Archive Jun 2011

On the weekend, US producer Laura Ziskin lost her battle with breast cancer. Melissa Silverstein has made a memorial post to Ziskin, noting:

"While most producers names are not known, Laura Ziskin is not one of them�She was a woman who came i…

While you are reading this e-news, WIFT NZ Executive Director Susi Newborn is negotiating the cobbled streets of a small 17th century town in the middle of Brazil, guest of the XIII FICA Film Festival. Susi will be gone a couple of weeks, leaving …

Michelle Savill's internship at Killer Films is nearly over, so don't miss the fourth installment of her blog from the Killer Films office, where Michelle steps in for Christine Vachon's assistant, checks out a new part of town and announces some exciting new film…

This month marks one of the greatest anniversaries in the history of movies and female acting accomplishments: the two-decade mark since the screen debut of Thelma & Louise, a film starring Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, both of which earned Best Actress Academy Award nominati…

'Weddings & Women' brings together an exhibition about weddings and a screening about women, inspired by observing the upsurge in fashionability of marriage in recent years, and the public interest in the recent Royal nuptials of Kate and William, the exhibition makes th…

We're pleased to announce that Katie Wolfe has won the Mana Wahine Award at the recent Wairoa Film Festival. Katie (Ngati Tama, Ngati Mutunga, Pakeha) is a filmmaker, actor and director, having completed two short films (This is Her and Redemption) and most recently dire…

The three New Zealand winners for the upcoming World Summit Awards were selected recently at the international judging in Hong Kong. The WSA International Jury in Hong Kong selected three projects from NZ for the final lineup. The winners in the World Summit Awards …

Due to popular demand, Peter Gilbert is returning to New Zealand and will be conducting more workshops on Saturday 18th June (Auckland) and Sunday 19th June (in Wellington).

Peter's workshop will include both his Directing Through the Camera Masterclass and Business Boot Camp Workshop…

There Once was an Island has just been released and will appear on the big screen in New Zealand later this month. The limited nation-wide theatrical release begins on June 23, with an earlier screening at Arthouse Cinema in New Plymouth on June 18.
…

An announcement from the Beehive has just been released, flagging major changes to government agencies including consolidation and collaboration. The Government is proposing changes that will reduce the number of government agencies as it seeks better value for money, less duplication and improved co-ord…

South Pacific Pictures, in association with Script to Screen, is launching the South Pacific Pictures Emerging Writers' Lab.
John Barnett, Chief Executive Officer of South Pacific Pictures says: "The South Pacific Pictures Emerging Writers' Lab is a terrific opportunity for aspiring writers to gain first…

South Pacific Pictures, in association with Script to Screen, present the South Pacific Pictures Emerging Writers' Lab call for applications.

If you are an enthusiastic Auckland-based writer, don't miss this incredible opportunity to learn from the best and get a foot in the door.

The Premiere Shorts funding round for 2011 is now open. Six films will be funded to a maximum of $90,000 through three Executive Producer groups.  The NZFC has invited the three groups from last year - Tauihu Shorts, Tom Thumb Shorts and A Coll…

The Female Eye Film Festival (Toronto, ON, Canada) has announced their open call for films and screenplays for the next festival from March 21st - 25th, 2012.
The Female Eye is an annual international competitive festival for women directors, with awards presented …

The Court Report television programme invites WIFT members to be part of their live studio audience. Screening on TVNZ 7 every Thursday evening 9.30pm, and repeated every Sunday at 10.30pm. The Court Report is filmed in front of a live audience every Tuesday 6.30…

Join Wendyl Nissen, author, columnist and businesswoman for a luncheon in Heritage Auckland's Grand Tearoom on Wednesday 22 June 12 PM to 2 PM.
Over lunch, Wendyl will chart her journey from a demanding corporate career as a high profile editor to establis… /news/news-archive/2011/jun/wendyl-nissen-luncheon-at-heritage-auckland/

You're invited to display your products or services at Survive and Thrive 2011, a unique event happening on 14 July, and now in its third year, for Auckland's creative sector, targeting entrepreneurial artists, producers & organisations.

Based on the success of Survive & Thrive…

The Actors Laboratory has announced two vocal workshops this weekend with the talented D'Arcy Smith.
Saturday June 18th - General American Accent workshop, 11am - 5pm, $149 inc gst, The Basement, Lower Greys Avenue, Auckland
With more and more American work coming to our sho…

Mofresh Productions is looking for an experienced animator to work for two - three weeks. They would prefer to work with practitioners in Auckland but not essential. Animator must have own equipment and be able to work remotely. The style of animation is simila…

Mofresh Productions is looking for an experienced character animator to work for three weeks. Must have good understanding of walk and run cycles. Motion graphics/compositing skills an advantage. They would prefer to work with practitioners in Auckland but not essential. Animator must have own equipment and be able to work remotely. The style of animation is similar to this project: …

TVNZ is looking for a creative director to join their Creative Hub team and be responsible for delivering strong creative ideas and execute a wide range of consistently high quality elements across a range of campaign executions.
Reporting to the Executive Creative Director, thi…

TVNZ is looking for a new Head of Corporate Affairs to join the Senior Leadership Team to lead on key public and policy projects. In this crucial role you will build and protect TVNZ's reputation and brand as a respected New Zealand icon…

Leading Adelaide picture & sound post production company, Oasis Post, are seeking a full time Post-Production Producer to fill a vacant role in their sound department.

