected to receive a grant of up to $15,000 to make their short film. An announcement will be made early February 2020.
The 16 selected teams and their projects are (L-R):
Fresh Shorts is a New Zealand Film Commission initiative run in partnership with Script to Screen.
Senior executives, producers, showrunners and writers of internationally acclaimed shows, including American Horror Story, Better Call Saul, Bloodline, Glee, Glitch, Marcella, Please Like Me, Succession and Supergirl, will arrive in New Zealand next week to be advisors in an intensive week-long Series Drama Lab designed to develop strong New Zealand projects for the international and domestic market.
The Series Drama Lab is part of Raupapa Whakaari: Drama to the World, a new initiative from the New Zealand Film Commission and NZ On Air delivered in conjunction with Script to Screen. The initiative supports ten talented New Zealand writer/producer teams to develop distinctive, high-end scripted series with international and domestic appeal.
The advisor line-up includes Caitlin Parrish creator, writer and producer (The Red Line, Supergirl); Chris Loveall Vice President, International Programming for AMC, SundanceTV and BBC America (EP Fortitude, Please Like Me); Chris Oliver-Taylor CEO of Fremantle Media Australia; Christine Bartlett a writer, creator and producer (Five Bedrooms , The Wrong Girl); multiple Emmy award winning producer Dante Di Loreto (Temple Grandin, American Horror Story, Glee); Jonathan Glatzer writer, producer, director (Succession, Better Call Saul, Bloodline); Louise Fox co-creator, writer, producer (Glitch, Broadchurch); Nicola Larder co-creator, executive producer (Marcella).
Annabelle Sheehan, CEO of the New Zealand Film Commission, said, “The excellence and high profile credits of the international advisors will provide significant inspiration for our New Zealand creative teams regarding their work with the global marketplace. The week focuses on the commercial and creative drivers for producers and showrunners and will help shape the next wave of New Zealand series drama for New Zealand and the rest of the world.”
NZ On Air CEO, Jane Wrightson said, “The combined brainpower of a stellar lineup of international advisors with outstanding local talent and their ideas has great promise – we are very much looking forward to seeing the next stage of these Raupapa Whakaari projects. ”
Script to Screen Executive Director Jackie Dennis said, “This hasn’t happened in New Zealand before. The writers and producers coming to the Series Drama Lab will develop their projects with advisors who have worked on exceptional shows that have found dedicated audiences all around the world. I can’t wait to see the results.”
The international advisors will take part in panels, conversations and case studies and provide feedback on participating teams’ series drama concepts in story and market meetings.
The ten teams have received initial development of $10,000. 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 $80,000 each.
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.
The eight teams selected for Episodic Lab Aotearoa will develop their skills and their projects with guidance from eight experienced television writers from New Zealand, Australia, Denmark and United States during a five-day immersive lab. We are so excited to bring these exceptional advisors together for the first Episodic Lab.
A full list of their biographies can be found here
We are able to bring this remarkable depth and breadth of advisor experience together thanks to support from NZ on Air, Lightbox, New Zealand Film Commission and Images & Sound.
Thank you to everyone who applied to our first ever EPISODIC LAB AOTEAROA this May. Over 95 teams submitted 116 series concepts, showing a real hunger for development opportunities in writing for the small screen.
The selection panel of Australian-based writer/development producer Katherine Fry, writer/director/actor Oscar Kightley and writer/director Fiona Samuel were impressed by the calibre of the ideas and the talented teams behind them. They had a very difficult job choosing only eight projects to be developed in the lab.
Fiona Samuel said on behalf of the selection panel, “We could easily have chosen twice the number of proposals from this crowded and talented field. There are so many entertaining and compelling stories waiting to be told and so many writers with the potential to take on episodic drama and bring something new to our screens.”
The eight selected teams will develop their skills and their projects with guidance from experienced television writers from New Zealand, Australia, USA and Denmark during the five-day immersive lab.
Writers and teams who will be participating in the inaugural Episodic Lab in Auckland July 23-27 are:
Participants biographies can be found at here
The Episodic Lab Aotearoa is made possible thanks to the generous support from NZ on Air, Lightbox, NZ Film Commission and Images & Sound.
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, Ngā Aho Whakaari and PIFT present the 2017 South Auckland Short Film Workshop – a free two-day workshop that will give you everything you need to know to make a short film.
Over one weekend, four experienced filmmakers will guide you through each stage of the filmmaking process – from the initial concept, writing, directing, working with actors and finally to pitch your idea to collaborators and funders.
We are looking for new talent from South Auckland with a passion for storytelling, and an interest in learning how to make a short film. Up to six attendees/teams will also have the opportunity to participate in the 2018 South Shorts Mentoring Programme. This is a tailored programme that pairs writers and producers with experienced industry mentors.
When? Sat 18 and Sun 19 November, 9am-5pm both days
Where? Faculty of Creative Arts, Manukau Institute of Technology, 50 Lovegrove Cresent, Otara
How much? The workshop is free. We provide a picnic style lunch and suggest $15 cash to cover lunch on both days – if you are able to contribute please bring this cash along with you to the workshop.
