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.
Script to Screen brings a one and a half day workshop on screenwriting to Rotorua. This is your opportunity to learn from IIML’s Master of Scriptwriting programme director, Ken Duncum.
We are excited to be bringing this interactive and practical workshop to the Bay of Plenty aimed at helping you navigate through the complexities of writing a feature film. Over the course of one weekend, Ken Duncum will coach and cajole you through a process of developing your own film idea, giving you tips for finding and building a story that resonates.
Don’t miss this interactive and practical workshop that will help you navigate through the complexities of writing a feature film.
“Ken Duncum is an exceptional teacher. The structure and underlying philosophy of his approach to script writing provides me with the perspective and courage to write more and write better . ”
– 2018 Auckland Workshop participant
When:
Sat 24 Aug, 9am – 4pm
Sun 25 Aug, 10am – 3pm
Where:
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology
Rotorua Mokoia Campus, Gate 1, G Block – Lecture Theatre G210. The lecture theatre is an accessible space.
Directions: Enter the Campus at Gate 1, drive straight down the driveway until you reach block G. Parking is to the left of the building. After entering the building, come to level 2 via stairs or elevator.
Cost: General Admission $20 (incl. 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, and the campus is 5mins drive from central Rotorua. There will be space available to eat your lunch if you would like to bring it with you.
Who it is for: This workshop is aimed at emerging to established filmmakers who are writing a feature film. However if you are at the beginning stages of writing a feature film, or are interested in writing a film this workshop will be very beneficial. Suitable for ages 17+.
This workshop is presented in partnership with the Bay of Plenty Film Office, and is made possible with financial support from Rotorua District Creative Communities and the New Zealand Film Commission.
Join us at this Script to Screen TALK and find out what local distributors consider before they take on a film for distribution.
Having a strong script and a great filmmaking team is not enough. Unlocking NZFC production funding depends on a letter of offer from a local distributor as part of your audience engagement plan.
Come along to hear from Mark Chamberlain at Transmission, Andrew Cozens at Madman, Nigel Forsyth at Studio Canal and Kevin Gordon at Rialto Distribution.
Entertainment lawyer, Sarah Cull will talk to the panelists about what they look for when selecting projects and at what stage of development they like to get on board. An audience Q&A will follow.
If you are developing a feature film project this event is not to be missed. Last time we held a TALK with New Zealand distributors it was a full house, avoid disappointment by getting your ticket early.
Wednesday 3 July
6:15pm -7:15pm – TALK
Te Auaha, 65 Dixon St, Te Aro, Wellington
After the TALK, stay and have pizza on Script to Screen, there will be a cash bar and socialising with fellow filmmakers.
$5.75 (incl. GST) for pre-sales.
$5 cash at the door if the theatre is not already fully booked from pre-sales.
This StS TALK is made possible thanks to the support of the New Zealand Film Commission. Thanks to the New Zealand Film Commission and the New Zealand Film and Television School for the venue.
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.
The ten Stage 1 projects selected for Series Drama Lab in 2019:
(*Not Her Real Name)
Pip Hall / Carmen J Leonard / Deborah Cope
All of Me
Daniel Musgrove / Natalie Medlock / Shoshana McCallum / Peter Salmon
Chasing Pure
Carey James Carter / Gavin Strawhan / Rachel Lang / Steven Ivan Zanoski
Dreamhunter
Roxane Gajadhar / Angela Littlejohn
Drunk Poetry
Briar Grace-Smith / Victor Roger / Desray Armstrong
O
Donna Malane / Paula Boock / Carthew Neal
Rockburn
Hannah Marshall / David de Lautour / Gareth Williams / Kelly Martin
Ruatoria
Kath Akuhuta-Brown / Greg McGee / Philippa Rennie / Robin Scholes / Lee Tamahori
The Different Girl
Alison Maclean / Philippa Campbell
The Harder They Fall
Matthew Saville / Luke Sharpe / Gerard Johnstone
The four projects selected for Stage 2 further development funding:
All Of Me – Shoshana McCallum, Natalie Medlock, Dan Musgrove, Peter Salmon
Depressed and ready to end it all, Lauren orders an illegal clone to replace her. But when she messes up the process and gets three unsatisfactory duplicates, she is forced to stick around and deal with herselves.
Ashes and Prophets – Kath Akuhata-Brown, Greg McGee, Philippa Rennie, Robin Scholes, Lee Tamahori
Arson, kidnapping and murder engulf a small New Zealand town, as a Māori rastafarian sect exacts revenge for historical land theft.
Rockburn – Hannah Marshall, Gareth Williams, David de Lautour, Kelly Martin
Trauma experienced as a teenager on her family farm, Rockburn, reverberates throughout three distinct ages of Celia Ray’s life. Now, a social worker in her 50s, she must confront her past to save a young girl’s future.
Drunk Poetry – Briar Grace-Smith, Desray Armstrong, Victor Rodger
Newly separated and in her forties, Lizzie discovers she has the emotional brain of a fourteen-year-old. Now she has to grow up all over again.
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.
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.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 10pm, Sunday 17th February 2019.
Script to Screen’s FilmUp Mentorship programme returns for 2019. Each year the FilmUp Mentorship programme supports and empowers up to eight tenacious and talented filmmakers to reach the next stage in their creative careers.
Participants will receive 20 hours of one-on-one mentorship with an established filmmaker, attend Hub Days for group work, intensive story workshops and round tables with guest speakers, as well as tailored additional support from Script to Screen.
FilmUp has gone from strength to strength, with a growing alumni of talented local filmmakers (pictured above) who have benefited from the programme, and an impressive list of mentors who have helped these filmmakers take a step up in their careers.
There will be eight mentorships for emerging to experienced writers, directors and producers. Those who have a strong track record in other creative roles (e.g. actor, playwright, editor), who are now developing a feature film project as a writer, director or producer are eligible.
“Being a part of Film Up was incredibly inspiring, connecting with fellow filmmakers on a deep level and having the opportunity to work one on one with a mentor provided great filmmaking stimulation” – Armagan Ballantyne, director and 2018 FilmUp Participant
“When I first applied for FilmUp I had a sense that the approach I had to making films was ‘wrong’ – that I would need a mentor who would show me “the right way to do it”. Through FilmUp, Script to Screen helped me to realise contrary to what I assumed, my approach was in fact a strength and absolutely key to my voice as a maker. For an artist, this level of empowerment and support is rare and utterly invaluable. The programme carefully facilitates the most magical sense of community, inspiration and support. The hub days are a taonga. Do yourself a solid and apply.” – Chelsie Preston-Crayford, actor/writer/director and 2018 FilmUp Participant
We are excited to offer this rewarding programme for the seventh consecutive year thanks to financial assistance from New Zealand Film Commission.
We are delighted to announce nine esteemed advisors will join us for the rigourous programme of group workshops, team sessions and individual sessions carefully crafted to serve feature film projects in advanced development.
The complete line-up of advisors for 2018 are:
– Renowned director and writer Jane Campion
– Producer/EP Andrew Mason (THE MATRIX trilogy, TOMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN)
– Creative and Strategic Advisor Alesia Weston (USA)
– Esteemed painter Star Gossage
– Editor Nick Meyers (SWEET COUNTRY, THE BOYS)
– Producer Kath Shelper (TENDER, SAMSON & DELILAH)
– Directing & acting coach and story consultant Brita McVeigh
– Actor, casting director and filmmaker Loren Taylor
– Aus/NZ Producer Tim White (THE LUMINARIES, THE DARK HORSE)
Read there full bios: https://script-to-screen.co.nz/story-camp-mentors/