Wift NZ Events

Having control over one’s stories and the right to determine the direction of these stories is an essential and ongoing korero. 

Some of the topics and questions the panel will explore are:

• How can our industry centre the voices and concerns of Tangata Whenua, Tangata Moana, pan-Asian and other underserved groups?
• How can our industry empower these groups in the storytelling space and ensure the protection of cultural, genealogical and spiritual capital?
• How can we as an industry move beyond token representation onscreen and behind the camera to ensure meaningful collaboration?
• What does cultural safety mean throughout all levels of the storytelling process?
• What is Story Sovereignty and is there a collective understanding of what it is?

This is an important and multi-layered conversation which we hope will add to the discourse on Story Sovereignty and Cultural Safety.

Moderator: Marina Alofagia McCartney, Writer, Director, Academic (Samoa, England, Romani) 

Panellists:

Karen Te Ō Kahurangi Waaka,  Pou Whakahaere - Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga New Zealand Film Commission, Producer (Tūwharetoa, Tūhourangi-Ngāti Wahiao, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pūkeko). 
Karen Te O Kahurangi has extensive experience in governance, culture, intellectual property rights, iwi and community organisations as well as active involvement in Māori screen issues. In her current role she is implementing Te Rautaki Māori at the the NZFC, facilitating funding for Māori films and career development for Māori filmmakers. 

Dr. Shuchi Kothari, Writer, Producer, Co-founder Pan Asian Screen Collective, Academic (India).
Dr Shuchi Kothari's prolific output is characterised by the themes of inclusion and exclusion as well as power and privilege. She has written and/or produced several award winning films (Apron Strings, Firaaq, Coffee & Allah, Fleeting Beauty) that have screened at international festivals as diverse as Toronto, Telluride, Venice, Cannes, and Busan. She was also a producer on Kāinga.

Kerry Warkia, Producer, (Papua New Guinean, Scottish). 
Kerry Warkia has been at the forefront of some of New Zealand's most innovative content for both television and the web. Passionate about telling Maori and Pasifika stories, Kerry was a producer on the acclaimed trio of anthology films Waru, Vai, and the latest Kāinga which centres on Pan-Asian stories, and which she co-produced with Dr Shuchi Kothari. 

Date: Wednesday 12 October
Time: 6:00pm drinks for a 6:30pm start
Location: Click Studios, 525 Rosebank Rd, Avondale Auckland

WIFT members FREE; non-members $15 cash. Includes a drink and nibbles.
RSVP essential to office@wiftnz.org.nz

Come and learn from one of New Zealand's best screenwriters, showrunners and executive producers at this Wellington workshop. 

Rachel Lang MNZM, has co-created many of New Zealand's most successful television shows: Outrageous Fortune, The Almighty Johnsons, Mercy Peak, Nothing Trivial, Go Girls, Bad Mothers, and many more. She was the first New Zealand story editor, a writer and an executive producer for Shortland Street. 

Rachel will discuss writing and showrunning with producer and line producer Michelle Turner, and if her August workshop in Christchurch is anything to go by, you will not want to miss this one! 

Facilitator: Michelle Turner
As a producer and line producer, Michelle has worked in feature films, short films, television and documentaries including Stickmen, Bollywood Queen, Children of the Migration, Under the Vines, Dox, Wellington Paranormal.

The discussion will cover the following topics:

· What a showrunner does;

· How you get to be a showrunner;

· How Covid has changed the practicalities of writing for television;

· What the ingredients for a successful writers room are;

· Tips for creating ideas and how to market them.

Bring your questions and Rachel will do her best to answer them! 

WIFT members free; non members $15 cash; includes drinks and nibbles.

RSVP essential to office@wiftnz.org.nz