Spend a day with Hamish Bennett (Bellbird, Uproar) as he guides participants through the fundamentals of screenplay writing for short film.
The focus of the day will be building stories around character and bringing specificity to your work. This workshop will be craft based, combining practical exercises with discussion and reflection. After covering writing fundamentals, participants will then explore bringing the written element from the page to the screen.
Promising to be both interactive and engaging, this is a terrific opportunity to spend a day focusing on your craft as a writer.
When and where:
Saturday 12 October 2024
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Screen CanterburyNZ Office
BNZ Centre, Level 3, 101 Cashel Street
Wheelchair access is available.
Ages 16 +
$25.00 (incl. GST & Fees) book via Humanitix
Morning tea and afternoon tea provided, BYO lunch
ABOUT
HAMISH BENNET
Hamish Bennett (Te Arawa, Patuharakeke, Kāi Tahu) is an accomplished director and award-winning screenwriter based in Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2023, he co-wrote and co-directed his second feature film, Uproar (Firefly Films), which celebrated its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, earning widespread acclaim from both audiences and critics.
In 2019, Hamish wrote and directed his debut feature film, Bellbird (Herringbone Productions), garnering recognition on the international festival circuit and securing several awards, including Best Screenplay at the Macao International Film Festival.
In addition to his success in feature films, Hamish has lent his writing expertise to various television series, including Hui Hoppers (NZTV, 2023) and the teen drama Mystic (Libertine Pictures, NZTV, 2022).
During the early stages of his career, Hamish directed multiple award-winning short films. In 2011, his short film The Dump earned him the Best Short Script award at the New Zealand Writers Guild Awards. Subsequently, in 2014, Ross & Beth claimed both the jury and audience prizes at the New Zealand International Film Festival.
Beyond his creative work, Hamish has over twenty years of experience as a school teacher, and has recently returned to Aotearoa with his whānau after two years living in Rarotonga.
This Script to Screen workshop is made possible thanks to generous support from Christchurch Creative Communities and Screen CanterburyNZ.
Script to Screen is presenting a 1-day adult scriptwriting workshop in Kerikeri. This is a rare opportunity for local story tellers to work with renowned writer, director and author, Michael Bennett (The Gone, In Dark Places). The morning will be spent delving into character, story structure, key moments and writing fundamentals and then in the afternoon you will develop your own original story idea and write a scene.
Not to be missed, this is a practical and interactive workshop that will help you find the momentum you need to initiate a screen story, or move your project forward. If you’re a new or emerging filmmaker or a local creative wanting to reinvigorate a screen idea or explore writing for film and television, this workshop is for you.
When and where:
Sunday 14 July
9am – 5pm
Turner Centre, 43 Cobham Road, Kerikeri 0230
Venue is wheelchair accessible
Cost:
$25 including GST and booking fee. Tickets via humanitix
Morning tea and afternoon tea provided, BYO lunch
ABOUT PROGRAMME MENTORS
MICHAEL BENNET
Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) is a screenwriter, filmmaker and author. Michael’s short films and feature films have screened and won awards internationally, including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, Locarno, New York, London, ImagiNative and Dreamspeakers. He is the 2020 recipient of the Te Aupounamu Māori Screen Excellence Award, awarded by the NZ Film Commission for excellence in Māori filmmaking. Michael devoted many years of his recent career to the fight for justice for Teina Pora, a young Māori man wrongly imprisoned for 21 years. Michael made the documentary The Confessions of Prisoner T, which lead to the discovery of evidence pivotal to Teina’s exoneration. Michael directed and co-wrote the TV feature film In Dark Places about Teina’s case, which was finalist for a record 11 awards in the NZ Television Awards, winning Best Film and Best Director. Michael has been head writer or showrunner for many dozens of hours of prime-time television drama including The Gone (NZ / Ireland crime thriller), Vegas (crime thriller), Te Kohu (supernatural drama), and Mataku (the Māori Twilight Zone). Michael’s debut novel Better The Blood, a crime thriller, was published in 2022 in the UK, USA, Australia and NZ, with nine international translations. Better The Blood was a finalist for the fiction prize at the 2023 New Zealand literary awards (The Ockhams) and won Best First Novel at the Ngaio Marsh Awards. Michael is currently adapting his novel for television, and his second novel, Return To Blood, is in bookstores now.
