DEGNZ Supports Call for COVID Relief Funding for Māori Screen Sector

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12 October 2021

The Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand (DEGNZ) supports the call by Ngā Aho Whakaari, who represents Māori in the screen industry, for direct COVID relief support for the Māori screen production sector.

In July 2020, NZ On Air and the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) received $23.4 million for a Screen Production Recovery Fund. In September of this year, the Government announced further COVID relief support accessible through NZ On Air and NZFC. Again, Te Māngai Paho (TMP) received no direct COVID funding. Māori creatives and production companies who are not utilising NZ On Air or NZFC funds therefore cannot access COVID relief funds from those bodies.

“Industry relief has been appreciated but Treaty obligations need to be honoured,” says DEGNZ President Robyn Paterson. “Te Māngai Paho is significantly underfunded compared to NZ On Air, and this results in smaller budgets for Māori productions, many of which are made for Māori Television.”

“The financial hardship this inflicts on Māori creatives and production companies is exacerbated when there is no COVID relief funding to enable them to recover.”

“Māori directors, editors, writers, producers and crew are already working on lower production budgets. This puts a strain on financial sustainability and wellbeing. They need access to COVID funded support” Paterson added.

DEGNZ calls for the Government to support Te Māngāi Paho directly with COVID funding to aid those Māori creatives and production companies under duress due to COVID.

ENDS

 

Contact:

Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director
Directors & Editors Guild of NZ
tui@deganz.co.nz
+64 21 659 950

Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand

The Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand is a not-for-profit Incorporated Society and Union that represents Directors, Editors and Assistant Editors in the New Zealand screen industry. This includes Directors, Editors and Assistant Editors of feature drama and documentary; television drama, documentary and factual programmes; short films; video art; animation; commercials and web content.

DEGNZ’s two primary roles are advocacy and professional development. We:

  • are dedicated to promoting excellence in the arts of directing and editing.
  • foster collegiality and unity within the screen industry.
  • promote members’ creative and economic rights.
  • work to improve industry working conditions and remuneration.
  • offer professional advice and information on contracts and industry standards and practice.
  • offer professional development events, networking opportunities, career advice, dispute resolution, mentoring, workshops, training, discounts and regular news bulletins for members across all levels of expertise, from novices to seasoned professionals.
  • are a voice for Directors, Editors and Assistant in influencing policy in the interest of our members. We do this through our membership of various pan‐industry bodies, and by making submissions to government and public officials.
  • Internationally work co-operatively with other directors’ guilds
  • belong to the International Affiliation of English‐Speaking Directors’ Organisations, Writer’s & Directors Worldwide, Alliance of Asia-Pacific Audiovisual Writers and Directors and the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers.

DEGNZ is Auckland-based with an office in Grey Lynn.

Contact Details:

Directors & Editors Guild of NZ
Level 2, 66 Surrey Crescent
Grey Lynn
PO Box 47294, Ponsonby
AUCKLAND

admin@deganz.co.nz
+64 9 360 2102
+64 21 659 950

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Rūrangi and Creamerie Finalists in MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards

In series successes, we wish to congratulate the cast and crews of Rūrangi and Creamerie for being nominated for the 2021 MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards.

Directed by Max Currie (DEGNZ), Rūrangi is one of three finalists in the LGBTQIA+ / Scripted category. Season 1 is currently streaming on Hulu.

Creamerie is a finalist in the Race and Ethnicity – Scripted category, along with We Are Lady Parts and Dreaming Whilst Black. The six-part series for TVNZ was directed by member Roseanne Liang, and edited by Jochen Fitzherbet (DEGNZ) and Tom Eagles, who was awarded a DEGNZ International Editor’s Mentorship in 2016.

Now in its 5th year, the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards are dedicated to championing and promoting diversity and inclusion in all its forms across the international television industry. The Awards ceremony is being held in Cannes on October 13.

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ScreenSafe Location Recce Guidance at Higher Alert Levels

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ScreenSafe has released location recce guidance after discussions with WorkSafe and Screen Auckland, and based on recommended guidelines from the Ministry of Health regarding limits on social gatherings in public places.

These guidelines are for a location recce in an uncontrolled public space. You will need to adhere to the social gathering limit applicable to the alert level in your region. If you cannot limit your recce numbers to the limits, you will need to apply for a council permit, with a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place.

Read the full location recce guidance

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Show Me Shorts 2021: Nominees for Best Director and Best Editor

Show Me Shorts Film Festival 2021 have announced the nominees for their annual Awards Ceremony. Seventeen short films were nominated across eight categories including Best Director and Best Editor. As proud sponsors of these awards, DEGNZ warmly congratulates the nominees below and we look forward to seeing your mahi screen across the country.

