Wednesday
27
Jul
2022
Wētā FX: what you need to know about VFX

Wētā FX: what you need to know about VFX

Posted Monday 11 Jul 2022

The Academy Award-winning Wētā FX employs a stack of fabulous female talent and we're lucky enough to have four of them at this workshop to explain what on-set VFX teams do and how they can help you and your project.

At some point in your career you will likely need to engage with VFX; it will help tremendously if you know  how to make the most of it!

Come and find out...

  • VFX On-Set - who is there and what they’re doing;
  • How On-Set data helps create what you see on screen;
  • Physical reference and experimentation as a foundation for VFX;
  • Trends we’re seeing in VFX.

Along with a Q&A, the talk will provide an overview of VFX as it’s currently practiced and explore how the WIFT and Wētā FX worlds can move closer together.

Facilitated by Janet Sharpe, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Manager at Wētā FX.

Panellists:

Beck Veitch, Compositing Supervisor at Wētā FX

Iva Lenard, On-Set Reference Photographer at Wētā FX

Lily Lawrence, Visual Effects Producer and Senior Production Manager, Wētā FX

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

Date: Wednesday 27 July 2022
Location: Taia Studios, 4 Bay Rd, Kilbirnie, Wellington
Time: 6pm networking for 6:30pm start

RSVP essential to office@wiftnz.org.nz

Date: Wednesday 27 Jul 2022
Location: Taia Studios, 4 Bay Rd, Kilbirnie, Wellington
Time: 6:00pm drinks for a 6:30pm start

Wednesday
27
Jul
2022

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.