Archive Jun 2010

Wellington cameraman Mike Vaney has recently launched On Canz, a website and online discussion forum specifically for the television production industry, which can be found at www.OnCanz.tv.  The primary focus of On Canz is to provide a place for television industry professionals to easily communi…

Studio Beyond is a virtual movie 'studio' that redefines the traditional way of making movies by giving Content Creators barrier-free, worldwide access to movie executives, production companies, sales agents, distributors, casting and talent agents, film fund, TV executives, broadcasters, music fund and press, significantly expanding…

The next round for Creative New Zealand's Independent Filmmakers Fund closes on 5pm on 4 June. In 2010, this fund will award grants for production and/or post-production proposals in two categories in animation, experimental documentary film, experimental film, dance film, and moving image art projects.&n…

Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman has announced the appointment of Caren Rangi to the board of NZ On Air. Ms Rangi, a chartered accountant, has extensive public sector experience having worked in a range of organisations including the Office of the Auditor General and Audit…

TVOne celebrates 50 years of television on Tuesday 1 June with a special, Cheers to 50 Years screening at 8.30pm. Hosted by Jason Gunn, Cheers To 50 Years is an entertaining look back at some of the country's most treasured moments in television.   For …

New Zealand film maker Daniel Joseph Borgman has won the Grand Prix at the Semaine de la Critique in Cannes.  His short film Berik was one of seven selected in competition at Semaine De La Critique, a prestigious sidebar that runs in parallel with Fest…

Auckland comic consortium thedownlowconcept took top honours with their deadpan ghost story Only Son, beating out 650 other short films to be crowned V48HOURS Grand Champions 2010, and their success continues as their short has just been officially invited to screen at this years Fant…

Auckland City Council has announced that it is increasing funding for Film Auckland. The City Development Committee has decided to increase the contribution to the film industry body from $45,000 in 2009/2010 to $150,000 for 2010/2011." This is about tangibly supporting a local film indu…

The Big Idea reports that official figures released recently highlight significant growth in the Wellington region's screen production industry. Statistics New Zealand's Screen Industry Survey Regional Data for 2008/09 shows a 51% increase in Wellington screen production revenue, $531 million up from $352 million the previous …

Show Me Shorts will again present a short film development lab as part of its festival programme, in partnership with Script to Screen and with the support of the NZFC.  Building on last year's success, the full day Lab will offer selected up-and-coming short filmma…

The New York Times explores the potential for James Camerons' international box office hit Avatar to change Hollywood.  Michael Cieply reports that "even as James Cameron's science-fiction epic Avatar continues to dazzle the audience with its visual wizardry, filmmakers and studios are struggling to figure…

WIFT NZ member Jan Bieringa's documentary, The Man in the Hat has several screenings coming up in June and July. The Man in the Hat is a portrait of Wellington art-dealer Peter McLeavey, who has spent over 40 years running his influential Cuba St gall…

Fairfax Digital, part of Fairfax Media, is looking for an energetic self starter to support their advertising and marketing teams in Wellington. You will monitor and research their advertising activity and traffic data, maintain their booking systems and generally assist their advertising and marketing ma…

Maritime New Zealand is seeking a Communications Advisor to work in its Communications and Education team in Wellington. This team is responsible for providing expert advice and assistance to internal business units across the wide range of corporate communication and education functions. You will …

Retinae Productions have several positions remaining for a new experimental television series. Applicants must have experience in several of the following: directing, writing, VFX generalist, motion graphics artist, 2D or 3D animating, compositing, illustrating, stop motion animation and digital sound/music creation. You must have exa…

City Arts, Nga Mahi Toi o Poneke (32 hours per week - 12 Months Fixed Term). The Wellington City Council is seeking an Arts Advisor who will have particular experience in the area of visual arts, especially public art projects. The role involves providing adv…

The Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki is seeking an Animation/Digital Media Tutor to teach 2D & 3D Animation and Digital Media courses to a variety of art & design programmes (Level 3 - Level 7) to manage and maintain quality teaching resources to support…

The Broadcasting Standards Authority is looking for a motivated lawyer who is keenly interested in the media to take on the role of Legal Advisor. The Legal Advisor is part of the BSA's legal team. You will be responsible for delivering high quality advice to…

'Journey of a Story' - Earthwire Productions Ltd are seeking a Production Designer to oversee the visual look of their film. We are shooting weekends until approximately September 2010. The applicant would ideally start as soon as possible so there can be a smooth transi…

