We are delighted to annouce that WIFT and DEGNZ member Cathy MacDonald has secured the hotly contested South Pacific Pictures' Shortland Street and DEGNZ TV Drama Director Attachment initiative.
"Shortland Street is an important training ground for drama directors and I'm so chuffed to be a part of it. Huge thanks to the very generous Geoff Cawthorn and Maxine Fleming for the opportunity," said MacDonald.
"Cathy has made a significant effort to advance her career as a film and TV drama director," said Executive Director of DEGNZ Tui Ruwhiu. "This attachment on Shortland Street is another major step toward her achieving her goals, and we are thrilled to be able to assist her in this."
Cathy has over 15 years experience as a director in short film, television and advertising. She has won nearly 20 international awards for my work as a writer/director of promos and branded content including Young Creative at Promax Europe, Best Director at Promax World, Best Campaign at Promax World, and Best Director nominee at the New York Festivals. Her short films have been selected at 12 festivals including BAFTA and Academy Awards qualifiers Encounters Film Festival (Bristol), London International Documentary Festival, Rushes Soho Shorts (London), and Show Me Shorts (NZ).
MacDonald is now the fifth DEGNZ member director to attach to a New Zealand TV drama series, and the third woman. Started in 2015, the initiative has seen actor and director Matthew Saville attach to director Ric Pellizarri on Screentime's telefeature Bombshell: The Sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, actor and director Aidee Walker shadow director Michael Hurst on SPP's Westside series, director Jamie Lawrence join director Peter Burger on Filthy Productions' series Dirty Laundry, and director Helena Brooks shadowed Mark Beasley on SPP's The Brokenwood Mysteries.
