Posted Tuesday 04 Apr 2017
Directors & Editors Guild of NZ (DEGNZ) member and director Helena Brooks has taken up a two-episode directing role on the third series of South Pacific Pictures' (SPP) Channel 7 TV drama production 800 Words, following the successful conclusion of her DEGNZ TV Drama Director Attachment on SPP's The Brokenwood Mysteries.
"The recent DEGNZ director's attachment was an excellent way to learn how drama operates at SPP," Helena Brooks said. "During the attachment I directed a couple of days on Brokenwood Mysteries, which led to 2nd unit directing on Westside. I was then asked to direct a block of 800 Words, which I'm really looking forward to. SPP is like a finely tuned instrument with a big family vibe and I really love being amongst it."
Brooks will direct one block (two episodes) of 800 Words starting in April, and will see those episodes through post production.
"We are ecstatic that our TV Drama Director initiative has resulted in Helena moving onto fulltime directing of drama," said Executive Director of DEGNZ Tui Ruwhiu.
"We are extremely pleased to add Helena to our roster of directors, and we applaud both the DEGNZ and NZ On Air for their support of the directors attachment initiative," CEO of South Pacific Pictures Kelly Martin said.
"Helena's success is heartening. I'd like to congratulate Helena on her achievements to date and hope we will see many more drama productions directed by her in the future," said NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson.
The TV Drama Attachment initiative is an industry professional development activity funded by NZ On Air and the production company involved and managed by DEGNZ. It is intended to give emerging drama directors the opportunity to shadow an experienced director through the pre-production, production and post-production process as a means to improve their craft skills.