DEGNZ Announces Women Filmmaker Incubator

, ,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

23 May 2016

The Directors & Editors Guild of New Zealand (DEGNZ) is delighted to announce its year-long Women Filmmaker Incubator with financial assistance from the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC).

The Incubator, launching in the second half of 2016, will comprise of five workshops designed to give up to eight emerging female directors the opportunity to build their knowledge, skills and networks as a means to advance their careers and projects in the screen industry.

“One of our goals within the NZFC’s gender policy is to encourage proposals from Guilds that support and enhance the upskilling of women in the industry,” says NZFC CEO Dave Gibson.  “This programme fits that brief perfectly and compliments our 2016 Gaylene Preston Director’s Award.”

The Incubator targets women with a track record as a director in their area of focus and the intent to make their first feature or equivalent (corresponding work in TV, web series, feature documentary or drama).  Applicants will have a project in development that has not yet been presented to a network or funder.

Each workshop in the programme will bring in highly successful filmmakers and experts in a stepped approach that will develop participants’ confidence and capability to engage with the screen industry as they seek to get their own projects through development and into production.

“We have been working for close to a year to put this initiative in place,” said DEGNZ Executive Director Tui Ruwhiu. “We are extremely thankful to NZFC for providing financial support that will enable us to help address gender inequality for women directors.”

For DEGNZ, the Women Filmmaker Incubator is its latest effort focused on turning around the poor statistics for women directors in television drama and feature film in New Zealand, which reflect the trend internationally.

A call for applications for the Incubator will be issued in June.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Tui Ruwhiu

Executive Director

Directors & Editors Guild of NZ

tui@deganz.co.nz

021-659-950

The New Zealand Film Commission invests in original and culturally significant films, encourages talented New Zealand filmmakers through developing career pathways and facilitating connections offshore, and works to increase the number of people seeing New Zealand films here and overseas.  It supports the growth of economic activity and helps ensure New Zealand has sustainable screen sector businesses operating within an internationally competitive screen sector.  The NZFC also helps negotiate co-production treaties and certifies co-productions and New Zealand films for tax purposes. www.nzfilm.co.nz

The Directors & Editors Guild of NZ is a not-for-profit membership organisation that represents Directors and Editors in the New Zealand screen industry. This includes Directors and Editors of feature drama and documentary; television drama, documentary and factual programmes; short films; video art; animation; commercials and web content.

DEGNZ’s two primary roles are advocacy and professional development. We:

  • are dedicated to promoting excellence in the arts of directing and editing.
  • foster collegiality and unity within the screen industry.
  • promote members’ creative and economic rights.
  • work to improve industry working conditions and remuneration.
  • offer professional advice and information on contracts and industry standards and practice.
  • offer professional development events, networking opportunities, career advice, dispute resolution, mentoring, workshops, training, discounts and regular news bulletins for members across all levels of expertise, from novices to seasoned professionals.
  • is a voice for Directors and Editors in influencing policy in the interest of our members. We do this through our membership of the pan‐industry group SINZ (Screen Industry New Zealand), and by making submissions to government and public officials.
  • Internationally work co-operatively with other guilds and we belong to the International Affiliation of English‐Speaking Directors’ Organisations (IEASDO).

DEGNZ is Auckland-based with an office in Grey Lynn.

Contact Details:

Directors & Editors Guild of NZ

Level 2, 66 Surrey Crescent

Grey Lynn

P.O. Box 47-294, Ponsonby

Auckland

+64-9-360-2102

admin@deganz.co.nz

www.deganz.co.nz

www.facebook.com/degnz

www.linkedin.com/in/degnz

@degnz_online

/by

Jesse Warn’s Directing Toolkit: In Pictures

, ,

Thanks to Jesse Warn for hosting a fantastic Directing Toolkit workshop over the weekend. The feedback for the 2-day intensive workshop has been overwhelmingly positive and participants received loads of practical information, tips and inspiration. P1020475 P1020483 P1020489 P1020497

/by

NZCS and DEGNZ: Collaborators Series Success

,

Thanks to Rebecca Tansley, Simon Raby and Fiona Samuel for a great night at our latest Collaborators Series! Members of DEGNZ and NZCS got together to discuss how a first-time feature filmmaker and an experienced DOP can work together for a fantastic end result.

Screenshot 2016-05-23 at 12.19.58 pm

IMG_8393

/by

Call for Applications – DEGNZ Drama Director Attachment on BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES

,

DEGNZ invites applications for a TV Drama Director Attachment on South Pacific Pictures drama TV series The Brokenwood Mysteries for Prime TV.

The Brokenwood Mysteries, produced by Sally Campbell, comprises 4 x 120 minute murder mystery stories set in a seemingly quiet country town where the town’s newest resident, Detective Mike Shepherd, finds that murder lurks in even the most homely location.

The successful candidate will attach to one of New Zealand’s most experienced TV drama directors, Mark Beesley.

This paid attachment is currently scheduled to take place for six weeks starting approximately 6 June and ending mid July.

It may include a small stand down period to allow for breaks in the schedule, with the aim of the Attachment getting to experience pre-production, production and post production on a major drama production. The attachment will cover 1 episode.

Payment will be determined by negotiation with the production company and the level of experience of the applicant.

An opportunity exists for the Attachment to direct a scene in the production, but this is entirely at the discretion of South Pacific Pictures and its producer(s) and director—it is not guaranteed.
The aim of the attachment is to:

  • develop and upskill new television drama directors and
  • contribute to the ongoing production of quality future television drama and
  • provide another training pathway to the limited opportunities currently available.

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be a FULL member of DEGNZ, and
  • Have a keen interest in television drama, and

Either:

  • Have 2 short film credits publicly screened to a paying audience at an NZFC accredited short film festival*, OR
  • Have held a position as the first assistant director of a publicly distributed and released feature film or TV drama series OR
  • Have won an award for a short film at an NZFC accredited film festival*, OR
  • Have proven dramatic narrative experience in a screen medium

*The NZFC list of accredited short film festivals here.

To apply, please download the application form cover sheet from the DEGNZ website here, and submit the following in electronic form ONLY (Word file or PDF) by 5PM Wednesday 25th May, 2016 to admin@deganz.co.nz with BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES in the subject line:

  • Completed Application Form Cover Sheet with your FULL DEGNZ Membership No., including links to your publicly screened works
  • A full CV & Filmography
  • A reference (from a senior screen industry practitioner)
  • A proposal of a maximum of 1-page outlining why you want to do the attachment.

A shortlist will be developed from applicants. An interview may or may not be required.

We will notify you as to whether or not your application has been successful, but no further correspondence will be entered into regarding your application and the decision will be final.

We look forward to receiving your applications. This initiative has been made possible with the support of NZ On Air and South Pacific Pictures.

/by

DEGNZ Selects with Niki Caro

,

In addition to a mentorship and masterclass, the Director’s & Editors Guild of NZ will hold a special DEGNZ Selects event with renowned NZ director Niki Caro. The discussion and Q&A will be moderated by director Roseanne Liang and will cover Niki’s career and films, including box office success McFarland, USA and The Zookeepers Wife, starring Jessica Chastain and Daniel Brühl, currently in post production.

Seats are limited, so you must register your attendance on Eventbrite. Please remember to cancel your seat if you can no longer attend.

When: Wednesday June 8, 6pm for a 6.30-7.30pm discussion

Where: Horse & Trap, Upstairs function room, 3 Enfield Street

Cost: DEGNZ members free, non-members: $5

/by