The Awards Ceremony will take place on Sunday 17 October in Auckland where the winners will be announced alongside the award-winning films.

Nominations for DEGNZ Best Director

Isaac Bell for Space Invader

Max is a small boy with a big imagination and a loyal co-pilot of a dad. But when Dad gets a new girlfriend, Max must find a way to confront this new menace before she steals his dad forever.

Kaitiaki Rodger for Matua

Manaaki returns home after the death of his mother. After the tangi, he is approached by two strangers to provide Te Reo Māori lessons to them. Manaaki reluctantly accepts, unaware that he is about to uncover hidden family secrets.

Dwayne Cameron for June

Willow and David receive a serious diagnosis from their doctor and attempt to deal with the mundane as their world disintegrates in the following 24 hours. This one day for the couple holds raw despair, unleashing carnal natures but a transcendent occurrence offers them the hope of new life.

 

Nominations for DEGNZ Best Editor

Peter Roberts and Dwayne Cameron for June

Willow and David receive a serious diagnosis from their doctor and attempt to deal with the mundane as their world disintegrates in the following 24 hours. This one day for the couple holds raw despair, unleashing carnal natures but a transcendent occurrence offers them the hope of new life.

Brendon Chan for Blood and Gold

New Zealand, 1861. Man’s hunt for gold is feverish. Through the snow-capped mountains a woman flees on horseback. When she encounters a horrific scene, she makes a decision which will alter the course of two lives…

Joseph Grigg for Blue Lake

Monster-hunting youtube sensations Phil and Angie are on the road again, searching to uncover Otago’s supernatural secrets. An eerie trip to Blue Lake could finally get them on the cover of the Otago Daily Times, or maybe the obituaries

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COVID-19 Financial Support for Sole Traders and the Self-Employed

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Piggy bank wearing a surgical mask

If your income or business has been impacted by Alert Levels 3 and 4, you may be eligible to apply for financial support. As many directors and editors are self-employed, this is an overview of what support is available from the New Zealand Government to help sole traders and the self-employed.


Wage Subsidy August 2021

Self-employed people and sole traders anywhere in New Zealand can apply for the Wage Subsidy Scheme through the Work and Income website if they are eligible. It’s paid as a two-week lump sum to support businesses that have experienced a decline in revenue attributed to the continuation of Alert Levels 3 and 4.

Each round opens for two weeks. Applications for the fourth round, Wage Subsidy August 2021 #4, opened on Friday 1 October and will remain open until 11.59pm on Thursday 14 October.

Resurgence Support Payment (RSP)

The COVID-19 Resurgence Support Payment helps to cover wages and fixed costs for businesses who have been directly affected when there is an increase to Alert Level 2 or higher for a week or more. Sole traders can receive a payment of up to $1,900.

When applications open in MyIR, they will also remain open for one month after all of New Zealand returns to Alert Level 1.

  • Applications for the 1st payment under the alert level increase announced on 17 August are still open.
  • Applications for a 2nd payment under the RSP opened on 17 September.
  • Applications for a 3rd payment will open on 8 October.

Small Business Cash Flow Loan Scheme (SBCS)

The Government will provide loans to small businesses, including sole traders and the self-employed, impacted by COVID-19 to support their cash flow needs. Applications are open through myIR until 31 December 2023. This is a loan so you will need to pay it back, but it’s interest free if you pay it within 2 years.

COVID-19 Short-term Absence Payment

A one-off $359 payment when you cannot work from home and you:

  • need to stay at home while waiting for a COVID-19 test result.
  • need to stay home and look after a dependent child who has been asked to get a COVID-19 test.
  • live with someone who has been at a location of interest and need to stay home while they wait for the person in the household to get a negative test result.

You can apply for it through Work and Income at any time, but cannot be taken while you receiving the Wage Subsidy August 2021 or Leave Support Scheme.

COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme

This scheme provides self-employed people with an income, paid at a flat rate, if they cannot work from home while they’re self-isolating. You need to meet certain criteria to apply.

More information can be found at Work and Income. But note that you can’t get more than one COVID-19 payment at the same time.

Other Support

If you are still having trouble meeting your needs, you might be able to get help from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). You do not need to be on a benefit to get help with urgent costs, such as medical costs, rent or mortgage payments and utility bills.
Use this tool to check what you might get.

Advice for self-employed people with tax-related concerns:
https://www.ird.govt.nz/covid-19/business-and-organisations/self-employed

 

The above information is provided as an overview guide only based on the COVID-19 financial support tool at www.covid19.govt.nz. Make sure you read the official information provided by IRD, MSD and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to decide which support best suits your personal situation.

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