“The advantage for us and other streamers is that we don’t have to make money on theatrical. Online is the growth engine. I can lose significantly on theatrical but the buzz surrounding the release will increase our subscriber base” – Efe Cakarel, CEO and founder of MUBI
Script to Screen and WIFT NZ present an international panel with German broadcaster Susanne Müller (Executive Director, Feature Films and International Co-productions, ZDF German Television), Head of Sales at the Match Factory Thania Dimitrakopoulou, and producer, EP and entertainment lawyer Bryce Menzies (Marshalls & Dent) as they discuss the transition from the traditional market structure to an SVoD-led environment. The panel will be moderated by Managing Director of Match Factory, Viola Fügen.
As the emphasis on foreign sales as a way to reach your audience wanes, and online global reach gains relevance for niche projects, Netflix and Amazon are aggressively reshaping the traditional sales models. (As outlined by the Hollywood Reporter from Berlin “Netflix and Amazon Evolve From Industry Disrupters to Market Darlings.”) The rising importance of SVoD platforms is a simultaneously exciting and frightening prospect for television and indie filmmakers alike.
The panel join us in New Zealand as speakers at WIFT NZ’s third annual Co-production Summit – Up with the Play, a market-focussed programme for experienced producers working in film, television and digital media. This year the summit focuses on German/New Zealand co-productions.
Tuesday 28 February, 6:30pm drinks. 7-8pm talk. Studio One – Toi Tū, 1 Ponsonby Road. $10 koha suggested. Includes a glass of wine before the talk and a slice of pizza afterwards.
Proudly brought to you in collaboration with WIFT NZ, with support from Screen Auckland and the Goethe Institute.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday 6th March 2017, 5pm
“Thank you for connecting me with the industry both here and in Australia. I have a greater understanding of the business of writing having met with Alice (Bell) every week and the importance of having ‘product’ as a writer. I’m delighted to have made new long-term creative relationships. What you have made is so important, this year has been transformative.” – Sophie Henderson, 2014 FilmUp participant
If you are a writer, director, or producer with proven talent and feature film projects in development, you could be one of the eight filmmakers to participate in this year’s FilmUp Mentorship Programme.
A tailored mentorship for each filmmaker forms the cornerstone of the programme, which also includes story workshops, facilitated group work and round table discussions with esteemed film industry practitioners.
The driving force of successful mentorship is that participants actively take hold of their own learning and development. This autonomy will be fostered from the start of the programme, as we once again invite you to play a part in choosing your mentor.
Although the mentorship is for the filmmaker rather than for individual projects, applicants need to have projects in development. Preference will be given to those filmmakers highly likely to get a feature film off the ground in the near future.
Applicants will need to demonstrate how mentoring at this stage in their career will be valuable and be in a position to reflect on and advance their work during the programme which runs from April to December.
The programme will offer the following to successful applicants:
Who can apply?
Filmmakers who are have feature films in development as writer, director or producer, and can demonstrate tenacity, originality, and competence in their field. You will need to demonstrate you have proven talent in short film, television, documentary or feature film. Your track record could be in a different role, for example editing, cinematography, or acting.
Senior Mentorship: established feature film writers, directors and producers.
Key Dates
Applications open Thursday 9th February 2017 and close on Monday 6th March 2017 at 5pm.
A selection panel will choose the successful applicants and all applicants will be advised of the results in late March.
Successful applicants must be available for a one-day intensive on Friday 7th April, 2017 and for 4 full-day hubs throughout the year – Thursday 4th May, Thursday 20th July, Monday 2nd October and the closing hub day on Friday 8th December.
Application Requirements
Applicants will need to submit:
DOWNLOAD THE FILMUP APPLICATION FORM HERE
DOWNLOAD THE SENIOR MENTORSHIP APPLICATION FORM HERE
Please email your application in a single .pdf file to sjionel@script-to-screen.co.nz (Learn how to combine .pdfs here)
Applications close at 5pm on Monday 6th March, 2017.
Any questions can be directed to sjionel@script-to-screen.co.nz, or you can call the office on 09 360 5400.
FilmUp is made possible with financial assistance from the NZ Film Commission.
