WIFT NZ 2022 Awards

Congratulations to our member Cian Elyse White (Te Arawa, Ngฤti Pikiao) for winning the SAE Award for Outstanding Newcomer and to Cushla Dillon (DEGANZ) for being a finalist for the Weta Group Creative Technology Award!

Cian Elyse White has made a name for herself as an actor, director, writer, and producer. Her 2019 short film Daddyโ€™s Girl (Kลtiro) has made rounds in the international film circuit and went on to receive numerous awards. Recently, Cian played the role of Gloria in 2021โ€™s Cousins.

Cushla Dillon was nominated for the Weta Groups Creative Technology Award, acknowledged for her outstanding achievement in creativity in post-production as an editor. She is a great force in the editing world with years of experience in TV, short films, and features. Cushlaโ€™s most recent projects include The Justice of Bunny King (2021), The Calf (2020), and Daffodils (2019).

The Great Southern Film & Television Award for Outstanding Contribution to the New Zealand Screen Industry went to Dr Shuchi Kothari. Shuchi is renowned for her contributions to the industry as a filmmaker, educator, mentor, and voice for Pan-Asian communities. She is currently working as the programme designer and convenor for PASCโ€™s Episode One, a web series pilot programme. Additionally, she is the co-producer of Kฤinga, a feature that brings together immigrant stories by eight Pan-Asian women writers and directors, premiering at NZIFF 2022.

The WIFT NZ Awards celebrate the achievements of wahine in the industry and provide unique networking opportunities for attendees. The event also allows WIFT to fundraise to support the organisationโ€™s ongoing work. They presented eleven awardsย throughout the night to acknowledge success in film, television, screen business and craft, and industry champions.

It was great to see all the incredible women recognised for their mahi in the industry. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners of the evening!

Read more

Last updated on 14 July 2022

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Haere Rฤ Derek Wooster

Derek Wooster (Ngฤti Maniapoto, Ngฤti Tลซwharetoa, Ngฤti Maru, Te ฤ€tiawa) was a veteran television director and producer, serving on the board of DEGANZ from 2002 – 2005, including as Treasurer during that time.

He started out in theatre before crossing over to TV. Derek worked at TVNZ for many years and is credited with creating and producing Mฤori current affairs series Marae, amongst directing and/or producing many other notable programmes for our national broadcaster and Whakaata Mฤori across his long career.

Derek passed away on 5 July 2022 at 77 years of age. He is fondly remembered by many.

Kua hinga te tลtara i Te Waonui-a-Tฤne

Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director

Last updated on 13 July 2022

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Jake Tabataโ€™s The Creature Boosted Campaign Opens Soon

Jake Tabata (DEGANZ) is making his directorial debut with horror, coming-of-age web series The Creature. To make this happen, he is holding a Boosted campaign to raise $9,000, kicking off on 18 July.

The Creature follows Aidan, a young gay man, on his journey to self-acceptance. Stuck in the online dating rut of endlessly swiping with no results, Aidan is ecstatic when matched with his ‘dream man’. However, to leave for his date, Aidan must face the perturbed Creature lurking in his home’s shadows. As he challenges the Creature’s authority over him, Aidan learns that being alone doesn’t mean he has to be lonely.

This project’s kaupapa centres around authentically telling queer stories, upskilling young creatives, and ensuring accessibility (meaning it’ll be free to watch!). Ultimately, Jake and the creative team want young queer people to feel seen, heard, and validated through this story.

If you are keen to support this group of emerging filmmakers to tell this important story of young queer representation navigating romance and anxiety in the online space, visit their Boosted page.

Good luck to Jake and the rest of the production team!

Last updated on 13 July 2022

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Lynley Dodd Documentary Edited by Josh Yong

DEGANZ member Josh Yong has edited The Spinoffโ€™s recent documentary, Lynley Dodd: Writing the Pictures, Painting the Words. This piece invites viewers into the whimsical world of the beloved writer and illustrator of the Hairy Maclary childrenโ€™s books.

This special one-off documentary celebrates Dame Lynley Dodd as she shares insight into her creative process and the inspiration behind some of her most memorable tales. She even opens up about her latest project, which has been ten years in the making.

While her books about Hairy Maclary and the gang have entertained children and parents alike for nearly 40 years, this documentary takes audiences for the first time on an intimate journey of how she transforms life experiences into art.

Josh worked with director Susan Leonard (Te Arawa) and Hex Work Productions, supported by NZ On Air, on this nostalgic and delightful trip down memory lane.

Congratulations to Josh on the release!

Watch here

 

Last updated on 11 July 2022

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ScreenSafe – Screen Industry Guidance – COVID-19 Protocols V4.0

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Friday 1 July 2022

This is a reminder to all of the New Zealand Screen Sector that the ScreenSafe COVID-19 Protocols are still in place to make sure you keep each other safe on set.

We understand that it is tough keeping productions going under the current climate but we want to remind everyone that your health and safety is important. COVID is impacting on our sets around the country so please if you are unwell โ€“ please donโ€™t come to work. Even if you are testing negative and you have symptoms we advise you to please stay at home.

Please continue to register your production on the ScreenSafe website registration form.

Here are the links to all of the information you need to follow the protocols:

ScreenSafe COVID 19 Toolkit

ScreenSafe Department Roles

ScreenSafe COVID 19 Production Registration Form

The key updates are:

No Requirement to Use QR Codes or to Contact Trace

Businesses no longer have to display a QR Code poster, although some businesses may still choose to use them. Productions are still encouraged to have contact tracing of some sort in place to prevent a wider production outbreak, but it is no longer a Government requirement.

No Requirement to Use My Vaccine Pass

There is no longer a requirement to use My Vaccine Pass. The Non-Vaccination Passport sections of the Protocols have now been removed and all productions will work under the same regulations.

If productions choose to use vaccination passports, they must undertake a robust health and safety risk assessment, along with any other relevant legal assessment, to ensure they are not unlawfully discriminating against workers within the workplace. A production must undertake a COVID-19 risk assessment to ascertain if there are any roles within production that require vaccination. A risk assessment might identify that some work can only be undertaken by a vaccinated employee for work health and safety purposes โ€“ for example, where the risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19 at work is higher than it is in the community. Productions should follow WorkSafeโ€™s advice and guidance in respect of how to conduct a health and safety risk assessment, and may also wish to seek independent legal advice.

Updated Testing & Isolation Requirements

Updated as per current Government guidelines. The self-isolation period is now only 7 days. This applies to Household Contacts, but not Close Contacts. Close Contacts should monitor for symptoms for 10 days.

Long COVID & COVID-19 in the Workplace

Updates on managing an outbreak in the production, including information about Long COVID and its potential impact on a workforce.

Immigration, International and Domestic Travel

New Zealand has reopened its borders to the outside world. These sections of the protocols have been almost completely rewritten, but we urge you to also seek out the latest Government information. Things are constantly changing in regards to immigration and international travel requirements.

Mask Wearing is Still Crucial

With many productions choosing not to use vaccination passports, the use of face masks is more important than ever. Please wear a mask to protect your colleagues, yourself and your family. Wearing a face mask will assist with the productions continuation when there are undetected positive case within a production.

If you do test positive or are a household contact you can receive financial support here.

While some productions will choose not to use QR Codes and Vaccination Passports, please note that our key tools will still remain: mask wearing, physical distancing, hygiene and increased ventilation. And as always โ€“ DO NOT come to work if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

Sincerely,
The ScreenSafe COVID-19 Group
Email: info@screensafe.co.nz

Last updated on 4 July 2022

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