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!
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.
Come and join us for our first event of 2016 – an evening with Benjamin Illos, selector for the coveted Directors’ Fortnight section at Cannes Film Festival.
NZ short films have enjoyed considerable attention at Cannes, with nearly 30 being screened over the last few decades. However Directors’ Fortnight, a section dedicated to innovative and independent work, remains elusive to our filmmakers – the most recent film to screen being Christine Jeff’s RAIN (2001).
Hear Benjamin Illos talk to NZ writer/director Max Currie as they go behind the scenes at Cannes, exploring what goes into shaping the one of the world’s most prestigious festival sections.
Directors’ Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalisateurs) aims to identify and celebrate unique and powerful directorial voices from across the globe, and screens a mix of short film, feature film and documentary. The section can claim the first Cannes screenings of many universally acclaimed auteurs including Herzog, Scorsese and eventual Palme d’Or winner Ken Loach.
Join us for a drink beforehand and stay afterwards for a slice of pizza on us.
Tues 23rd February, The Classic, 321 Queen Street, 7pm drinks, 7:30-8:30pm talk. $5 koha appreciated.
You can now relive (or experience for the first time) some of this year’s Big Screen Symposium with this selection of summer viewing.
We’d like to thank filmmaker and 2014 FilmUp participant Michelle Savill, who has curated a series of short excerpts around this year’s theme, “Strengthening our Collaborative Spirit”, including Rachel Griffiths, Alison Maclean, Anthony McCarten – not to mention the brilliant Jane Campion.
Also a big thank you to the students of SAE Institute and Images and Sound for making these videos possible.
Watch the highlights here or on VIMEO.
From everyone at Script to Screen, all the best for the festive season and we’ll see you in 2016 for another exciting year!
For our last Wellington Writers’ Room of 2015, we bring you the most popular discussion from our Auckland Writers’ Room series. Writers Briar Grace-Smith, Max Currie and Emily Perkins get together with Ken Duncum to discuss the experience of writing a first feature film.
Writing of any sort can be a lonely process. From that initial FADE IN, to hashing out that final, closest-to-perfect draft, writing a film is often a long and arduous journey.
How do you keep the passion that drives you to create, while giving so much attention to structure and precision? And how can you ensure that your work stands out despite the pitfalls of inexperience?
Three NZ screenwriters with a feature film under their belt discuss taking that leap of faith. Briar Grace-Smith (THE STRENGTH OF WATER), Max Currie (EVERYTHING WE LOVED), and Emily Perkins (THE REHEARSAL) talk to screenwriter and playwright Ken Duncum (DUGGAN, BLUE SKY BOYS) about their experiences, what they wish they knew then, and how the writing process changes while you develop as a writer.
Join us from 5:30pm for a glass of wine and stay afterwards for a slice of pizza on us!
Wed 18 November, Nga Taonga Sound & Vision, 84 Taranaki Street. $5 koha appreciated (includes a glass of wine). Drinks 5:30pm, talk 6-7pm.
Script to Screen and WIFT NZ are proud to present a discussion with prolific Danish producer and broadcaster Piv Bernth (THE KILLING/Danish Broadcasting Corporation).
With a background in directing for theatre and screen, Bernth moved to producing in 1998 at Denmark’s broadcaster DR. Here she produced Emmy-winning NIKOLAJ AND JULIE and internationally lauded THE KILLING, as well as executive producing THE BRIDGE. In 2012 she moved into broadcasting as DR’s Head of Drama, green-lighting titles including BORGEN and THE LEGACY.
Join us to hear Piv Bernth talk to NZ producer and distributor Jill Macnab (BORN TO DANCE/Vendetta Films) about her approach to developing drama. As they pick apart the Danish model, learn how a small nation continues to produce compelling TV drama that finds a global audience. What can we learn from a model that champions writer and story, and is dedicated to giving audiences challenging work?
