Barnes Wins 2021 South Pacific Pictures Big Pitch

Well done to Christchurch filmmaker Gaylene Barnes (DEGANZ) whose project Ladies, A Knife was selected as winner of the 2021 South Pacific Pictures ‘Big Pitch’. Gaylene was one of six hopeful teams applying for the $2,500 award. The prize will go towards development, in addition to a complimentary registration to the 2022 SPADA Conference.

The judging panel featured Kelly Martin and Andrew Szusterman of South Pacific Pictures, Steve Barr (TVNZ), Jo Smith (NZFC), Thomas Robins (Sky Originals), and guest judge Jon Landau.

Gaylene said that “the idea has been lingering for quite a few years, and it’s perhaps a story New Zealand doesn’t know it needs right now.”

SPP CEO Kelly Martin called Gaylene’s pitch “a potentially multicultural story which can allow us to talk about what’s happening now by looking back into the past.” Martin said Ladies, A Knife has the potential to “develop characters that New Zealanders can really identify with.”

Congrats Gaylene!

Last updated on 2 December 2021

/by

Trailer for Mystic Season 2 Released

A new trailer for Mystic Season 2 has recently dropped on CBBC’s Youtube Channel. This season was produced by David Stubbs (DEGANZ), and directed by fellow members Aidee Walker and Caroline Bell-Booth. We would like to extend a big congratulations to the team!

A family thriller with a supernatural twist, Mystic follows London-raised teen Issie who moves to rural New Zealand. After encountering a frightened and mysterious horse in the wilderness, Issie unravels a series of secrets. Mystic was shot on location in Auckland.

The show mixes recognisable kiwi landscapes together with international and local talent. British actress Macey Chipping is the show’s lead, and Kirk Torrance (Outrageous Fortune) plays grumpy stable manager, Sam.

Mystic is an adaptation of the Pony Club Secrets book series by kiwi journalist-turned-novelist Stacy Gregg. The show is an international production between TVNZ and CBBC. Following the success of its first season on TVNZ and BBC iPlayer, Mystic was renewed for a second and third season.

Season 2 will be released for New Zealand viewers next year, but in the meantime, the first season is available to watch on TVNZ OnDemand.

/by

Feature Film Scripts Supported Through Table Reads 2021

,

Each year we are delighted to support writers and directors with their feature film scripts through Table Reads, a joint initiative brought to you by DEGANZ and the New Zealand Writers Guild. Following a successful virtual run in 2020, we held this year’s Table Reads online, allowing members and actors from across the country to participate from the comfort of their own homes.

We saw four exceptional virtual table reads held between May and November. We would like to give a special shout out to this year’s selection:

Persistence – writer/director Rebecca Tansley.
Actors: Kirsty Hamilton, Ella Hope-Higginson, Kirsty Bruce, Caleb Wells, Maté Lagae, and Chantal Claret.

Before the Darkness – writer/director Alex Galvin.
Actors: Tim Carlsen, Helen Murphy-Reid, Tai Berdinner-Blades, Frith Horan, and Mark Clare.

Escape – writer Daryl Belbin, director Anton Steel.
Actors: Grant Beban, Stephen Lyell, Tim Carlson, James Crompton, Jodie Hillock, and Stephen Papps.

Tamada – writer/director Tim Tsiklauri.
Actors: Hilary Norris, Hamish Boyle, Jamie Irvine, Maté Lagae, and Jo Clark.

Well done to everyone involved and all the best with your projects!

Last updated on 18 January 2022

/by

Duckworth Amongst List of Recipients of the 2021 EQ Grant

Auckland UNESCO City of Music has announced the recipients of the EQ Grant for 2021. Congratulations to DEGANZ member Anna Duckworth for being amongst this year’s list of recipients.

Over 120 submissions were appraised by two selection panels composed of experienced women from the screen and music sectors. Three project grants of $10,000 were available, in addition to access to mentors, crew, and  technical equipment.

EQ’s kaupapa is to build a community of female screen and music professionals by pairing directors with musicians.

Meet the 2021 recipients:

  • Musician Grace Moller and Director Faye McNeil
  • Musician Lou’ana and Director Anna Duckworth
  • Musician Reshma Martin and Director Jolin Lee

Well done to this year’s recipients. We look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition.

Last updated on 26 November 2021

/by

Traffic Light System Update

,

24th November 2021

As per the governments announcements on Monday afternoon, please note the following:

New Zealand to Enter the New Traffic Light System on 3rd December

The whole country will be moving into the new system at 11.59 on 2nd December (effectively from Friday 3rd December):

  • Auckland will enter at the RED level
  • Other regions will start in the ORANGE or RED level depending on regional vaccination levels
  • No regions will go directly to GREEN

Auckland Hair Dressers and Barbers to Trial the New System

Hair dressers and barbers in Auckland will be allowed to open from Thursday 25th November to trial the new vaccination passport system. This is a trial of the system for this industry only, so unfortunately it does not mean that we can do hair & make up on set yet.

PS! Once we enter the new traffic light system on 3rd December, it is expected that all productions that use vaccination passports will be able to do Close Proximity work (although with appropriate PPE and hygiene measures in place).

Revised Screen Industry Protocols for the Traffic Light System

ScreenSafe are working hard to revise the Screen Industry protocols in line with the new Traffic Light System. Since we are still waiting for further government guidance about the new system, including the new legislation in regards to workplace vaccinations, the final protocols may not be ready by the 3rd of December. However we aim to issue enough guidance so that productions will still be able to operate safely from the 3rd of December.

Your Vaccination Passport

If you are double vaccinated you are now able to get your vaccination passport. You must have this in order to attend a vaccination passport shoot.

For more information, please go to this link: https://mycovidrecord.health.nz/

NZ Pass Verifier App

This is the official Ministry of Health phone app to verify if someone is fully vaccinated (or has a medical exemption). It is now available to download on any Apple or Android phone.

You can find more information HERE.

Sincerely,
The ScreenSafe COVID-19 Group

Link to full release here in PDF.

Last updated on 25 November 2021

/by