Register: Places are limited. Please email sjionel@script-to-screen.co.nz or cal 09) 3605400 to register.
What do I need to bring to the workshop?
You are encouraged to come with a short film idea, and any team members you might wish to work with. It is not compulsory to have a short film idea ready, but will mean that you get the most out of the workshop.
You could write a synopsis which 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 the film to be (usually 5 – 15 mins long), the genre of your film (comedy or drama etc), and the characters’ names.
On Day 2 of the workshop, participants will be invited to pitch their short film idea to the group and a panel of industry mentors. The pitch is to be kept to 3 minutes.
Image from short film WAITING. Written by Samuel Kamu and directed by Amberley Jo Aumua.
This workshop was made possible with the support of the Creative Communities Scheme.
2017 SOUTH AUCKLAND WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Saturday 18 November
9am-9:15am – Tea/coffee/introduction
9:15am-10:45am – Kaupapa of Story with Renae Maihi (WARU, MANAHATTA)
10:45am-12:15pm – Producing with Orlando Stewart (FIRE IN CARDBOARD CITY, THE DUMP)
Learn about the role of the producer in driving the project from conception to completion
12:15-1:15pm – Lunch break
1:15pm – 5pm – Screenwriting with Shuchi Kothari (COFFEE & ALLAH, APRON STRINGS)
Learn about the key points of storytelling and forming a structure that will grab the audience
Sunday 19 November
9.15am-10:45am – Directing with Sima Urale (APRON STRINGS, O TAMAITI)
Learn about the director’s role in the film and forming a strong vision for your story.
10:45am – 11am – Morning Tea
11am – Work on Pitch
11:30am – 5pm – Pitching Session
Participants are invited to pitch their short film idea to the group and a panel of industry mentors. The pitch is to be kept to 3 minutes.
“Don’t be fooled. Story Camp takes place in a beautifully simple, stripped-back setting by the sea – but man it’s tough. My script was expertly interrogated with care and without mercy – but unlike notes and feedback delivered via email, this was a living process. Story Camp’s no holiday, it was often uncomfortable, but I am undoubtedly a better writer for the experience.”
– Max Currie
Applications open soon for Script to Screen’s Story Camp, an immersive feature film development workshop that fosters craft, imagination and voice. Over five days exceptional local and international practitioners engage in a robust exchange with talented NZ screenwriters and filmmakers to help their feature film projects be the best they can be.
Kathryn Burnett prompts 2016 participants Armagan Ballantyne, Florian Habicht, Jesse Griffin and Josephine Stewart Te-Whiu to share their Story Camp learnings.
Join us to hear direct how the experience changed these filmmakers approach to story, writing process and development. Find out how the selection process works and how your application can stand out from the crowd.
International advisors have included Artistic Director of the Sundance Directors’ Lab Gyula Gazdag, longstanding Sundance mentor screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury (NASHVILLE), and screenwriters Guillermo Arriaga (21 GRAMS), David Seidler (THE KINGS SPEECH, Michael Goldernburg (HARRY POTTER: THE GOBLET OF FIRE).
The Basement, Thurs 22 June, bar opens 5pm, talk 6-7, $5 koha appreciated.
Story Camp Aotearoa is made possible with financial assistance from the New Zealand Film Commission.
Due to high demand registrations for this workshop are closed. If you would like to be added to the waiting list you can do so here.
We know how important it is to create character driven stories, but how to get there can feel like a mystery.
Script to Screen presents a two-day feature film workshop for emerging filmmakers with story consultant and dramaturg Brita McVeigh.
Brita will guide participants through individual exercises, group work, and conversation that provide tools for writing from inside your characters.
Don’t miss this interactive and practical workshop that will help you bring your stories to life so they can ultimately connect with an audience.
What to bring: All participants need to be working on a feature film project that they can use for the workshop exercises. The project can be at any stage of development, be it synopsis, first draft or beyond. Directors and producers are encouraged to attend, but must be working on a feature film and be prepared to participate in the exercises.
Date: Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 May, 2017
Time: Saturday 9.30am – 4:30pm, Sunday 9am – 2:30pm
Venue: Samoa House, 283 Karangahape Rd, Auckland CBD (entry off Beresford Square, down the lane)
Cost: $20. Please bring cash on the day. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided. Please bring lunch with you or there are many cafes in the area.
Brita McVeigh is based in Sydney and works with actors, directors, writers and producers, as a dramaturg, acting coach, directing coach and story consultant. In just over a decade, Brita’s working methodology has contributed to the development of more than 126 feature film, short film, television and theatre projects. She currently works between New Zealand and Australia, both in person and via skype, during development, rehearsal or production, depending on what each project requires.
Brita is a regular guest teacher at AFTRS, the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, and at Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School. She has mentored for the Script to Screen FilmUp programme, where she works one on one with directors on how to strengthen their technique when directing actors. Brita is an advisory board member and Story Advisor at Story Camp Aotearoa, a five-day residential screenwriting retreat for film-makers. Since 2011, over 700 creative professionals, have attended Brita’s Acting for Humans workshop series.
This workshop was made possible with the support of the New Zealand Film Commission, Foundation North and the Creative Communities Scheme.