All Blog Posts

It’s election year. We need to examine what each of the main parties’ views are on the Screen industry, Arts, Culture and Heritage, as well as what they are going to do for society and the economy. Here’s a first cursory look from a…

Career Spotlight: Jonno Woodford-Robinson ANZSE

Blog, Career Spotlights

Jonno Woodford-Robinson’s career as an editor is a testament to versatility, rhythm, and a deep understanding of storytelling across genres. From blockbuster VFX spectacles to intimate indie dramas and documentaries, his work combines technical…

Spare A Thought For Production… But Not at The Expense of Crew

Petrol and diesel are inescapable costs for production. It doesn’t matter if it’s a two-person crew with a director, or a 3-500 crew on an international show; they all need fuel, particularly diesel. Gaffer, grip, and unit trucks,…

Cheer Up

The world is awash with bad news at the moment, whether it's the war in the Middle East, the planned shutterings announced by Heinz Watties and McCain in Hawkes Bay, or the lack of domestic and international production in Aotearoa this year. It’s…

The Importance of Editing

Blog, News

I remember the first director’s training session for TV I attended now many years ago. Our workshop facilitator, John Harris, who went on to establish production company Greenstone, told us that one way to think of directing was like shopping:…

Cinema Still Has a Place

A couple of weeks ago, thanks to Madman Distribution, I got to watch the Cannes Jury Prize-winning Sirat, a French – Spanish coproduction helmed by French-born director of Spanish descent, Oliver Laxe. It’s the sort of auteur arthouse…

Documenting Winners

Last night I attended the Doc Edge Awards 2026, which recognised the best New Zealand and international documentaries submitted to the fest, along with some special awards for contributions to documentary. Chief among those was the Raye Freedman…

Work Opportunities

Every once in awhile we get contacted at the guild by producers or other individuals wanting recommendations for directors, editors or assistant editors. And I can tell you, we do get contacted about Hollywood projects as well. To be fair…

A Kōrero with Music Supervisor Aminé Ramer

A Kōrero With..., News

The A Kōrero with… blog series is back for 2026! This time, DEGANZ’s Izzi spoke with Music Supervisor Aminé Ramer to hear all the ways music plays its part in screen productions. An award-winning music supervisor and consultant, Aminé…

Yes Minister(s)

Blog, News

So... Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Paul Goldsmith (Minister for Public Service; Digitising Government; Arts, Culture and Heritage; Media and Communications) got together and announced that the government is embarking on a fundamental overhaul…

Party! Party! Party!

It’s election year. We need to examine what each of the main parties’ views are on the Screen industry, Arts, Culture and Heritage, as well as what they are going to do for society and the economy. Here’s a first cursory look from a…

Career Spotlight: Jonno Woodford-Robinson ANZSE

Blog, Career Spotlights

Jonno Woodford-Robinson’s career as an editor is a testament to versatility, rhythm, and a deep understanding of storytelling across genres. From blockbuster VFX spectacles to intimate indie dramas and documentaries, his work combines technical…

ANZSE Career Spotlights

Read about the illustrious careers of ANZSE-accredited editors.

Director Josh Frizzell: How I Got Started in the Industry

I was expelled from Penrose High in the fifth form after getting caught wagging for a month (I faked the absentee notes from Mum and Dad). I ended up going on the dole (unemployment benefit) for a year. At the dole department you had to show…

Editor Luke Haigh: How I Got Started in the Industry

Hey there! I'm Luke Haigh, a freelance film editor who's worked in both the commercial and feature film worlds for the last 20 years. I first fell in love with editing around the age of 15 or 16. It was a Media Studies class in high school…

Director Mia Maramara: How I Got Started in the Industry

Looking back, I would say that my life’s theme is, “There are no wasted moments." It’s a lesson I have clung to working in the film industry, where there are all sorts of twisty roads lined with the bloated corpses of dead passion projects…

Editor Te Rurehe Paki: How I Got Started in the Industry

I've always been a tinkerer. Growing up, I spent most of my time drawing, carving, and making things. I would pick up the tools and teach myself by doing, feeling my way through it. As an editor, it's something I still do to this day. My career…

Director Leanne Pooley: How I Got Started in the Industry

I am a Film School dropout and my slow but steady trajectory from PA to Director/Producer is the classic example of working my way up from the bottom. In the mid-eighties I was studying at one of the best TV/Film Schools in Toronto, Canada;…

Editor Rāhera Herewini-Mulligan: How I Got Started in the Industry

When I was in primary school, I never knew I was Māori, or should I say I never understood what being Māori was. I always thought I was a little bit darker than a lot of the other kids, but that was ok. I was introduced to te reo Māori and…

A Kōrero With…

In this guest blog series, we speak to screen professionals to find out more about their job and what most people might not know, including those working in the industry. This blog offers an inside look into different parts of the industry and offers insights into how directors and editors can be successful in the collaborative process of their mahi.

