Story Camp Aotearoa is a residential feature film workshop that fosters craft, voice and vision. Talented New Zealand filmmakers workshop their projects with exceptional international and local advisors. The week long workshop is crafted around the specific needs of the chosen teams.

This year we are proud to pilot Story Camp Advanced, a workshop for creative teams with feature film projects close to production. The selection panel of producer Philippa Campbell, director Hamish Bennett and producer Tim White were impressed by the calibre of the ideas and the talented teams behind them.

The selected teams participating in Story Camp Advanced are:

• Ainsley Gardiner, Briar Grace-Smith, Reikura Kahi and Tearepa Kahi with COUSINS
• Gaysorn Thavat, Sophie Henderson, Emma Slade and Ginny Loane with THE JUSTICE OF BUNNY KING
• Jan Oliver Lucks, Alex Reed, Alexander Behse and Natalie Medlock with THERE’S NO I IN THREESOME
• Michael Bennett, Chloe Smith and Jane Holland with YEAR OF THE LION
• Michelle Saville, Desray Armstrong, Eli Kent & Andrew Stroud with MILLIE LIES LOW
• Matthew J Saville and Desray Armstrong with JUNIPER

Read their full biographies

Story Camp Aotearoa is made possible with financial assistance from the New Zealand Film Commission

6:15 Thursday 29 November
Te Auaha – 65 Dixon St, Te Aro, Wellington

…direct from BSS

STRAY is the debut feature film from award-winning writer/director/producer Dustin Feneley and producer Desray Armstrong.

The film was made outside the traditional funding system, and was financed through private investors, crowdfunding donors, sponsorships and the goodwill of cast and crew.

STRAY has subsequently been received positively by international film festivals, critics and audiences. Hailed by The Dominion Post as “one of the very best films ever made in New Zealand”, Flicks writes that STRAY “fortifies hope in the breadth and ambition of New Zealand film”.

STRAY had its World Premiere in Main Competition at the Moscow International Film Festival in April where it won the award for Best Actor. After receiving rave five-star reviews and numerous sell-out sessions at NZIFF, STRAY secured theatrical distribution in New Zealand and Australia, released nationally in October and is screening in over 40 cinemas.

STRAY holds the record for the highest amount ever raised through donation-based crowdfunding for a New Zealand film. In 2016, STRAY raised over $125,000 in a 30-day campaign on NZ arts crowdfunding site Boosted.

In this StS Talk, Dustin Feneley and Desray Armstrong discuss how STRAY was financed as an independent film. With a particular focus on securing private investment and the record-breaking crowdfunding campaign, they explore the entrepreneurial skills, drive and tenacity needed to succeed as independent filmmakers.

VENUE: Te Auaha, 65 Dixon St, Te Aro, Wellington
DATE: Thursday 29 November
TIME: 6:15-7:15. After the TALK, stay and have pizza on Script to Screen, there will be a cash bar and sociallising with fellow filmmakers.
$5.00 KOHA: Please bring cash as we do not have eftpos. Your contribution helps us to continue StS TALKS

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This StS TALK is possible thanks to the support of the New Zealand Film Commission. Thanks to the New Zealand Film and Television School for the venue.

STRAY is the debut feature film from writer/director/producer Dustin Feneley. It is a bold arthouse film that was made outside the traditional funding system and has been received positively by international film festivals, critics and audiences. This independent film was financed through private investors, sponsorships, the goodwill of cast and crew, and crowdfunding donors – where it raised the highest amount ever for a New Zealand film. In this comprehensive case study, Dustin will discuss both the creative and the practical, including: his unique approach to screenwriting and directing trusting your gut and following your creative instincts as a filmmaker staying passionate during the years of script development and financing growing your entrepreneurial skills and tenacity to succeed as an independent filmmaker how the STRAY team financed the project as an independent film, with a particular focus on the extensive process behind the record-breaking crowdfunding campaign. This case study will not only be useful and inspiring to writers, directors and producers with a feature film project currently in active development, but to anyone with aspirations of making a feature film in the future.

We recommend you see the film prior to the case study you attend Dunedin: 8 October, 6pm, Rialto Christchurch: 9 October, 6pm, Alice Screenings also in Alexandra, Wanaka and Roxburgh – check your local cinema.