The Designer Garage Sale is seeking a dynamic up and comer prepared to take on anything they throw at them. Whether it is managing the media coverage of major events such as Top Gear Live, New Zealand Fashion Week, Armageddon, Urbis Designday and more...or fines…

Adrenaline Productions are seeking a 1^st AD whose role is to help with Scheduling, control the pace of the shoot and keep the crew moving and motivated on the shoot dates. Skills needed are good communications, time management, motivational, must be serious about wantin…

TheMediaCenter Limited is looking for an experienced and talented editor that is capable of editing television programmes, live footage and adverts. Some jobs will be on location and you may need to travel with the crew. Contract work is ongoing. They are looking for edi…

THE EDGE (Manager of the Aotea Centre, The Civic, Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Square) is seeking an innovative and organised event manager with good commercial acumen to fill the full time position of Aotea Square Programme Manager. In this role you will work w…

Sky Television is seeking an enthusiastic reliable person to form part of the friendly team of professionals in their Broadcast Central Department undertaking duties within a Media Ingest environment. Broadcast Central run 24 hours, seven days a week from our Broadcast Facilities in Mt Wellin…

The role of Cinema Manager has become available at Hoyts Hibiscus Coast and they are seeking a motivated, efficient and experienced Manager for this exciting role. The Cinema Manager is responsible for the effective operation of the cinema which requires hands on management combined …

On the Big Idea, Simon Young explores the skills you need to be a successful media communicator in the 21st Century, looking at some familiar and 'unusual combinations' of skill sets required for the next decade, as media becomes more 'social'. "It's one thing to realise that…

Ande Schurr provides tips for succeeding as an international freelancer for his How Freelancers Can Succeed series on the Big Idea. The article explores what an international freelancer is and how to open up the doors to international work opportunities.  To read the article, v…

Festival submission deadlines are looming for the Austin Film Festival (2 July), the Hawaii International Film Festival (8 July), the Chicago International Film Festival (10 July) and Telluride Festival (15 Ju…

Artists are invited to apply for three Wild Creations artists-in-residence opportunities in 2011. The six-week residencies, offered by the Department of Conservation in partnership with Creative New Zealand, are for emerging and established artists at one of seven iconic locations throughout the country. Successful ar…

CoLab (the interdisciplinary creative technology centre at AUT University) and The Big Idea website are calling for applications from creative practitioners and artists interested in being The Big Idea's first online artist-in-residence. In a first for New Zealand, the CoLab | TBI Digital Residenc…

The 8th edition of the Pacific International Documentary Film Festival of Tahiti, the largest crossroads of the pictures of the Pacific, will take place in French Polynesia (Papeete) from January 24th to 30th, 2011 and submissions are now open. The competition is open to an…

Public submissions are now being invited on the Television New Zealand Amendment Bill. The purpose of the bill is to replace the TVNZ Charter with a briefer, less prescriptive statement of functions to enable TVNZ to determine its own priorities against a general se…

NZFC is pleased to announce the winter call for their Professional Development Awards. This NZFC initiative intends to offer up to ten Professional Development Awards per year to filmmakers and film professionals across the industry. Applicants who have feature film credits in their chosen field…

Auckland City Council has drafted a film protocol to create a Film Friendly Auckland and feedback on this protocol is open until 17^th June. They would like to know what could be improved, what is missing and what is good about the draft protocol.…

The deadline for entries for the Qantas Film and Television Awards 2010 is drawing near, with submissions closing on Friday 18 June.  This year the New Zealand Film Commission is broadening its support for the awards by announcing it will fund multiple entries in fea…

The Merata Mita documentary, Saving Grace, which was originally scheduled to form part of the Tamariki Ora broadcast, will now air at a later date. The documentary was unfinished when Merata Mita passed away suddenly late last month. Carol Hirschfeld says the filmmaker regarded Sa…

The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has just published Children's Interests: A Review of Broadcasting Standards Authority Child Complaints Decisions 1999-2009. The new paper examines BSA decisions on complaints lodged regarding children as viewers of, and participants in, television broadcasts.  The BSA hopes that the ques…

The BSA has released its 2010-2013 Statement of Intent (SOI).  The SOI sets out what the BSA will achieve both in the next twelve months and over the next three years. The SOI is available to download from the BSA's webs…

The Broadcasting Standards authority have released the findings of a national survey designed to measure how acceptable the public finds the use of swear words, blasphemies and other expletives in broadcasting. The survey was carried out among 1500 members of the general public age…