The successful applicant will have:

� Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail

� Ability …

The NZ Racing Board has a part time vacancy in their Outside Broadcast Television Operation team for a Camera Operator based in Palmerston North.
The New Zealand Racing Board is the governing body of racing and sports wagering, operating more than 650 TAB retail out…

Transmedia A:M is pleased to announce their first evening event, appropriately called Transmedia P:M. Join them at Biz Dojo on Thursday June 30th at 6.30pm for an evening of discussion and networking.

The evening will kick off with a brief presentation on 'participatory stor…

The New Zealand Writer's Guild presents a conversation with James Griffin and Katherine Fry at this month's Screen Discussion Series 2011.

What are the key differences between writing for film versus writing for television? What makes a script cinematic? What are the main story consider…

This is a full day workshop aimed at promoting independent script development skills. It will focus on the delivery of new drafts and their supporting documents.

The programme includes sessions on:

Script Assessment:What are the core elements of your script and are the…

Sadly, our wonderful Financial Administrator, Emmy, is bidding us farewell due to an over-commitment of work projects. So, WIFT NZ is looking for a cheerful Financial Administrator for our cosy office in Beresford Square, Auckland Central. Six hours per week, car-park provided. If you t…

A good proportion of last year's Escalator films had women in key team roles, so we thought we'd catch up with some of the women and their projects, which are currently in production, or post.

The NZFC's ESCALATOR initiative offers four teams of talented, visi…

This week, once again, our thoughts are especially with those of you in Christchurch after Monday's aftershocks. Whereas the rest of us might get fed up by everyday or one-off incidences that 'get in the way' (that shoot gets delayed because of the weather,…

One of our members has some office space to rent on Level 4, Suite 2, 58 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn. Landlord is happy to offer a new lease at $275 sqm + $35 per sqm Opex. Overall area is 120sqm in size. Offic…

It's almost New Zealand International Film Festival time again, with Auckland kicking off in a couple of weeks and other centres following.

Don't forget that if you're a fully paid up member of WIFT NZ, you can get a discount on your tickets. Membe…

Not one but two great ScreenTalk Interviews with women in diverse disciplines have recently been uploaded at NZ On Screen.
Most recently, there's an interview with costume designer Barbara Darragh, the creator of Xena's iconic outfit, Billy T James' look as the Tainui…

It's a hallmark of many guys' films; now it appears the chick-flick has also come in for some 'gross-out' treatment with Bridesmaids. Is this a characteristic of films to come? Check out thewrap.com for an article exploring the new demand for gross-out chick f…

The Winners and Finalists have now been announced for the AAA Screenplay Contest and two of our members have excitedly informed us that their screenplay Olympian was a top 10 finalist. Well done Tamsyn Harker and Esther Venn…

WIFT member Stephanie Bennett has recently completed documentary about Waiheke's most prestigious biennial outdoor sculpture show. Headland:Where Sculpture Meets Nature is a documentary about Waiheke Island's Sculpture on the Gulf, produced and directed by Stephanie, who also produced and directed the highly acclaimed Ringa…

WIFT member Maya Hammarsal has applied to the AMP Scholarship for top up funding to make her short film Mr Wilkins. The Emerging Artists Trust, in Wellington, has already generously given her a small grant towards this film and she plans to put hal…

Is there a 'type' of film that women filmmakers gravitate towards?Kathyrn Bigelow would probably say no. And female directors attending the Shanghai International Film Festival forum have said gender doesn't play a role when it came to deciding which films they direct or the t…

Kids. Some of us have them, some are planning them, some don't want them and some of us are undecided. But whether they're yours or someone else's, there's no doubt you know some - and as future film and television audiences, they're important bot…

We mentioned the theatrical release of this film the other week, however thought it was worth another plug, since small local releases have a habit of appearing then disappearing before you get around to see them. And of course, they can always do with …

Sweet Louise is an Auckland-based charitable Trust providing support and services for New Zealand women and men living with secondary breast cancer.

