Filmmakers Briar Grace-Smith, Michael Goldenberg and Dana Rotberg will return to mentor at this year’s Writers’ Lab Aotearoa, bringing with them a wealth of experience in storytelling. They all joined us for the inaugural event last year, and are looking forward to working with the new crop of feature film writers.
Briar Grace-Smith (THE STRENGTH OF WATER) is a multi-award winning writer whose work spans film, television, theatre, poetry, and short story. Aside from writing, Briar has served a term as a development executive with the New Zealand Film Commission.
Michael Goldenberg is a US screenwriter of feature films including HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, CONTACT, PETER PAN, and longstanding mentor at the Sundance Screenwriting Labs.
Dana Rotberg is a Mexican filmmaker based in Auckland. After a career writing, directing and producing films in Mexico and Sarajevo, including multiple selections at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, Dana continued her successes on our shores.
They join Artistic Director of the Sundance Filmmakers’ Lab, Gyula Gazdag.
The Writers’ Lab Aotearoa is proudly supported by the New Zealand Writers Guild with financial support from the NZ Film Commission.
“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.
The creators of many of our recent most loved and successful films are being brought together for a pioneering new programme focused on building sustainable businesses in our film industry.
The programme is called Strength in Numbers and will be delivered in a series of two-day workshops beginning in Auckland June 5-6. Ten of New Zealand’s most exciting up and coming producers, including those who brought us HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE, BOY, THE DARK HORSE, LOVE STORY, THREE WISE COUSINS, and LOADING DOCS are the first participants in the programme.
This trans-Tasman partnership is run by Script to Screen and led by David Court. David recently founded Compton School, a new business school for creative people. He will be familiar to New Zealand filmmakers from his former role as Head of Screen Business at AFTRS and his work on the Jackson/Court review of the NZ Film Commission.
Script to Screen is thrilled to be working with David Court and Compton School, strengthening ties between the two countries. Strength in Numbers will foster crucial discussion within New Zealand’s filmmaking community about how practitioners can work together to build sustainable creative businesses.
He wānanga mō nga rangatahi ki te mahi kiriata ō Te Tai Tokerau. Nau mai, haere mai
Are you a passionate storyteller who would love to learn about filmmaking?
Script to Screen presents a filmmaking workshop aimed at rangatahi in the Far North region. The workshop includes story-writing, hands-on learning about shooting and acting in scenes.
Join us in the July school holidays for a free five-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.
Come along and learn how to make your story come to life through film.
When: 10 -14 July 2017
Where: Kohewhata Marae, 6869 Mangakahia Road, KAIKOHE
Cost: This workshop is free. Koha to cover kai is welcome
Registration: If you would like to attend please RSVP to Sjionel on sjionel@script-to-screen.co.nz or phone 09) 360 5400 to sign up.
*Film still taken from Qianne Titore’s short film NATALIE made as part of the 2016 Hokianga Filmmaking Workshop. NATALIE is screening at Wairoa Film Festival and New Zealand International Film Festival .
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.
Script to Screen is proud to award eight filmmakers places on the 2017 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 from NZ or Australia, 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 their individual needs.
This year we are delighted to award two places to already established feature filmmakers, who will work with international mentors.
The participants of the 2017 FilmUp Mentorship Programme are:
Dianne Taylor (senior mentorship)
Florian Habicht (senior mentorship)
Abigail Greenwood
Chantelle Burgoyne
Jamie Lawrence
Jessica Hansell
J. Ollie Lucks
Zia Mandviwalla
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.
“Storm the gates, grab hands with each other, run like red rovers at the lifeguard chairs, snarl at the bases like wild starving beast dogs, boost each other up those watchtowers and pull those motherf***ers down.” – Jill Soloway
“…painting is not made to decorate apartments. It’s an offensive and defensive weapon against the enemy.” – Pablo Picasso
Amidst the struggle to get work made and seen, is our filmmaking becoming too polite? Is it enough to take the role of pleaser rather than disruptor?
Dramaturg and coach Brita McVeigh leads a conversation with a panel of NZ storytellers about the role of art and artist in the tumultuous times we find ourselves in.
Writer/director Tearepa Kahi (POI E, MT ZION), writer/director Daniel Borgman (LOVING PIA, THE WEIGHT OF ELEPHANTS) novelist Emily Perkins (THE REHEARSAL, NOT HER REAL NAME) and theatre/performance artist Julia Croft talk to Brita McVeigh about how the changing political world around us is impacting the way they approach their work.
Join us and our friends at The Basement, Thursday March 23, 5pm drink, 5:30-6:30 talk, $5 koha appreciated.
Stay afterwards to keep talking and for a slice of pizza on us!
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Aotearoa Short Film Lab New Zealand’s most 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 seven local 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.
