DEGNZ Lifetime Membership Awards
L to R: George Andrews, John Reid, DEGNZ President Howard Taylor, Keith Hunter.
PHOTO: Focalpoint Photos
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday 12 October 2017
At an awards ceremony and dinner on Friday 6 October in Ponsonby Auckland, Howard Taylor, President of the Directors & Editors Guild of NZ, confirmed Lifetime memberships with the presentation of certificates for three long-serving members of the guild, directors Keith Hunter and John Reid, and producer George Andrews.
“Keith, John and George each have made significant contributions over many years as board members, with Keith and John involved in setting up the guild,” Taylor said.
“We wanted to acknowledge their passion for the craft of directing and the industry, which has seen all of them go above and beyond in seeking to ensure the creative cultural and financial wellbeing of New Zealand directors and screen practitioners.”
The Guild’s first President, Keith Hunter is an award-winning writer and documentary maker, known for his investigations into miscarriages of justice. His screen credits include The Remand of Ivan Curry, Out of the Dark, Staunch, and award-winner Murder on the Blade?, about the Scott Watson case. Hunter has also directed drama and comedy on shows such as Mortimer’s Patch and Letter to Blanchy.
John Reid made his feature debut with an acclaimed adaptation of Roger Hall play Middle Age Spread. Since then he has directed three more features ranging from raw comedy to moody arthouse pieces, plus a host of television programmes and commercials. John was Guild President for many years.
Long time Guild board member producer George Andrews has been making documentaries about New Zealand for more than 40 years, including legendary documentary series Landmarks. He has also been a vocal advocate for public service broadcasting and helped found TV3. In 2002 he was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to television.
“All three maintain an interest in industry matters and remain active,” Executive Director of DEGNZ Tui Ruwhiu said. “John is writing a book on stalwart of the New Zealand film industry John O’Shea, while Keith is penning his yet to be announced third book. George, as always, continues to pursue screen projects that are close to his heart while finishing a book and working with the Film Archive.”
“We are so pleased that these three industry icons will have a permanent place within DEGNZ.”
ENDS
For further information contact:
Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director
Directors & editors Guild of NZ
+64 9 360 2102
+64 21 659 950
tui@deganz.co.nz
Last updated on 10 April 2018