The FilmUp Mentorship Programme is an eight-month professional development programme of mentorships, group-work, and wrap-around support for writers, directors, producers and script editors. It supports and empowers up to eight practicing filmmakers each year to reach the next stage in their creative careers.
FilmUp provides tailored support to up-skill writers, directors and producers in their craft, career and creative process. Throughout the programme each participant receives 20 hours with an esteemed industry mentor, participates in group work & round tables, and receives wrap-around support.
Previous participants have included producer Chelsea Winstanley (WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS) with NZ/Australian prolific producer Tim White, and writer Sophie Henderson (FANTAIL) with Australian film and high-end TV writer Alice Bell (THE SLAP). A full list of participants and their mentors can be found here.
FilmUp is made possible with financial assistance from the NZ Film Commission.
With the sheer number of films in the global market, what does it take to get your projects recognised on the international stage?
Fresh from Sundance, SXSW, Cannes’ Marché du Film and Berlin’s EFM, producers Robin Scholes, Ant Timpson and Alexander Behse come to together for a special market debrief chaired by producer Christina Milligan.
Don’t miss this chance to hear from those with years of market experience as they shed light on what distributors, sales agents, and other potential partners are looking for, what is capturing their attention right now, and why.
Tuesday 23rd August, 7pm drinks, 7:30-8:30 talk, The Classic, 321 Queen Street, $5 koha appreciated.
Make sure to stick around afterwards for a slice of pizza on us!
Script to Screen presents the 2016 Wellington Short Film Workshop – a two-day workshop that will give you everything you need to know to make a short film. Over one weekend, four experienced industry practitioners will guide you through each stage of the filmmaking process – from writing, directing, producing to pitching your idea to collaborators or funders. If you have a passion for storytelling, and in interest in learning how to make a short film, then this workshop is for you.
This workshop is aimed at ages 17+, and no prior filmmaking knowledge is necessary.
Date: Sat 6 & Sun 7 August
Time: 9am – 5pm both days
Venue: Drama 1, Te Whaea: National Dance and Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Rd, Newtown
Cost: The workshop cost is $20 for the weekend – 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.
Registration: Spaces are limited so you must register your interest. Please rsvp to Sjionel on sjionel@script-to-screen.co.nz or ring the office on 09 360 5400.
SCHEDULE
Day One – Saturday 6 August
9am-9:30am – Coffee/tea/intro
9:30am-11am – Why I Make Films with Nikki Si’ulepa
11am-12:30pm – Producing with Ruth Korver
Learn about the role of the producer in driving the project from conception to completion
12:30-1:30pm – Lunch
1:30 – 4:30pm – Screenwriting with Brita McVeigh
Learn about the key points of storytelling and forming a structure that will grab the audience
Day Two – Sunday 7 August
9am – 12pm – Directing with Rob Sarkies
Learn about the director’s role in the film and forming a strong vision for your story
12pm – 1pm – Lunch
1pm – 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 5 minutes.
Photo credit: A still from Wellington-made short film QUEENIE.
This workshop is made possible with the support of the Creative Communities Scheme.
In the wake of the Comedy Festival, we are reminded that NZ comedy is alive and kicking, and we have a national (and possibly international) audience ready to embrace it.
Whether its odd-ball characters, slapstick or dark humour, in sketch or narrative content, are we making the most of our potential to write great comedic work for the screen?
This May we bring together a panel of screenwriters and comedians for serious discussion about comedy.
Join us to hear writer/director Gerard Johnstone (Terry Teo, Housebound, The Jaquie Brown Diaries), actor/writer/producer Millen Baird (Auckland Daze, The Millen Baird Show) and actor/writer/director Florence Noble (7DaysLater, Meanwhile on Earth) as they talk to actor/writer/playwright Tom Sainsbury (Super City, Dynamotion) about the challenge of creating comedic stories and characters that come alive on screen.
Come early for a drink and stay afterwards for a slice of pizza on us.
Tues 31st May, The Classic, 321 Queen Street, 7pm drinks, 7:30-8:30pm talk. $5 koha appreciated.
For so many in the filmmaking team, work is done when the picture is locked. But the producer’s race to get the film an audience has only just begun.