The seven screenwriters who will participate in the 2017 Aotearoa Short Film Lab are:
For the first time this year one international short film maker has also been selected to participate. Marisa Brown is an Australian-based filmmaker who will be attending the Lab to workshop two story ideas, along with her director Chris Tomkins.
There were more than 50 applications for the 2017 Lab. Festival Director of Show Me Shorts, Gina Dellabarca, who was among the selection panel commented: “I was impressed with the diversity in the types of stories in this year’s applications. There were scripts for comedy, drama, fantasy, sci-fi, thriller, animation and more. It is heartening for the industry that our screenwriters and aspiring screenwriters are working on such a variety of projects. I only wish we could include more of them in our Lab.
The mentors guiding participants will include experienced short film and feature film screenwriters: Michael Bennett (MATARIKI, CONFESSIONS OF PRISONER T), Zia Mandviwalla (NIGHT SHIFT, AMADI) Dianne Taylor (BEYOND THE KNOWN WORLD, APRON STRINGS), Michelle Savill (ELAINE RIDES AGAIN, ELLEN IS LEAVING) and Yamin Tun (WAIT, JOY).
Previous Short Film Lab participants have described the interactive workshop as “inspiring” and “invaluable”, and many have gone on to make the shortlist for NZFC Fresh Shorts funding. In 2013, the first film developed with the assistance of the Lab – Lauren Jackson’s I’m Going to Mum’s – premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won Best Short Film Script at the SWANZ Awards.
Script to Screen and WIFTNZ in association with UniFrance and the Alliance Française French Film Festival are proud to present a masterclass delivered by renowned and visionary French film director and screenwriter, Rebecca Zlotowski.
Rebecca began her career writing several short films, before making her directorial debut with feature film BELLE EPINE (2010) starring Léa Seydoux. The film screened at Critics’ Week, was nominated for the Camera d’Or and won the Louis Delluc Prize for Best First Film. Her next film GRAND CENTRAL also starred Seydoux, and premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes in 2013. She also co-wrote feature films JIMMY RIVIERE (2011) and DESPITE THE NIGHT (2013), and in 2015 she was on the short film jury for the Cannes Film Festival.
Zlotowski is in New Zealand to promote her latest film PLANETARIUM, a supernatural drama set in 1930s Paris starring Natalie Portman and Lily-Rose Depp, which premiered at Venice Film Festival. The film will now screen at the 2017 Alliance Française French Film Festival.
Join us for an in-depth 3 hour masterclass with Rebecca delving into her process of bringing PLANETARIUM to life. Participants will be provided with a copy of the script of the film, and are invited to watch the film at one of the four Auckland screenings before the masterclass. For any participants coming from out of town, PLANETARIUM is also screening around the country.
See the screening schedule for PLANETARIUM HERE.
When: Monday 13th March, 1-4pm
Where: Auckland Art Gallery Auditorium
Registration: The workshop is free, but places are limited so please register your attendance.
Rebecca Zlotowski was born in 1980 in Paris. After graduating from the prestigious Ecole Normale Supérieure and being a French Language and Literature agrégée, Rebecca Zlotowski joined the famous Paris film school La Fémis where she encountered other distinctive filmmakers such as Teddy Lussi Modeste, Jean-Claude Brisseau, Philippe Grandrieux, Antoine d’Agata (with whom she will collaborate on a future project), and Lodge Kerrigan. Selected at the 2010 Cannes Critics’ Week, her first directorial effort Belle Epine won the Prix Louis Delluc as well as the Critics’ Award for Best First Feature Film. Three years later, Grand Central was selected at the Un Certain Regard in Cannes. Planetarium is Zlotowski’s third feature film.
On the 6th and 7th of August, 49 aspiring filmmakers gathered at Toi Whakaari for a weekend packed full of ideas, advice, inspiration and knowledge.
On the Sunday afternoon, 30 of the participants pitched their short film ideas, which they had refined with the learning from the writing session, and practised in their own time. The level of pitches blew the panel away, and there was a bubbling vibe of warmth and generosity in the room. Participants came away with a renewed passion for the quest of filmmaking, a strengthened belief in their own work, and some formed 48 hours teams with people they met at the workshop.
The winner of the pitching competition was writer Judith Cowley, with her idea SHEARING, with special mentions going to Chris Howe, Teresa Bass, and co-writing team Sarita So and Natano Keni.
“I loved the enthusiasm and energy from the everyone that attended the workshop. The dynamic was great and everyone was very kind and supportive of each other. A perfect environment for the conception of magic!” – Pitching competition judge Nikki Si’ulepa.
“The workshop definitely impassioned my desire to start creating, and the speakers were honest and inspiring.” – Workshop participant.
This workshop was made possible with the support of the Creative Communities Scheme.