Script to Screen is delighted to announce the appointment of Jackie Dennis as our new Executive Director. She steps up to the role having worked in programmes and operations with departing ED Esther Cahill-Chiaroni over the past 18-months.
Throughout her career Jackie has worked closely with creative practitioners in music, literature and film, nurturing careers and advocating for the arts.
Script to Screen Chair Cass Avery says, “We value the knowledge Jackie brings to the role and her commitment to Script to Screen. She brings a broad range of creative, strategic and leadership skills to the Executive Director role. With Jackie’s background and her love of film it is a natural transition.”
Prior to returning to Script to Screen in 2017, Jackie was Chief Executive of the New Zealand Society of Authors where she oversaw a major overhaul of the Society’s operations and activities. From 1993 to 2009 Jackie worked for the Mushroom Group initially for the Music Publishing arm. In the late 90s Mushroom diversified into movies and Jackie took up the post of General Manager at Mushroom Pictures in Australia where she was involved in the development and production of a wide range of film, television and multimedia productions. She has done music supervision for many projects including iconic films Chopper and What We Do In The Shadows. Jackie also played an important part in Script to Screen’s earlier years, programme managing the first two Big Screen Symposiums and working on the inaugural FilmUp Programme.
Jackie is excited to win the job after a rigorous recruitment process and is looking forward to engaging with the filmmaking community in her new role. She will take up the position in January 2019.
Dianne Taylor stands down as chair of the Script to Screen Board of Trustees, after a term of five and a half years, four of which were at the helm.
Executive Director Esther Cahill-Chiaroni notes, “Dianne’s devotion to the organisation has been invaluable to staff, the board, and the wider community alike. She has provided endless support to me over a time of great development for the organisation, whilst guarding our founding creative vision to foster and develop storytelling craft and culture. She will be so very missed, but we are pleased that moving on will enable her to focus even more on her own screenwriting career.”
Dianne’s tenure has seen the creation of the Big Screen Symposium, the FilmUp Mentorship programme, and the Writers’ Lab Aotearoa. Dianne reflects positively on her time with the organisation. “Chairing Script to Screen over the past four years has been an enormous privilege. We’ve been able to develop and drive exciting new initiatives for our community. It’s been particularly gratifying to see the seeding of relationships between so many local and international filmmakers.”
We are delighted to announce that Brita McVeigh, who joined the board late last year, will step into the chair position.
Brita works to empower writers, directors, and actors in her own cross-disciplinary practice, and brings a wealth of relevant expertise to the role. “Brita already has such a strong understanding of the organisation, its aims and our kaupapa. We are very much looking forward to working with her in this new capacity and to the skills she will bring.” – Esther Cahill-Chiaroni, Executive Director
Brita expresses her enthusiasm to take up this new role. “It is an exciting time to be working with Esther and the team. Script to Screen has an excellent group of people on the board – I am honoured to be stepping into the chair.”