Tuesday 27th October, upstairs at Studio One Toi Tū, 1 Ponsonby Road (The old ‘Art Station’). 6:30pm drinks, 7-8pm discussion.
$10 koha suggested. Includes a glass of wine before the talk and a slice of pizza afterwards.
DVDs of some of Bernth’s titles such as BORGEN, THE KILLLING and THE BRIDGE, as well as other lauded TV drama such as FORCE MAJEURE and THE RETURNED, will be available for purchase at reasonable prices courtesy of distributor Madman Entertainment. Eftpos available.
Jill Macnab has an impressive and varied career in producing, distribution and marketing. After a stint in theatre management at Edinburgh Fringe, Macnab headed the sales and marketing department at Vendetta Films before aiding their international acquisitions launch. Most recently she has produced her debut feature film, BORN TO DANCE (2015) directed by Tammy Davis.
Proudly brought to you in collaboration with WIFT NZ.
To find out more about the Big Screen Symposium, please go to our website: bigscreensymposium.com.
The Big Screen Symposium 2015 is nearing and it’s all go! This year’s symposium takes place on 10/11 October 2015, at the University of Auckland Business School.
The Big Screen Symposium is New Zealand’s premiere film event of the year, where over 400 delegates come together for two days of conversations, workshops, panel discussions and case studies with a stellar line-up of local and international speakers. This year’s programme will be shaped around the theme ‘Strengthening Our Collaborative Spirit.’
Early bird tickets are on sale now until midnight, Thurs 10 September. So get in quick for the best rates, and secure your spot at the biggest industry weekend of the year.
The Big Screen Symposium captures the hearts of the film community.
“It was a wonderful experience for me in every possible way. I was touched by the warmth in which I was received across the board and it was an honour to be there.” – US producer Alix Madigan (WINTER’S BONE)
“I was struck by the positive energy of both the speakers and the participants. It reminded me of one of the core reasons why we make films – to share (and experience) a unique point of view.” – 2014 Speaker, AUS director Jennifer Kent (THE BABADOOK)
Come and join your filmmaking peers, and feel a sense of camaraderie as you learn more about your craft and get that injection of inspiration needed to carry your projects through.
BUY YOUR EARLY BIRD TICKET HERE
“INDIA’S DAUGHTER is one of the most important video documents of the 21st Century.” – writer/actor Emma Thompson
Join Script to Screen and the Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand as they speak to English filmmaker Leslee Udwin about the journey of INDIA’S DAUGHTER as an unforgiving foray into documentary direction, within the context of her much broader creative career as an actor, and producer of critically and commercially viable EAST IS EAST and its sequel WEST IS WEST.
INDIA’S DAUGHTER* documents the 2012 violent gang rape and murder of a college student in Delhi and the subsequent social and cultural reaction concerning biases against women. More controversial is the film’s banning in India and the ongoing attempts from the Indian government to censor its voice, including their successful move to have it banned from YouTube.
Auckland – Tuesday 18th August, The Classic Comedy Club, 321 Queen Street. 7.00-8.30pm (note – different start time from usual) session followed by a slice of pizza on us. $10 koha suggested. Chaired by screenwriter and academic, Shuchi Kothari.
Wellington – Wednesday 19th August, The Film and Television School, 66 Vivian Street. 6.00-7.30pm session followed by a slice of pizza on us. RSVP essential due to limited seats. Send us an email on rsvp@script-to-screen.co.nz. Chaired by editor Annie Collins.
We recommend that attendees see the film before attending the discussions (see below).
* INDIA’S DAUGHTER has its Auckland premiere on Sunday 16th of August, 3pm at the Raye Freedman Arts Theatre. Buy tickets here with proceeds going equally towards the INDIA’S DAUGHTER campaign and Waitakere Women’s Centre. The film is alternatively available on Vimeo for rental.
Leslee comes to New Zealand thanks also to the generous support of The University of Auckland and the New Zealand India Research Institute.