Subsidised Counselling Offer to Close July 30

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Vista Foundation & Home and Family Counselling logos

The Vista Foundation’s subsidised counselling offer provided for the screen industry in partnership with Home and Family Counselling will be closed effective on Friday 30 July 2021.

Vista Foundation has subsidised 206 hours of professional counselling since the offer began in May 2020, with five hours of counselling provided in the last 2-3 months.

Foundation trustee Christine Fenby said, “The industry has picked up considerably and we’re pleased to say that the need for the counselling sessions has diminished, which we all hope is a positive sign and an accurate one.”

Until July 30, the offer remains available to members of DEGNZ and other screen industry organisations and their whānau. Learn more

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Cousins Heads to the US

The Aotearoa box-office hit Cousins will release in select theatres in the US on July 2, after being picked up by Array Releasing, the distribution arm of Ava DuVernay’s Array collective.

Edited by DEGNZ member Alex Boyd, the film debuted at number one at the box office and quickly became a local hit, earning $1.6 million. The president of Array, Tilane Jones, spoke to Deadline about the acquisition, stating how inspired they were to bring this powerful film to audiences across the globe, a “beautiful story exploring identity, culture and family that goes beyond borders and time”.

Cousins will also stream on Netflix (US) from July 22.

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Parental Leave Membership

Aditya Romansa

Members stopping work to take parental leave can contact the National Office to receive six months of free Parental Leave Membership. Members on parental leave shall continue to receive Guild communications but their access to other membership benefits will be paused until they are financial again.

i. For members on Annual Billing who have already paid their annual subscription, their remaining membership period will be pro-rated and credited as an extension when they return.

ii. Members on Monthly Billing who are part-way through their annual commitment may contact the National Office to switch to Parental Leave Membership and terminate their current term.

Please contact us if you have recently had a child or have a baby on the way to enquire about DEGNZ Parental Leave Membership.

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Portraying Real Life Tragedy on Screen

Member Rob Sarkies, director of the 2006 film Out of the Blue, which told the story of the 1990 Aramoana massacre, sat down with RNZ’s The Detail to discuss the delicate nature of filming a real-life tragedy.

The important discussion surrounding portraying a real-life tragedy was brought to the forefront, after news broke that Hollywood producers were planning a film around the March 15 terror attacks in Christchurch.

Films like these wrestle with similar questions, who should make it? Who has the right to make it? What story will actually be told and whether it’s too soon. Rob acknowledges that there is no easy answer. On his own experience making Out of the Blue, Rob said:

“I felt that, if it was to be made, it needed to be made responsibly. It needed to be made by someone who could have empathy, and basically do it right. And I felt, being from Dunedin and having some concerns about how that story might be told in the wrong hands, I trusted myself to tell it. I took on the responsibility.”

Members of the Aramoana community worked closely with the production.

As a storyteller, Rob feels that storytelling can help a nation collectively process a tragic event. There is healing power in storytelling.

Have a listen to or read the discussion here.

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Film Talk: The Justice of Bunny King

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Essie Davis and Thomasin McKenzie in The Justice of Bunny King

On July 29, following its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival, DEGNZ is excited to be hosting a screening of The Justice of Bunny King, in association with Rialto Cinemas. The film follows Bunny King (Essie Davis), a mother of two who’s a rough cut diamond with a sketchy past. While battling the system to reunite with her children, a confrontation leads her to take her niece Tonyah (Thomasin McKenzie) under her wing. With the world against her and Tonyah, Bunny’s battle has just begun.

Following the screening, audiences will be joined by director Gaysorn Thavat for a Q&A session, moderated by Lucy Wigmore.

We look forward to seeing you there!

When: Thursday 29 July, 6pm
Where: Rialto Cinemas Newmarket, 167-169 Broadway, Newmarket, Auckland

Film Industry Member tickets only $12

Book now

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