Dustin Feneley is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts Film School. His short films as writer and director (NIGHT, SNOW, HAWKER, ESKIMO KISS) have won numerous awards and screened at over one hundred film festivals, including official selections at Cannes, London, Sydney and Melbourne. STRAY holds the record for the highest amount ever raised through donation-based crowdfunding for a New Zealand film. In 2016 Dustin Feneley raised over $125,000 in a 30-day campaign on NZ arts crowdfunding site Boosted. Hailed by The Dominion Post as “one of the very best films ever made in New Zealand”, Flicks writes that STRAY “fortifies hope in the breadth and ambition of New Zealand film”. After receiving rave five-star reviews and numerous sell-out sessions at NZIFF, STRAY secured theatrical distribution in Australasia and will be released nationally on October 4 in over 30 cinemas. STRAY had its World Premiere in competition at the Moscow International Film Festival where it won the award for Best Actor. STRAY’s successful festival run continues with over 20 international film festivals screening the film this year. Watch the STRAY TRAILER

DUNEDIN: 9am-12:30pm Tuesday 9 October
Venue: Petridish – Green Room, 8 Stafford Street, Dunedin
Co-presented with Film Dunedin

Book tickets for Dunedin – $ 15 (limited spaces)

CHRISTCHURCH: 9am-12:30pm Wednesday 10 October
Venue: Belmont Studios, 31 Southwark St, Christchurch.
Allow time to find a park and walk to the venue.

Book tickets for Christchurch – $15 (limited spaces)

This Script to Screen workshop is made possible thanks to generous support from
The New Zealand Film Commission.

6:00pm Thursday 6 September
Meeting Room 5, Studio One Toi Tū, 1 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

German filmmakers understand that a film from the master creative producer Peter Rommel will present a unique approach to the development and production of drama. With a spirit of improvisation the films are made with a small crew, hand held cameras, and complete immersion in character over a period of time for the actors. Peter Rommel produced Andreas Dresen’s multiple award-winning films GRILL POINT, CLOUD 9 and STOPPED ON TRACK – the latter two also winners of Un Certain Regard at Cannes Film Festival. He will draw on these films, showing clips, to demonstrate outcomes from this approach during the session. All three films covered specific themes but were created in the same spirit of improvisation in development and production – a collective operation. Peter will be in conversation with Philippa Campbell.

Peter Rommel began in the distribution business in 1989 with Berlin-based company Ex Picturis. Subsequent to his collaboration with Icelandic director Fridrik Thór Fridriksson Peter Rommel changed sides and became a producer and in 1993 he founded Peter Rommel Productions (now Rommel Film) in Berlin. He went on to co-produce international cinema features, like MOVIE DAYS, SWEETY BARRETT and DEVIL’S ISLAND.

Rommel Film is a Berlin based production company producing national and international feature films and documentaries which have won numerous awards and have screened at such renowned festivals as Cannes, Sundance and Berlinale. Peter is a regular jury member at international film festivals and in 2017 received the Max Ophuels Festival-Lifetime Achievement Award; he has been a group leader at EAVE, and a visiting lecturer at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.

Peter is in development with Alex Behse and Philippa Campbell on an untitled Max Currie project to be shot next year in Nelson.

6:00-7:15pm Talk
$5 Koha appreciated. Please bring cash with you as we don’t have eftpos. Your contribution helps us to continue doing these TALKS.
VENUE: Meeting Room 5, Studio One Toi Tū, 1 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

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Presented in association with WIFT NZ.

This TALK is made possible thanks to generous support from New Zealand Film Commission, Foundation North, Images & Sound, Goethe Institut and White Studios.

Thank you to Auckland Council for their on going support.

Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th August, 2018 
Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown, Wellington

Script to Screen presents a weekend workshop for the storytelling and filmmaking community. It is designed to deepen and clarify your approach to working in a group or as a team. If you have a project at any stage of development this process will change how you work TOGETHER.

The two day process will focus on the core tenets of innovative collaboration. A robust progression of exercises will lead the participants through an exploration of internal and external listening, the power of feedback and the clarity required when goal setting. The workshop will involve both group and individual exercises. A notepad and paper are required! Come alone or with your collaborators. This is an opportunity to professionally develop yourself.