In 2008, Morningside Productions made a 30-minute documentary about Sweet Louise as part of the NZ On Air funded series, Ope…

Docu72 is gaining momentum with the judges' confirmation, submissions for the 2012 Festival pouring in and the next deadline only a few weeks away. Their big news is that their latest judge is passionate about documentaries and about New Zealand which makes her the per…

Newly updated advice on the Election Programmes Code can now be found online. This contains a copy of the Election Programmes Code and guidance, including advice for both broadcasters and political parties. Printed copies of the Code are available upon re…

Instructions for Living, at the Pelorus Trust mediagallery, is a selection of publicly funded TV ads giving an intimate portrait of New Zealand's social landscape, and focuses on clips that were commissioned by Government organisations. This selection highlights policies, ideas and social trends …

New Zealand's aspiring actors are being offered a foot in the door of their chosen profession by some of the nation's leading performers and teachers. The curtain is up on a new, independent, and privately run, acting course. Respected professionals Sara Wiseman, Michael Hurst, Jen…

The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) has published the Colmar Brunton survey on Kiwis' consumption of various forms of media. Apparently, a higher percentage of us go to the cinema, but we watch fewer films there than five years ago, and …

New Zealand producers are invited to apply for this year's International Financing Forum (IFF), happening September 10^th- 12th, 2011 - a feature film co-financing event at the Toronto International Film Festival. Producers must apply directly to IFF.

The event brings together selected international and…

Urbanworld Film Festival is a leading showcase for urban, ethnic, and multicultural cinema. Over the past 14 years, the festival has presented over 1000 features, shorts and documentaries, with annual attendance reaching 10,000 people. Urbanworld is one of the world's largest competitive film festivals,…

The UN International Year of Forests is about giving a voice to one of our most precious natural resources. To celebrate it in Germany, the State Enterprise for Forestry and Timber North Rhine-Westphalia has created "Mensch Wald" - which is Germany's of?cial UN forest campa…

Films have power. They create conversation. They reveal truths. They inspire. But for too many generations, Hollywood has told only half the story: too often, what is missing are the stories of women as change agents and heroes in their own right. The second an…

DigiSPAA, Australia and New Zealand's platform for the celebration and acknowledgment of independent digital filmmaking, has announced the launch of its seventh annual competition.
Entries for the 2011 DigiSPAA digital feature film competition are open to filmmakers from Australia and New Zealand. As we…

Spotzer Media Group is looking for freelance videographers all over New Zealand.
Spotzer is the first global digital agency dedicated to making high quality video advertising fast and affordable. They are expanding operations to New Zealand, supported by current operations in Australia and mor…

TVNZ is looking for an enthusiastic, experienced Campaign Producer to join the team and be responsible for producing key campaigns and projects for internal clients.
To be successful, you will have a minimum of 3-4 years experience in a relevant client-focused role within an a…

SKY is looking for a promotions producer. Ideally you'll have lots of great experience working in an on-air promotions department. As a competent director, and skilled producer you'll have what it takes to connect with audiences and make promotions that stand out for all…

SKY is looking for an enthusiastic individual to work in the Central Hub of SKY Network Television's Broadcast Centre as an MCR Operator. Working within the Master Control Room Team you will provide support and technical co-ordination to all broadcast services.

This is a fan…

Ogilvy is looking for an experienced TV Producer with a film co. or networks background who can thrive within an agency environment. You must be able to budget, plan and source production. Your excellent organisation skills and ability to meet tight deadlines will fi…

TVNZ is seeking an enthusiastic, experienced PA and Team Coordinator who will flourish in a fast-paced creative environment. To be successful in this position you will need to demonstrate your experience in managing busy diaries as well as using a wide range of software incl…

TVNZ is looking for a fresh, talented and motivated Junior Creative Producer to join the team for a 12 month fixed-term position. You will have some experience in editing, script writing and idea generation and have a love of television.
If you feel you…

The RBG News team, part of the not-for-profit Christian Rhema Broadcasting Group, needs an organiser with a passion for news to join the RBG News team. This is an entry-level position, but you'll need to be able to tackle a whole range of organisational…

Maori Television has an exciting new opportunity for a full time position in the News Archive Library in Auckland. The successful applicant will become a member of a small close knit team which operates seven days a week providing a high level of servic…

Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM) is looking for an assistant editor for its two quarterly journals, Metro and Screen Education.
Metro specialises in essays, reviews, interviews and analysis of Australian, New Zealand and Asian features, shorts and documentaries. It also covers television, rad…

Sydney Film Festival screens feature films, documentaries, short films and animations across the city, hosts a number of awards to recognise excellence in filmmaking, plus public talks, workshops and special events. The Festival is a major event on the New South Wales cultural calendar…

Applications are invited for a Lectureship/Senior Lectureship within the Media Studies programme specialising in media practice, at Massey University, Wellington Campus.
Media practice includes constructing and conveying meaning through media texts, critical reflection on that process, and conceptual understanding of the social, cultur…

It's unlikely you missed the Jurassic-age comments uttered by Alasdair Thompson last week, which once again reminded us why organisations such as WIFT NZ must continue to exist. When the chief exec of NZ's own Employers and Manufacturers Association can suggest women should be …