Producers Leanne Saunders and Carthew Neal return from Sundance, where their film HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (Taika Waititi) and Carthew’s doco TICKLED (David Farrier) both pushed through obstacles to achieve coveted outcomes: successful premieres, great reviews and strong sales. HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE sold North American distribution rights to The Orchard for just under $2million, while TICKLED sold North American and world theatrical rights (ex. Aus/NZ) to Magnolia, and US TV rights to HBO. Similarly Leanne Saunders’ 2015 hit dance film BORN TO DANCE sold to 9 territories including to US distributor FilmBuff after a Toronto premiere and an appearance at Berlinale.
Join us to hear Carthew and Leanne talk about positioning their films from conception through to release. From taking the project to market, getting the right sales agents on board at the right time, to selling the film, come and hear what they’ve learnt along the way.
Thursday 21st April, 141 Park Rd, Miramar, Wellington. Doors open at 5.45pm. Please be on time for a 6pm start. Talk 6-7pm. $10 koha appreciated – includes a drink at the Roxy Cinema afterwards.
Whether it’s via co-production, selling content, or promoting our talent, are we making the most of being neighbours with Australia? After all, at our doorstep lies a thriving industry, and a much larger audience.
In 2015, over 1.4 million Australians tuned in each week across five capital cities to watch drama series 800 WORDS. It is the first show of its kind – a TV series created and shot in NZ for an Australia network. A co-production between NZ’s South Pacific Pictures and Australia’s Seven Productions, the show was commissioned for prime time on Seven Network where it shot to number one viewing for Australian households. The first season has just picked up four Logie nominations (incl Most Outstanding Drama Series) and the second season is currently in production.
Join us to hear the show’s co-creators James Griffin and Maxine Fleming, and producer Kelly Martin (CEO, South Pacific Pictures) talk to Irene Gardener about the conception of the show, what was learnt through the writing process and the experience of making a show for one of Australia’s biggest networks.
Come early for a drink and stay afterwards for a slice of pizza on us.
Tues 19th April, The Classic, 321 Queen Street, 7pm drinks, 7:30-8:30pm talk. $5 koha appreciated.
We’re also delighted to welcome NZ on Air on board as a supporter of the Writers’ Room. Thanks NZ on Air!
Script to Screen is proud to award eight filmmakers with places on the FilmUp Programme for 2016.
FilmUp is our high-end development programme for writers, directors and producers who have already shown considerable talent and tenacity in their work.
We are also delighted to award a senior mentorship for the first time to writer/director Jake Mahaffy (FREE IN DEED). Mahaffy is a critically acclaimed feature film maker and will be paired with an international mentor in the coming weeks.
The participants of the 2016 FilmUp Mentorship Programme are:
Gaysorn Thavat – Director
Georgina Conder – Producer
Joe Lonie – Writer/director
Josephine Stewart-Tewhiu – Writer
Max Currie – Writer/director
Nadia Maxwell – Producer
Tim Van Dammen – Writer/director
Yamin Tun – Writer/director
See a full list of their biographies here.
Each participant will be matched with a filmmaker mentor from NZ or Australia over the coming weeks, 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 participants individual needs.
We would like to thank all the filmmakers who applied.
FilmUp is made possible with support from the New Zealand Film Commission.
For so many in the filmmaking team, work is done when the picture is locked. But the producer’s race to get the film an audience has only just begun.
Producers Leanne Saunders and Carthew Neal return from Sundance, where their film HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (Taika Waititi) and Carthew’s doco TICKLED (David Farrier) both pushed through obstacles to achieve coveted outcomes: successful premieres, great reviews and strong sales. HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE sold North American distribution rights to The Orchard for just under $2million, while TICKLED sold North American and world theatrical rights (ex. Aus/NZ) to Magnolia, and US TV rights to HBO. Similarly Leanne Saunders’ 2015 hit dance film BORN TO DANCE sold to 9 territories including to US distributor FilmBuff after a Toronto premiere and an appearance at Berlinale.
Join us to hear Carthew and Leanne talk to producer Julia Parnell about positioning their films from conception through to release. From taking the project to market, getting the right sales agents on board at the right time, to selling the film, come and hear what they’ve learnt along the way.
Join us before the talk for a drink and stay afterwards for a slice of pizza on us.
Tues 5 April, The Classic, 321 Queen Street, 7pm drinks, 7:30-8:30pm talk. $5 koha appreciated.