This workshop is made possible thanks to generous support from Foundation North.
We are also running a Youth school holiday workshop. Check it out using the link below.
Script to Screen presents a free four-day filmmaking workshop in the July school holidays for 14 – 18 year olds.
This is an outstanding opportunity for the next generation of filmmakers to develop skills and learn about the fundamentals of crafting a story idea, writing a script, and acting for camera. The aim of the workshop is to foster filmmaking talent in the Far North region and to provide an opportunity for young creatives to learn new skills and level up without having to travel outside of the region. No experience or prior knowledge of filmmaking is necessary. We encourage anyone who has an interest in telling stories for the screen and acting to apply.
The programme will be taught by Michael Bennett (storytelling and screenwriting) and Jamie Irvine (storytelling and acting).
When and where:
Monday 15th July – Thursday 18th July
9am – 3pm each day
Turner Centre, 43 Cobham Road, Kerikeri 0230
Programme Structure:
Day 1 – Developing a story idea and screenwriting principles
Day 2 – Writing a scene
Day 3 – Storytelling and acting
Day 4 – Taping the scenes, debrief and discussion.
Cost: The workshop is free, please register via Humanitix as spaces are limited
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are provided. However, if you have special dietary requirements (allergies, gluten free, dairy free, keto, paleo, etc) please bring food with you.
ABOUT PROGRAMME MENTORS
MICHAEL BENNET
Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) is a screenwriter, filmmaker and author. Michael’s short films and feature films have screened and won awards internationally, including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, Locarno, New York, London, ImagiNative and Dreamspeakers. He is the 2020 recipient of the Te Aupounamu Māori Screen Excellence Award, awarded by the NZ Film Commission for excellence in Māori filmmaking. Michael devoted many years of his recent career to the fight for justice for Teina Pora, a young Māori man wrongly imprisoned for 21 years. Michael made the documentary The Confessions of Prisoner T, which lead to the discovery of evidence pivotal to Teina’s exoneration. Michael directed and co-wrote the TV feature film In Dark Places about Teina’s case, which was finalist for a record 11 awards in the NZ Television Awards, winning Best Film and Best Director. Michael has been head writer or showrunner for many dozens of hours of prime-time television drama including The Gone (NZ / Ireland crime thriller), Vegas (crime thriller), Te Kohu (supernatural drama), and Mataku (the Māori Twilight Zone). Michael’s debut novel Better The Blood, a crime thriller, was published in 2022 in the UK, USA, Australia and NZ, with nine international translations. Better The Blood was a finalist for the fiction prize at the 2023 New Zealand literary awards (The Ockhams) and won Best First Novel at the Ngaio Marsh Awards. Michael is currently adapting his novel for television, and his second novel, Return To Blood, is in bookstores now.
JAMIE IRVINE
As an Actor, Director and Acting Coach Jamie Irvine has worked in Australia, Los Angeles, New York and New Zealand. Jamie is a NIDA acting graduate and continued his study with Susan Batson and at the Stella Adler Studio in NYC. Over twenty years, he has taught acting at NIDA, Actors Centre Australia, Theatre of Arts in Hollywood, South Seas Film School and various other institutions. Acting Credits include Sweet Tooth, Tinā, Power Rangers: Dino Fury, Shortland St, Underbelly:Land of the Long Green Cloud, Black Hands, Westside, Home and Away, Anzac Girls and The Brokenwood Mysteries. Jamie has also directed across several mediums and in 2022 he directed NZ on Air funded webseries Here if you Need. Jamie joined Script to Screen in January 2023, where he currently works as Programme Manager.
This workshop is made possible thanks to generous support from Foundation North and White Studios.
We are also running an adult workshop. Check it out using the link below.
Calling all Far North filmmakers and creatives!!!
