Maramara Raising Funds for Loading Doc Only Human

Director and member Mia Maramara’s project Only Human is part of season 8 of the award-winning Loading Docs initiative. Only Human is an animated short film that asks the question: Is it possible to break up with your family?

They say you can’t choose your family, but can you overcome irreconcilable differences with those you love the most? The youngest daughter of an unconventional Filipino family explores the complexities of communicating across countries, generations and the internet.

Starting with crowdfunding campaigns, Loading Docs has announced eight new short documentaries by eight filmmaking teams. Brought together under the theme of Tūmanako/Hope, Loading Docs invites audiences to get behind the crowdfunding stage by supporting the creation of important Aotearoa stories. In a time of upheaval, filmmakers have opted to make documentary projects with themes that are personal to them.

But first, the filmmakers must raise $3,500 on homegrown website Boosted.org.nz to unlock further funding from Loading Docs. It’s an all or nothing campaign running from today until April 15. If filmmakers don’t raise the funds, the documentary won’t get made. To find out more visit: www.loadingdocs.net/tumanako

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Boost the Final Episode of LQBTQIA+ Webseries Sui Generis

Season 3 of Sui Generis is underway and the creators are crowdfunding to shoot the last episode of this anthology series. The series’ director, Roberto Nascimento (DEGNZ) and his production team are aiming for a $6000 goal for their boosted campaign. Each episode of Sui Generis is a stand-alone story with its own style, conceived and written by members and allies of the LQBTQIA+ community.

The final episode is titled Vanessa. This story is inspired by the idea of anonymity – with being unknown in a new city, what would you do? What could you do? What version of yourself would be presented… and would you take advantage of that?

Here are some ways you can help them:

  • Contribute to the campaign. Any donation, no matter how big or small, will be truly appreciated and celebrated. We know the times are a-challenging, so if you can’t contribute financially perhaps you could…
  • Share this campaign with your friends and extended whānau.
  • Help spread the word
  • Give them a hand – they are currently in search of a costume design/wardrobe person OR a runner.

View the campaign

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DEGNZ Members Selected for Pan Asian Projects Fund

Congrats to members Julie Zhu with Takeout Kids, Incubator alumna Michelle Ang and Ghazaleh Golbakhsh with Hair Now and Julia Parnell with The Hustle for their projects being selected for the March 2021 Pan Asian Projects Fund. For this fund, NZ On Air invested $1.7m into six documentary projects that speak to the diversity of experience of Pan-Asian people in Aotearoa.

Uhz & Hexwork Productions teamed up with The Spinoff and received up to $259,974 for a four part observational documentary series, Takeout Kids, that follows the joys and challenges of children growing up in the back of takeaway restaurants run by their immigrant parents.

A Grain of Rice Productions received up to $107,932 for short series, Hair Now, set to release via the Spinoff. In Hair Now, six women of different ages, ethnicities, languages, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds examine their complex relationship with their hair.

Notable Pictures received up to $368,633 plus a platform contribution from THREE of $96,000 for entrepreneurial based series The Hustle. The series focuses on the lives of Pan-Asian entrepreneurs and seeks to find out how they are pushing the boundaries of the world stage.

Read more

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2021 Virtual Table Reads

NZWG and DEGNZ are once again offering Virtual Table Reads for 2021.

Following the success of the virtual Table Reads during 2020, the 2021 Table Reads will take place online and script submissions are being accepted from NZWG and DEGNZ members around the country. The T&Cs as per our usual Table Reads apply.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity – this is a great development tool to help take your script to the next level. If you have a script ready with a director attached (or you are also directing) then submit it now. There are four reads this year, so note these deadlines in your diary:

Table Read One: 8 May 2021
Submit scripts by 30 April

Table Read Two: 3 July 2021
Submit scripts by 25 June

Table Read Three: 11 September 2021
Submit scripts by 3 September

Table Read Four: 20 November 2021
Submit scripts by 12 November

Learn more > 

Actors who would like to take part in a Table Read from the comfort of their own homes can apply here.

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High Tide Don’t Hide to Feature at Doc Edge 2021

Doc Edge Festival has announced three films, which are set to screen as part of the 16th edition. One is High Tide Don’t Hide, directed by members of The Rebel Film Collective: Niva Kay (DEGNZ), Emily McDowell, Nia Phipps and Phil Stebbing.

In High Tide Don’t Hide, driven by the climate crisis, five teenagers in New Zealand join the global student protests. But when challenged by Pasifika students the movement has to confront its racial prejudices to lead one of the biggest strikes in the country’s history.

The 2021 Festival will be an all new fusion event, returning to Auckland and Wellington theatres while playing online across the nation. Doc Edge is continuing its commitment to offering unique experiences by working with New Zealand artists to create a festival village at each venue. Festival-goers will enjoy entertainment including art installations, live performances, and virtual and augmented reality exhibitions.

Read more

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