Tuesday
27
Apr
2021
Anything Is Possible!

Anything Is Possible!

Posted Thursday 08 Apr 2021

How do you make a feature film without formal funding from any of the NZ funding bodies? Come along to this special workshop and hear the tale of these intrepid filmmakers and be inspired!

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

The Turn Of The Screw had its World Premiere at the 2020 Shanghai International Film Festival, and has garnered a number of official selections and awards overseas, including:

Official Selection: Shanghai International Film Festival 2020, China Golden Rooster Awards 2020 (Chinese Oscars) and Terror In the Bay Film Festival 2020 (Canada)
Winner - Best Picture: Istanbul Film Awards 2020
Winner - Best Horror Film: L’Age d’Or International Arthouse Film Festival 2020
Winner - Best Horror Film: Chicago Indie Film Awards 2020

The Turn of the Screw is a fantastic example of a film that is contained, makes use of the resources available to the filmmakers and targets the budget to the areas that will make the greatest impact so it punches far above its weight. The shoot itself was 10 days and people were paid for their time involved, proving it is possible to do that.

At this workshop we watch the film and then hear openly from the Producers, Director, Actors and HODs in a no-holds-barred Q & A.  How did they do it?

For more information on the film and the trailer please see turnofthescrewfilm.com

Members free; non-members $15  (Cash bar, nibbles provided)

RSVP essential to office@wiftnz.org.nz

Date: Tuesday 27 Apr 2021
Location: The Roxy Cinema, 5 Park Road, Miramar
Time: 6pm drinks for a 6.30pm sharp start

Tuesday
27
Apr
2021

Upcoming events...

Wednesday 12 Apr 2023

Key Art & Design Elements with Jeremy Saunders

A film or TV show's poster needs to capture its tone, mood and theme, as well as the interest of a potential audience. Jeremy Saunders is one the most sought-after poster designers in the world, having created key art, title design and marketing for nearly 400 films and shows. These include works for Lars von Trier, Jane Campion, Taika Waititi, Steven Soderbergh, Andrea Arnold, Warwick Thornton and many more. Come and hear filmmaker Marina Alofagia McCartney find out from Jeremy what it takes to design one of the most successful promotional tools for your project.

In this conversation Jeremy will discuss:

  • The aspects of film marketing from a filmmaker's perspective;
  • Practical steps filmmakers can take to help the process;
  • Potential pitfalls and points of fracture that can be avoided;
  • His process for creating successful posters and title design;
  • What stage an art designer should come onboard a project;
  • Some of the most successful projects and what makes them successful;
  • What clients should include in a brief for poster and/or title design to ensure success;
  • A case study of one of his posters.            

Jeremy Saunders has created key art and titles for very nearly 400 movies and shows including works by Lars von Trier, Jane Campion, Taika Waititi, Steven Soderbergh, Andrea Arnold, Warwick Thornton and many more. Key art refers to the art of movie marketing campaigns, including movie posters, trailers, TV and internet advertising. His designs are innovative and striking with varied imagery that captures the eye. Check out his work above, and online at JeremySaunders.com

Facilitator: Marina Alofagia McCartney
Marina Alofagia McCartney (Samoa, English, Romani) is an award-winning filmmaker and scholar with films featured in numerous festivals, including Palm Springs, Berlin, SXSW and more. Marina is a PhD candidate exploring Moana Pasifika film, writing for several writer’s tables, and developing a variety of projects including her NZFC Catalyst short film The Return and her next feature Dusky.

RSVP essential to office@wiftnz.org.nz

WIFT NZ members FREE; non-members $15 cash, includes wine and nibbles.

Wednesday 19 Apr 2023

The Director-1AD-Producer Dynamic

Continuing in our series examining key relationships for directors, we now bring you this workshop on the Director - 1AD - Producer dynamic, in collaboration with DEGANZ.

**WIFT NZ and DEGANZ members are free**

Panellists:

Armağan Ballantyne (Director) Armağan’s films have screened in festivals around the world including Venice, Berlin, New York, Telluride, Wairoa, Tribeca, and Sydney. She attended the Sundance Lab with her first feature The Strength of Water. Her latest film Nude Tuesday received a 5-star review in The Guardian and earned five nominations at the AACTAS Awards. Recently Armağan directed an episode of Time Bandits for Paramount.

Philippa Campbell (Producer) Philippa recently completed post production of Loren Taylor’s debut feature The Moon is Upside Down. She first worked with Jane Campion producing both seasons of Top of the Lake and is currently co-director of Jane’s A Wave in the Ocean directors’ intensive.

Terri Kilmartin (1AD) started her career in New York City in the late 1990s as an Assistant Director in independent film. She has more than 25 years experience as an Assistant Director on feature films, TV drama and commercials. Most recently she has worked on the TV series Sweet Tooth and One Of Us Is Lying.

Facilitator:

Tui Ruwhiu (Ngāpuhi) is Executive Director of DEGANZ. He is a producer with more than 20 years’ experience domestically and internationally in film video, television, and marketing communications. Tui has worked in various roles for Virgin Earth in Japan, New Zealand production company Communicado, financial information giant Reuters, and marketing communications company Fresh Media.   

Our experienced panel will be discussing the following questions:

  • What is the role of the 1st AD and who do they represent on set?
  • How can a successful dynamic be nurtured between the 1st AD, Director and Producer?
  • How does a 1st AD balance the creative needs of the director and the logistical needs of the shoot?
  • What is the best way to deal with Director-1st AD differences?
  • What expectations do directors and producers have of a 1st AD, and what does a 1st AD want from the director and the producer?

RSVP essential to office@wiftnz.org.nz 

WIFT members and DEGANZ members free, non-members $15 cash at the door; includes wine and nibbles.

Wednesday 21 Jun 2023

Sharon Menzies: What I've learned along the way

For the past 25 years Sharon Menzies has grappled with, and solved, cashflow finance; 15 of those years for 450 film and television projects across Australasia.  

Producers know that without the cashflow they would be generally unable to complete production. And in some cases innovative and creative financing solutions are needed to get stories to screen.

What is cashflow finance? How are productions being financed in our post-COVID world? How has finance changed over the 15 years Sharon led Fulcrum? Sharon will share tips to make cashflow financing easier and decrease financing costs.

So many questions and so much information to be shared!  AND, what is Sharon going to do now?  Come along to this essential workshop to find out!

Facilitator: Jill Macnab 
Jill Macnab is the General Manager of Vendetta Films, a leading Australia-New Zealand film distribution company, and is also co-owner of their sister company, Vendetta Productions. She is the producer of feature film Born To Dance, feature documentary In The Zone, interactive project Give Kate A Voice, and has executive produced a number of other features and documentaries, adding to a slate of projects in varying stages of development.

Programme is brought to you with generous support from the NZ Film Commission and Foundation North.