In July 2024, we are excited to bring two outstanding workshops to Kerikeri led by writer and director Michael Bennett (The Gone, In Dark Places). A four-day school holiday workshop for youth aged 14-18, and a one-day adult scriptwriting workshop.
Joining Michael for the Youth Workshop will be actor (Shortland Street, The Brokenwood Mysteries), director and acting coach, Jamie Irvine.
This is a great opportunity for you to learn new skills and share your stories. So, book your place and tell your friends and whanau. These workshops are not to be missed.
“The projects that Script to Screen does and the reason I’m so gung-ho enthusiastic about them is; it’s about accessing people whose stories just don’t make it on screen. It’s giving people skills to tell stories for the screen. Giving new voices and new stories the potential to become films” – Michael Bennett
Free Youth Workshop – 4 days
Monday 15 – Thursday 18 July
Turner Centre, 43 Cobham Road, Kerikeri 0230
Develop skills and learn about the fundamentals of crafting a story idea, writing a script and acting for camera. No experience or prior knowledge of filmmaking is necessary. We encourage anyone who has an interest in writing, filmmaking, and acting to apply. For ages 14 – 18.
Adult Workshop – 1 day
Sunday 14 July
Turner Centre, 43 Cobham Road, Kerikeri 0230
The morning will be spent delving into character, story structure, key moments and writing fundamentals. In the afternoon, you will develop your own original story idea and write a scene. This workshop is suitable for new and emerging filmmakers, local creatives wanting to reinvigorate a screen idea or anyone wanting to explore writing for film and television.
ABOUT PROGRAMME MENTORS
MICHAEL BENNET
Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) is a screenwriter, filmmaker and author. Michael’s short films and feature films have screened and won awards internationally, including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, Locarno, New York, London, ImagiNative and Dreamspeakers. He is the 2020 recipient of the Te Aupounamu Māori Screen Excellence Award, awarded by the NZ Film Commission for excellence in Māori filmmaking. Michael devoted many years of his recent career to the fight for justice for Teina Pora, a young Māori man wrongly imprisoned for 21 years. Michael made the documentary The Confessions of Prisoner T, which lead to the discovery of evidence pivotal to Teina’s exoneration. Michael directed and co-wrote the TV feature film In Dark Places about Teina’s case, which was finalist for a record 11 awards in the NZ Television Awards, winning Best Film and Best Director. Michael has been head writer or showrunner for many dozens of hours of prime-time television drama including The Gone (NZ / Ireland crime thriller), Vegas (crime thriller), Te Kohu (supernatural drama), and Mataku (the Māori Twilight Zone). Michael’s debut novel Better The Blood, a crime thriller, was published in 2022 in the UK, USA, Australia and NZ, with nine international translations. Better The Blood was a finalist for the fiction prize at the 2023 New Zealand literary awards (The Ockhams) and won Best First Novel at the Ngaio Marsh Awards. Michael is currently adapting his novel for television, and his second novel, Return To Blood, is in bookstores now.
JAMIE IRVINE
As an Actor, Director and Acting Coach Jamie Irvine has worked in Australia, Los Angeles, New York and New Zealand. Jamie is a NIDA acting graduate and continued his study with Susan Batson and at the Stella Adler Studio in NYC. Over twenty years, he has taught acting at NIDA, Actors Centre Australia, Theatre of Arts in Hollywood, South Seas Film School and various other institutions. Acting Credits include Sweet Tooth, Tinā, Power Rangers: Dino Fury, Shortland St, Underbelly:Land of the Long Green Cloud, Black Hands, Westside, Home and Away, Anzac Girls and The Brokenwood Mysteries. Jamie has also directed across several mediums and in 2022 he directed NZ on Air funded webseries Here if you Need. Jamie joined Script to Screen in January 2023, where he currently works as Programme Manager.
These workshops are made possible thanks to generous support from Foundation North.
Spend a day with Pip Hall (One Lane Bridge, Jonah, Why Does Love?) as she guides participants through her process when developing story ideas for TV series.
Throughout the day Pip will look at character and character function, theme and story engine as well as constructing an outstanding pilot script and pitch document. This workshop will be craft based and combines practical elements, presented content, group work, discussion and case studies.