Director Josh Frizzell: How I Got Started in the Industry

I was expelled from Penrose High in the fifth form after getting caught wagging for a month (I faked the absentee notes from Mum and Dad). I ended up going on the dole (unemployment benefit) for a year. At the dole department you had to show…

Editor Luke Haigh: How I Got Started in the Industry

Hey there! I'm Luke Haigh, a freelance film editor who's worked in both the commercial and feature film worlds for the last 20 years. I first fell in love with editing around the age of 15 or 16. It was a Media Studies class in high school…

Director Mia Maramara: How I Got Started in the Industry

Looking back, I would say that my life’s theme is, “There are no wasted moments." It’s a lesson I have clung to working in the film industry, where there are all sorts of twisty roads lined with the bloated corpses of dead passion projects…

Editor Te Rurehe Paki: How I Got Started in the Industry

I've always been a tinkerer. Growing up, I spent most of my time drawing, carving, and making things. I would pick up the tools and teach myself by doing, feeling my way through it. As an editor, it's something I still do to this day. My career…

Director Leanne Pooley: How I Got Started in the Industry

I am a Film School dropout and my slow but steady trajectory from PA to Director/Producer is the classic example of working my way up from the bottom. In the mid-eighties I was studying at one of the best TV/Film Schools in Toronto, Canada;…

Editor Rāhera Herewini-Mulligan: How I Got Started in the Industry

When I was in primary school, I never knew I was Māori, or should I say I never understood what being Māori was. I always thought I was a little bit darker than a lot of the other kids, but that was ok. I was introduced to te reo Māori and…

How I Got Started in the Industry

In this guest blog series, our members reflect on how they made their way into assistant editing, editing, and directing—with no two stories the same. They offer advice for those starting out.

Director Josh Frizzell: How I Got Started in the Industry

I was expelled from Penrose High in the fifth form after getting caught wagging for a month (I faked the absentee notes from Mum and Dad). I ended up going on the dole (unemployment benefit) for a year. At the dole department you had to show…

Editor Luke Haigh: How I Got Started in the Industry

Hey there! I'm Luke Haigh, a freelance film editor who's worked in both the commercial and feature film worlds for the last 20 years. I first fell in love with editing around the age of 15 or 16. It was a Media Studies class in high school…

Director Mia Maramara: How I Got Started in the Industry

Looking back, I would say that my life’s theme is, “There are no wasted moments." It’s a lesson I have clung to working in the film industry, where there are all sorts of twisty roads lined with the bloated corpses of dead passion projects…

Editor Te Rurehe Paki: How I Got Started in the Industry

I've always been a tinkerer. Growing up, I spent most of my time drawing, carving, and making things. I would pick up the tools and teach myself by doing, feeling my way through it. As an editor, it's something I still do to this day. My career…

Director Leanne Pooley: How I Got Started in the Industry

I am a Film School dropout and my slow but steady trajectory from PA to Director/Producer is the classic example of working my way up from the bottom. In the mid-eighties I was studying at one of the best TV/Film Schools in Toronto, Canada;…

Editor Rāhera Herewini-Mulligan: How I Got Started in the Industry

When I was in primary school, I never knew I was Māori, or should I say I never understood what being Māori was. I always thought I was a little bit darker than a lot of the other kids, but that was ok. I was introduced to te reo Māori and…

Director Josh Frizzell: How I Got Started in the Industry

I was expelled from Penrose High in the fifth form after getting caught wagging for a month (I faked the absentee notes from Mum and Dad). I ended up going on the dole (unemployment benefit) for a year. At the dole department you had to show…

Editor Luke Haigh: How I Got Started in the Industry

Hey there! I'm Luke Haigh, a freelance film editor who's worked in both the commercial and feature film worlds for the last 20 years. I first fell in love with editing around the age of 15 or 16. It was a Media Studies class in high school…

Director Mia Maramara: How I Got Started in the Industry

Looking back, I would say that my life’s theme is, “There are no wasted moments." It’s a lesson I have clung to working in the film industry, where there are all sorts of twisty roads lined with the bloated corpses of dead passion projects…

Editor Te Rurehe Paki: How I Got Started in the Industry

I've always been a tinkerer. Growing up, I spent most of my time drawing, carving, and making things. I would pick up the tools and teach myself by doing, feeling my way through it. As an editor, it's something I still do to this day. My career…

Director Leanne Pooley: How I Got Started in the Industry

I am a Film School dropout and my slow but steady trajectory from PA to Director/Producer is the classic example of working my way up from the bottom. In the mid-eighties I was studying at one of the best TV/Film Schools in Toronto, Canada;…

Editor Rāhera Herewini-Mulligan: How I Got Started in the Industry