To celebrate Matariki 2010, former TVNZ Head of M?ori Programming and veteran broadcaster Whai Ngata (Koha, Waka Huia, Marae) curates a selection of iconic M?ori TV, film and music video for Matariki 2010. Ngata follows up his 2009 choices with a celebration of Te Ao…

Scoundrels, the US version of Outrageous Fortune, goes to air on 20 June on ABC in the US, with the trailer now online. Outrageous Fortune will make a return to our screens on TV3 in Ju…

Cream's seven-part series Fifty Years of Television kicked off on Prime on Sunday 13 June at 8.30pm. This landmark documentary series uses archive footage, re-enactment and interviews with the faces and personalities of the past 50 years of broadcasting to tell the story of…

Boy, produced by WIFT NZ member Ainsley Gardiner, has its UK premiere this June at the Edinburgh Film Festival where it has already sold out its two screenings.  Also at the festival, ex-pat kiwi Finola Dwyer, is one of the organisers of The Story Wo…

An article in the New Zealand Herald looks at the domestic flavour of the 2010 New Zealand International Film Festival which opens in Auckland in July before it travels throughout the country up until November.  The article notes that the focus on Auckland has …

If you missed writer/director Robert Sarkies' discussion with producer Philippa Campbell (WIFT mentor) about the art of visual storytelling from both the writing and directing perspectives for the April Writer's Room, check out an account of the evening at the Script to Screen web…

The WIFT NZ Awards are coming up in the first week of August.  Now in its eighth year, the awards is an annual event designed to celebrate the achievements of women in the industry, provide a special networking opportunity, and act as a source…

A rare and much sought after talent & music position - MTV Networks are looking to hire a Manager who will lead this small but crucial department. Applicants should be well connected in the industry and have approx 5 years experience in talent management. F…

Nickelodeon, the world's leading network just for kids, has a rare opportunity for a dynamic, creative writer/producer in their on-air production department. They're looking for an experienced, enthusiastic producer with an irreverent sense of humour, a diligent work ethic and a kid's point-of-view. You'll be jo…

Images and Sound generously donated $1,000 in post-production services to be awarded to a WIFT member at the Images and Sound networking drinks held on Wednesday 9 June.  Congratulations to Susan Battye for winning the dr…

The Actors Studio Wellington is offering WIFT members a discount for its Camera and Audition Weekend Workshop on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 June at 9am-5pm on both days. In this two day weekend workshop you will learn simple, effective tools to make your film performance and audi…

Oktobor is currently looking for a hands-on MCR Supervisor to join their team. Applicants must have a minimum of four years experience in a Senior MCR Operator role within a similar post production environment, at least two years in a Supervisor role, and mus…

Pure Productions are seeking a talented Post Production Editor with a proven track record of producing cutting edge work. Key responsibilities include:

* Video editing

* Post Production project management

* Edit system and workflow management

* Other Post Production responsibilities such as motion…

Labyrinth Solutions Ltd have an opening for a freelance screen cast specialist with proven experience in creating high quality online sales and training videos for a software product.
They have over 40 Sales and Training videos needing to be produced at a high standard.…

The role of Cinema Manager has become available  at Hoyts Wairau Park and they are seeking a motivated, efficient and experienced Manager for this exciting role. The Cinema Manager is responsible for the effective operation of the cinema which requires hands on management combined  with the ability to work alon…

This is your chance to become a part of a great supportive and fun team. Kinetic Recuruitment are looking for someone who is switched on who can adapt their existing skills with ease and develop new skills along the way. If you have a gr…

A video production business is seeking a sales rep to go cold calling (face to face) on potential clients in order to drum up new business. This will be a commission based job, with the potential to earn excellent money, depending upon the contracts …

This is a good opportunity to work with top professionals, on an upcoming TV series. A few volunteers are sought for large crowd/ bar scenes to be filmed in July. If you are interested contact robertonascimentonz@gmail.com or 021 172 7680 for further details. Food …

Kate Moses is looking for anyone interested in being extras in reconstructions for a doco-drama series for TV One. Kate has a variety of roles and opportunities at most times and would love to hear from anyone with their CV and a head shot…

Gibson Solutions are looking for a keen driven fundraiser/ production assistant to work on an exciting documentary project that is currently in production. They are in the process of raising funds for the production that we wish to shoot in September 2010. The ai…

TheMediaCenter Limited are looking for an experienced and talented editor, who is capable of editing television programmes, live footage and adverts. Some jobs will be on location and you may need to travel with the crew. Contract work is ongoing. For more information, visit…