Promising to be both interactive and engaging, this is a terrific opportunity to spend a day focusing on your craft as a writer. You’ll be working on your ideas as well as taking notes, so bring your notepad or preferred writing device.
When: 9am – 5pm, Saturday 4th November 2023
Where:H D Skinner Annex, 361 Great King Street North, North Dunedin, Dunedin 9016. The room for the workshop is upstairs.
Wheelchair access is available. If you require special assistance, please let us know.
Cost: General Admission $30 (incl. GST & Booking Fee) via Humanitix.
Who is it for? Anyone 17+ currently working on a story idea for the screen. This workshop would be particularly beneficial for those writing for TV Series and will be a mix of teaching and writing exercises.
What to bring? Please bring a new or existing idea to work on. Also a notebook & pen or note-taking device, a water bottle and your lunch. Script to Screen will provide snacks, tea and coffee. There are café’s in the area if you prefer to buy your lunch.
Travel Grants Available for residents of Otago and Southland: Film Otago Southland will provide up to 5 travel grants of up to $100 each for participants who reside outside of the Dunedin City Council boundaries and have their permanent residence in the Otago or Southland region. The grants are allocated on a first-in basis. Please get in touch with Film Otago Southland Coordinator Stefan Roesch via email to secure your travel grant: stefan.roesch@dcc.govt.nz
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ABOUT PIP HALL
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| Pip Hall is an award-winning scriptwriter and playwright. She works extensively in television as a creator, writer, developer, story liner, script consultant and executive producer. She has written over forty million dollars’ worth of content including three series of One Lane Bridge, Why Does Love, Runaway Millionairesand The Brokenwood Mysteries.
“I love telling stories because I want to share the human condition, so that we know we are not alone in this big, crazy world; so we can celebrate our similarities and our differences.” – Pip Hall
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Spend a day with James Napier Robertson (The Dark Horse, Whina) as he guides participants through his approach to screenwriting and developing story ideas for film.
Throughout the day James will look at what makes a great story, discuss the stages of development, the fundamentals of character creation and connecting character to story. He’ll also explore structure and how this can continue to take shape throughout development and how all these elements combine and contribute to ‘the larger truth’ of your story. James will also devote some time to talk about career progression and approaches to developing your own work.
Promising to be both interactive and engaging, this is a terrific opportunity to spend a day focusing on your craft as a writer. Bring a notebook or device and be ready to take notes.
Who is it for: Anyone 17+ with a story idea they want to develop into a film script.
When: Saturday 21st October, 9am – 5pm
Where: Grey Lynn Library Hall, 474 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland 1021
Wheelchair access is available. If you require special assistance, please let us know.
Cost: General Admission $28.00 (incl. GST) via Humanitix.
What to bring: Notebook & pen or note-taking device, water bottle and lunch. Snacks, tea and coffee will be provided. 1hr lunch break – cafes within walking distance.
Parking: Limited parking is available, allow adequate time to find a park; using public transport is recommended.
Post Workshop: After the workshop, you are invited to relocate (location TBC) to socialise. Snacks are provided by Script to Screen, and buy your own drinks.
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ABOUT JAMES NAPIER ROBERTSON
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| James Napier Robertson is a New Zealand filmmaker. His 2014 film The Dark Horse was nominated for over 50 awards around the world and won over 30, Variety stating it “exceptional…the most deserving cinematic export to emerge from New Zealand in years” and the RNZ Film Review declaring it “one of the greatest New Zealand films ever made.” The Dark Horse won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Score at the 2014 New Zealand Film Awards. It was released theatrically in the United States in 2016, where it was presented by James Cameron, and in late 2016 was formally screened at the White House for then-President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. In 2018, Napier Robertson wrote and directed two episodes of Australian mini-series Romper Stomper, which won Most Outstanding Miniseries at the 2018 Logie Awards. In 2019 he worked on BBC mini-series The Luminaries, and in 2020 worked on Dame Whina Cooper biopic, Whina. His latest film, Joika, a ballet drama set in Russia starring Talia Ryder and Diane Kruger, premiered as the Closing Film for the prestigious Festival du cinéma Américain de Deauville in France and is set to be released in theatres globally in early 2024. |
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Whether you’re new to filmmaking or have worked in the industry for a while and aspire to tell your stories on the screen, this workshop will guide you in your next steps.