Brita McVeigh’s working methodology has, since 2005, contributed to the development and production of more than 140 feature film, short film, television and theatre projects in New Zealand and Australia. She occupies a unique place in the storytelling industry, working in the space between Story Consultant, Acting Coach and Directing Coach. Brita began her consulting career collaborating closely with Taika Waititi (THOR) on his films Eagle vs Shark and Boy. Most recently Brita worked alongside Cate Shortland (BLACK WIDOW), on the development of her 8-part episodic project, The Monaro. Brita has adapted the essence of her working methodology into an ongoing workshop series. Focusing on empathy, embodied listening and authentic expression, Acting for Humans has been attended by more than 800 creative professionals, both actors and non-actors, in New Zealand and Australia. Entire creative teams have attended her workshop, in order to deepen the connection between collaborators. Brita also helms acting and storytelling workshops for communities and teams inside the corporate culture.

Date: Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th August, 2018
Time: Saturday 9.30am – 4:30pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm
Venue: Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newtown, Wellington
Cost: $24 plus booking fee. Tickets available via Eventbrite. Workshop is limited to 50 attendees.
What to Bring: Pen and Paper. Some participants may want to bring their lunch. Morning and afternoon tea will be provided. If you don’t bring lunch it’s a short walk to cafes in the area.

Thank you to Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre for hosting us in their wonderful space.

This workshop was made possible with the support from the Creative Communities Scheme.

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.

• Chris Marcil (HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, FRASIER, BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD, DARIA)
• Jeppe Gervjig Gram (BORGEN, FOLLOW THE MONEY)
• Jacquelin Perske (SEVEN TYPES OF AMBIGUITY, DEADLINE GALLIPOLI, LOVE MY WAY)
• Kirsty Fisher (LAID, THE FAMILY LAW)
• Fiona Samuel (PIECE OF MY HEART, BLISS)
• James Griffin (OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE, THE ALMIGHTY JOHNSONS, 800 WORDS)
• Michael Bennett (IN DARK PLACES, THE CONFESSIONS OF PRISONER T, KAITANGATA TWITCH)
• Debbie Lee former head of comedy at ABC, now head of scripted development at Matchbox Pictures

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.

Got a script in development?
Have you thought about your audience?

Join us at this Script to Screen Talk and find out what local distributors consider before they take on a project for distribution.

Having a strong script and a great filmmaking team is not enough. Most often, unlocking NZFC production funding depends on a commitment from a local distributor.

Come along to hear from Tony Bald at Paramount Pictures, Andrew Cozens at Madman, Nigel Forsyth at Studio Canal and Kelly Rogers at Rialto Distribution.

Moderator Emma Slade talks to the panelists about what they look for and why, including genre and story elements, team, and at what stage of development they like to get on board.

Be you a writer, director or a producer, if you are developing a feature film project this event is not to be missed!

Thursday 9 November at the Basement Theatre.
Doors open at 5pm. Talk starts at 6:15pm – 7:15pm.
$5 suggested koha. Stay afterwards for pizza on us!

“That seemingly casual connection between life an mythology, between flesh-and-blood reality and its parallel spiritual dimensions, informs this meditative drama about the redemption of a man whose healing hands have also inflicted scars on his family.”

– David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

When Tusi Tamasese’s ONE THOUSAND ROPES premiered to critical acclaim in Berlinale’s prestigious Panorama section and at home, the co-existence of social realism and mysticism was consistently identified as striking, effective and unusual.

In this special session, Tamasese is joined by producer Catherine Fitzgerald, editor Annie Collins, colourist Clare Burlinson and VFX Supervisor Darwin Go to explore how post elements and music came together to tell the powerful story of ONE THOUSAND ROPES.

A section of the film is granularly analysed to demonstrate the composition of pictures, colour palette, sound design and music. Points of discussion include how a ‘purgatory’ feel for Maea’s world, and the threatening feel of character Seipua were achieved.

Join us to hear about how the creative power of post can enhance character and world, whilst serving story. If feedback from the BSS is anything to go by, this session is not to be missed!

Please RSVP at: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/one-thousand-ropes-case-study-tickets-39063472899

Park Road Post, 141 Park Road, Mirimar, Wellington, Thurs 02 November. Drinks 5:30pm – 6:30pm, talk 6:30pm-7:30pm, $5 suggested koha.

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.