Mind Blowing Films are looking for a ground person in Auckland and Hamilton who can do a poster run and movie promotions for their Bollywood films. Help them to find new places for visibility via E-mail outs and radio promotions. A passion for Bollywood fil…

Do you want to be part of a creative and dynamic organisation and have the chance to make a significant impact on its monitoring and evaluation processes? This is a senior role, reporting to the Chief Executive at Creative New Zealand, and offers the successful…

Summer Shakespeare Trust is looking for an energetic, professional multi-tasker to take the role of Stage Manager, working closely with the director, producer and production manager, and ensuring that rehearsals and production run smoothly. This is a role that requires a strong relationship with …

Summer Shakespeare Trust is seeking a Marketing and Publicity Manager to direct the promotion of a unique tradition that attracts theatre goers from all regions of Wellington and all walks of life. They are looking for someone who is able to take on both …

The Wellington Summer Shakespeare is looking for a competent and enthusiastic Production Manager to be a valuable part of the 2011 production, The Winter's Tale. As Production Manager you would have the opportunity to be involved in a professional level production, as well …

The Fortune Theatre is seeking an Artistic Director who will be responsible for establishing, maintaining and enhancing the Fortune's artistic vision as articulated in the Theatre's strategic plan. S/he will be responsible for the overall artistic philosophy and direction of the Fortune Theatre, the selec…

The Fortune Theatre are seeking a Senior Stage Manager to take responsibility for the organisation, preparation and completion of all stage management requirements in consultation with theatre management, directors, designers and staff. Key skills sought are practical knowledge and professional experience in stage management…

The North Otago Museum is seeking an experienced archivist who is positive, energetic, knowledgeable, skilled, physically fit and keen as mustard. The position description and application information are here: http://www.waitaki.govt.nz/Council/Vacancies.htm. Address all queries to  Rowan Carroll at rcarroll@waitaki.govt.nz or on (03) 4330815 or 021435552. Applica…

Imagic is a Creative Communications Agency based in Christchurch who provide clients with communication, marketing and advertising solutions. They have secured a contract with a multinational client to provide a series of interactive video based training tools to assist tutors to train a large work…

In his most recent entry of How Freelancers Can Succeed, Ande Schurr talks to playwright and co-writer for The Lord of the Rings:The Two Towers movie, Stephen Sinclair, about his methods for success. Stephen explains the problem of over-calculating your career path, the true …

In his column on The Big Idea, Simon Young explores some new possibilities for content creators in a rapidly changing media landscape. Addressing the question of how you take the uncertainty that's out there and turn it into opportunity, Simon describes what you will …

Last August NZ On Air issued a request for proposals, in conjunction with TVNZ, for a strand of four Historical Docu/Dramas to screen in the Sunday Theatre slot on TV One. This was one of the initial commissions for the new Platinum Fund. After …

New Zealand producers are invited to apply for this year's International Financing Forum (IFF) - a feature film co-financing event at the Toronto International Film Festival. The event brings together selected international and Canadian producers developing English language projects to do business by mean…

Creative New Zealand's Creative Communities Scheme supports community arts projects in Auckland city. In the upcoming funding round, there are new simplified criteria and a new application form set by CNZ. Funding is for projects from 1 November 2010 to 31 October 2011. The dead…

Not-for-profit community groups are invited to make applications to COGS for projects and community-based social services that meet these funding priorities:

• projects that respond to a locally identified need
• projects initiated by the local community
• projects or organisations that work with one or…

Community boards are seeking to assist groups, initiatives and events that make a positive contribution to communities at a local level. Any community group within the community board area can apply for a grant from the fund. View the map to check which…

Creative New Zealand (CNZ) has launched an online survey of young emerging arts practitioners in New Zealand. The purpose of this survey is to profile the professional development of promising young artists and practitioners in order to help inform policy development around how the …

The Northland Amateur Film-Makers Festival is seeking submissions of short films 10 minutes or under in length. The festival runs from 14-15 October and the deadline for entries is Friday 24 September. For more information and entry details, visit the Big Idea website or co…

Khuja Lounge (Auckland) presents Khuja Short Films Night (KSFN), showcasing a selection of short films. All genres are accepted, with priority to accessible & high quality works. The screening is to be followed by live laidback music, giving the chance for filmmakers & audienc…