Fresh from the release of Far North, David White will be visiting Queenstown for this one-off workshop in September. Learn how to take your film idea through development, from a 1-pager to a dynamic and compelling script. David will draw on his experience, sharing and discussing how one of his projects went from the initial idea, was then developed into a short film, and subsequently reworked into a feature. He will also discuss the importance of collaboration and how to attract the right creative and producing partners to your project.
Come along to progress your feature or short film project. The passion that drives you to create will be invigorated, and you will leave with new knowledge and ideas to further develop your stories.
Testimony David White Workshop 2021
“His advice and insights were so practical and specific and spoke to the way the industry operates beyond just what works on the page and how to transfer it to the screen. I feel better equipped to approach my work.”
“Unique insight into the filmmaking process.”
Who is it for:
Anyone interested in developing their short or feature film project
When & Where:
Saturday 16th September 2023
9:00am – 5:00pm – Workshop
Puawai at Te Atamira
Building 11, Dart House, Remarkables Park Town Centre 12 Hawthorne Drive, Frankton, Queenstown 9300
Wheelchair Access is available. If you require special assistance, please let us know.
Cost: General Admission $25 (incl. GST) via Humantix
What to Bring: Please bring a pen, paper. Snacks, tea and coffee will be provided. Please bring your own lunch.
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ABOUT DAVID WHITE
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| David White – Director, Producer, Writer.
David White has produced and directed a substantial body of documentary and drama work that has enjoyed considerable national and international success, among them Meat, Shihad: Beautiful Machine, I Kill, Little Criminals, The Cleanest Pig and This Town. His work has screened at over 50 film festivals including Sundance, AFI, SXSW, SilverDocs, Tribeca, MIFF, TRUE/FALSE, Clermont Ferrand and has been commissioned and screened on networks such as BBC, Paramount +, Sky, Sundance Now, TVNZ and PRIME TV. He was the first New Zealander to be shortlisted for a Cinema Eye Honor (documentary) for his film I Kill. His documentary Little Criminals (2015) aired on PRIME TV to strong ratings and critical acclaim along with of Decades In Colour (2017 – PRIME TV) for Greenstone. Meat(2017) Executive Produced by Phil Fairclough (Grizzly Man / Cave of Forgotten Dreams) opened to 4 star reviews and sell out audiences throughout NZ and was released on multiple NZME platforms. MEAT is sold by MPI Media Group and has sold globally. He has just a 6part True Crime mini series – Far North, which he created, wrote, directed and is an Executive Producer. Staring Robyn Malcolm and Temerua Morrison, it has already sold to New Zealand, Australia and North America. Rest of World Sales will be handled by All3Media. |
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Script to Screen presents a free four-day film workshop in the July school holidays for 14 – 20 year olds.
This is an outstanding opportunity for young people to develop skills and learn about the fundamentals of crafting a story idea, writing a script, acting for camera and directing. The aim of the workshop is to foster writing talent and encourage aspiring young filmmakers in Northland. No experience or prior knowledge of filmmaking is necessary.
The programme will be taught by: Michael Bennett (Screenwriting), Laurel Devenie and Jamie Irvine (Storytelling and Acting).
When and where:
Tuesday 4th July – Friday 7th July
9am – 2:30pm each day
OneOneSix, 116A Bank Street Whangārei 0110
Programme Structure:
Day 1 – Story Telling and Acting
Day 2 – Screenwriting principles and developing a story idea
Day 3 – Writing a scene
Day 4 – Taping the scenes, debrief and discussion.
Cost: The workshop is free, but please register via EventBrite as spaces are limited.
Morning Tea, Lunch and Afternoon Tea are provided. However, if you have special dietary requirements (allergies, gluten free, dairy free, keto, paleo, etc) please bring food with you.
