WIFT NZ Events

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

**WIFT NZ and DEGANZ members are free**

RSVP essential to office@wiftnz.org.nz

Facilitator: Mark Westerby, Producer, Managing Director Taia Studios.

Panellists:
Rob Sarkies, Director (Scarfies, Out Of The Blue, Two Little Boys, Jean, Consent, The Gulf, Wanted)
Rob is a highly regarded multi-award winning New Zealand filmmaker whose work spans feature film, series television and commercials. He is a passionate storyteller who works across multiple genres from comedy to true-life tragedy. Rob was a director on the Matchbox/NBC Universal production Wanted shooting in NZ and Thailand, and on the first two seasons of the acclaimed German-NZ series The Gulf.

Bruno de Bois, 1AD, Director (The Hobbit Trilogy, Zealandia, Savage, Don't Make Me Go, Mortal Engines)
Belgium-born Bruno moved to New Zealand in 2006. He started working as an Assistant Director on the first Avatar Movie. Since then, he worked on multiple international and local productions such as The Hobbit Trilogy, Avatar 2 & 3, Ghost in the Shell, Mortal Engines, Savage, Don’t Make Me Go. Bruno also directed three short films: Serial Killer, Dangerous Game and Zealandia which were selected and won many awards in festivals around the world.

Desray Armstrong, Te Aitanga a Hauiti and Ngāti Porou, Producer (Millie Lies Low, Coming Home in the Dark, Juniper, Stray, Wellington Paranormal)
Desray's films have hit A-list international film festivals, including Cannes, Berlin and SXSW. She has worked on many local and international productions including A Wrinkle in Time, What We Do In the Shadows and Mortal Engines. In 2021 she produced three feature films during the Covid pandemic: Coming Home in the Dark, Juniper and Millie Lies Low.

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?

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

RSVP essential to office@wiftnz.org.nz