Young & Hungry is currently accepting ideas submissions for the 2012 festival season. They are looking for fresh and funky New Zealand voices to create plays for young people aged 15-25 years. The theme for 2011 is Win or Die Trying and submissions close…

NZ On Air has announced its support for three innovative projects for online audiences through its million-dollar Digital Content Partnership Fund. Funding has been awarded to Everyone Lies, the sequel to the interactive drama Reservoir Hill; Snort, an interactive comedy portal supported by tv3.co.nz…

Four major cultural events will seen by television audiences due to NZ On Air investments announced in June. Montana World of Wearable Arts (WOW) will screen prime time on Prime TV, Style Pasifika 2010 has also secured funding so it can be enjoyed by…

Revelations of the piracy of Boy illustrates the growing threat of online copyright theft to the New Zealand film industry. The film was made available on a peer-to-peer filesharing site earlier this month - potentially hurting its upcoming DVD and Australian release. "It's a…

Onfilm reports that the news of Boy being illegally downloaded ahead of its international release won't just concern filmmakers, with broadcasters equally worried about the growing incidence of peer-to-peer file sharing in New Zealand which is now higher than in the United States. "Illegal downloading…

Kelly Gregor's article in the New Zealand Herald delves deeper into the high price of film piracy, reporting that copyright infringements are estimated to cost the NZ film industry $70 million a year. The article also states that submissions to the Government's proposed change…

The New Zealand Herald reports that speculation is rife that Sir Peter Jackson may step in to direct The Hobbit movies, with Hollywood websites reporting that Jackson will take over from Mexican Guillermo del Toro, who pulled out over ongoing delays in a start…

The New Zealand Herald reports that a TVNZ poll, which asked viewers to vote for their top 10 news stories from a choice of 30 major local and worldwide news events over the past 50 years, was dominated by tragedy. The al Qaeda terrorist atta…

In light of Toi Whakaari's 40th anniversary, The Big Idea interviews director Annie Ruth, one the NZ Drama School's first graduates. Annie reflects on successful graduates like WIFT NZ member Robyn Malcolm, the school's founding vision and evolution, and the outlook for graduates today.…

In NZ On Screen's latest Screentalk interview, Richard Driver takes us through his journey from TV presenting through to the challenges of being a documentary director and also explains the motivation behind creating The Documentary Channel on the Sky TV platform. To watch the interv…

Three New Zealand Films were included in this year's Shanghai International Film Festival Official Selection - WIFT NZ member Gaylene Preston's Home By Christmas, Niki Caro's The Vintner's Luck and James Marshall Napier's I'm Not Harry Jenson. "These films are first class examples of…

The Big Idea reports that James Cunningham's short film Poppy has been awarded the Computer Animation Festival's Jury Prize ahead of the SIGGRAPH 2010 International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, which is being held in Los Angeles on the 25…

WIFT ED, Susi Newborn, features in the documentary The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke Island, which will be screening at this year's New Zealand International Film Festival on July 10^th to mark the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. For more informatio…

Nga Aho Whakaari's June newsletter is dedicated to the late Merata Mita and features warm tributes from several of Merata's industry peers and friends, including WIFT NZ Vice President Ella Henry and WIFT NZ member Chelsea Wistanley. Other prominent Maori women in the film…

Five New Zealand women have written an e-book entitled Successful Woman: A guide to achieving success in six life areas, which covers six different topics: successful thinking, successful time management, successful money management, successful health and fitness, successful speaking and successful image. To r…

WIFT NZ member Barbara Sumner Burstyn's award-winning documentary This Way of Life has been selected for DocuWeeks which puts it up for Academy Awards 2010 consideration. To be up for consideration a documentary must be selected to take part in DocuWeeks which has to take p…

This July, Wellington WIFT NZ member Jade Valour stars in "I Am A Camera", the non-musical precursor to the Broadway musical hit "Cabaret". The play looks at life in a tawdry Berlin rooming house of 1930 with a stringently photographic eye, and centres on the…

WIFT concession rates are available this July for the Auckland Theatre Company's 2010 Young and Hungry Festival of New Theatre at The Basement. Featuring three new plays; Thinning by Eli Kent (July 9-24, 8.00pm), Exchange by Lauren Jackson (July 9-24, 6.30pm) and Fitz Bunny:…

Festival submission deadlines are looming for the Show Me Shorts Film Festival (5 July), the Hawaii International Film Festival (8 July), the Chicago International Film Festival (10 July), the Telluride Film Festival (15 July), the New York City International Film Festival (15 July), an…