MATTHEW SAVILLE DEGNZ DIRECTOR ATTACHMENT ON RIC PELLIZZARI’S BOMBSHELL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 September 2015
The Directors & Editors Guild of NZ (DEGNZ), NZ On Air and Screentime New Zealand Limited are pleased to announce the first attachment through DEGNZ’s TV Drama Director Attachment Scheme.
Matthew Saville will attach to director Ric Pellizzeri on Screentime’s telefeature Bombshell: The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior for TV One, which will begin production in October.
The DEGNZ TV Drama Director Attachment Scheme is an industry professional development initiative funded by NZ On Air and the production company involved and managed by DEGNZ. It will see three emerging directors attached to New Zealand drama productions in the 2015/2016 year.
“It’s a great opportunity to observe a director at work on a major drama production and learn,” said Saville. “I’m excited by the opportunity and the project, and thanks to DEGNZ, NZ On Air and Screentime for making it happen.”
“We’re delighted to have Matthew on the production team. We believe he will be a great asset and hope we can provide experiences for him that will enrich his skill base,” said Screentime’s Managing Director Philly de Lacey.
”As the funding agency for television we have a significant vested interest in ensuring great talent is coming through the ranks; it will determine the quality of the projects we may fund in the future. We are really keen to see Matthew’s progress through this attachment,” said Jane Wrightson, Chief Executive of NZ On Air.
Saville is an experienced actor and screenwriter who has directed two highly successful short films. His first, Hitch Hike, premiered at the internationally recognized Tampere International Film Festival in 2012. Dive, Saville’s second short, was long listed for the Academy Awards for winning best short film and best screenplay at New Zealand’s Show Me Shorts Film Festival, and selected for the prestigious Telluride International Film Festival amongst others.
Initiated by DEGNZ, the Drama Director Attachment scheme is intended to give emerging drama directors the opportunity to shadow an experienced director through the pre-production, production and post-production process as a means to improve their craft skills. The ultimate outcome is to increase the talent pool of drama directors available to domestic and international productions in New Zealand.
This scheme follows on from DEGNZ’s recent AVED Director Attachment initiative, which was funded by the New Zealand Film Commission and Ash vs. Evil Dead Limited. It saw New Zealand directors Regan Hall, Roseanne Liang, Louise Leitch, Joe Lonie and Rene Naufahu attach to the Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert Ash vs. Evil Dead TV series, shot in Auckland and now in post production.
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For further information, please contact:
Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director
Directors & Editors Guild of NZ
021-659-950
Directors & Editors Guild of 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.
- are 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
@degnz_online
Screentime NZ Limited
Screentime NZ Ltd is one of New Zealand’s premier producers of blue chip drama and documentary content. It is known for specialising in true life and true crime storyies. The company has been in business since 1996, and is part of the International Banijay Group.