ABOUT PROGRAMME MENTORS
MICHAEL BENNET
Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) is a screenwriter, director and author.
Michael’s short films and feature films have screened and won awards internationally, including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, Locarno, New York and London. He is the 2020 recipient of the Te Aupounamu Māori Screen Excellence Award, awarded by the NZ Film Commission for excellence in Māori filmmaking.
LAUREL DEVENIE
Laurel Devenie is Whangārei based theatre practitioner who works as an actor, director, teacher, and producer. She is co-founder of ONEONESIX and The Whangārei Fringe Festival and works in a creative director role at ONEONESIX. She is a graduate of Toi Whakaari and The John Bolton Theatre School. She has been involved in both professional and community projects all over the country and has worked with South Pacific Pictures, ATC, Silo Theatre, Capital E, Unitec, Prayas, Downstage Theatre, Red Leap, Northland Youth Theatre and Script to Screen. Laurel is the Director of Whangārei based theatre collective, Company of Giants and has led many devised theatre projects including Odyssey, The Owl and the Pussycat and Rangitahua. She has facilitated arts-based programmes to work with different sectors of the community and is curious about spaces where arts practice can be used to invite new ways of engaging within communities and organisations.
JAMIE IRVINE
Jamie Irvine joined Script to Screen in January 2023. He has worked in film and television since 1998 as an Actor, Director, Acting Coach and Script advisor. After leaving New Zealand to study in 2003, Jamie spent several years engaged in freelance work overseas in both Sydney and Los Angeles and during that time he worked as an Acting Coach at NIDA, Actors Centre Australia, Theatre of Arts Hollywood and various other organisations.
This workshop is made possible thanks to generous support from Foundation North and White Studios.
How does an idea become a story, and a story become a series?
This one-day workshop digs into those all-important first steps that take you from the very beginnings of an idea to having a developed project you can use to attract collaborators, platforms and funders. This journey takes longer than a day, but this one-day workshop will take you through those first steps and help you plan your next moves. Empowerment starts here!
Participants will create new projects from scratch developing original ideas in the room, interrogate successful shows and analyse why they work, and learn about the essential materials you need to sell a project.
The workshop is pitched at the developing writer – if you have ideas you would like to turn into a series drama, this day is for you. Bring a notebook and pen, an original idea – a few lines is fine – and your creative energy.
We are excited to finally bring this workshop to Wellington – thank you One Foundation.
“Fiona runs a fantastic workshop. She demystifies the world of writing for the screen in a clear, concise and approachable way, where everyone has a story to tell.”
“Absolutely Blimmen Brilliant!”
“Exemplary and valuable in every respect”
– 2022 Christchurch and Queenstown Creating Series Drama Workshop Participants
Who is it for:
Anyone interested in developing a series idea for the screen
When & Where:
Saturday, 13th May 2023
9:00am – 5:00pm
Drama 2, Te Whaea National Dance & Drama Centre, 11 Hutchison Road, Newton, Wellington
Cost: General Admission $25 (incl. GST) via EventBrite
What to Bring: Please bring a pen, paper and your own lunch (there are also cafes in the area)
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ABOUT FIONA SAMUEL
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| Fiona Samuel is an award-winning writer and director for television, theatre, radio and film and an esteemed writing teacher and mentor. In her career she has created a body of work that centres female experience, starting with her ground-breaking television drama series The Marching Girls and continuing with an acclaimed trilogy of telemovies Piece of My Heart, Bliss, and Consent – The Louise Nicholas Story.
Alongside this work, Fiona is also a teacher, mentor and script consultant, teaching the Masters in Creative Writing at the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University of Wellington and working with directing students at the South Seas Film & Television School in Auckland. Fiona is an NZ Arts Foundation Laureate, a MNZM for services to television and theatre and the Co-President of the NZ Writers Guild. |
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Strength in Numbers is made possible thanks to generous support from the New Zealand Film Commission and Auckland Council– Regional Arts and Culture Grant.
and New Zealand Regional Film Offices; Film Otago Southland, Film Dunedin, Screen Canterbury and Film Queenstown Lakes.
