Come have a drink with us to celebrate another successful year at the Screen Guilds Christmas Parties in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch!
Cash Bar, nibbles provided.
Please note: You must RSVP on Eventbrite in advance. ONLY financial members of the Guilds and Associations (+1 partner) will be eligible to join. Membership card required.
Auckland RSVP here
Christchurch RSVP here
Wellington RSVP here
For Immediate Release
Monday 30 October 2017
The Directors & Editors Guild of NZ (DEGNZ) welcomes the opportunity to collectively bargain on behalf of its membership in the event that the new Government repeal the controversial ‘Hobbit Law’, an amendment rushed through Parliament that classified all film workers as ‘independent contractors’, unable to bargain collectively and receive other benefits associated with being an employee.
“In our recent Annual Survey of the membership conducted independently by Trace Research, an overwhelming 84 per cent of directors and editors wanted the Guild to collectively bargain on their behalves,” said Executive Director of DEGNZ Tui Ruwhiu.
“In the same survey, 32.5% of directors saw a decrease in their income in the last year compared to the year before, and 32.5% of directors earn less than $1,000 per week. This is obviously a concern for us.”
“It’s not unusual for directors to be one of the more poorly paid roles on set, particularly in feature and short film and non-drama TV,” Ruwhiu added. “Unlike technicians, directors do not receive overtime payments, their pay rates can be poor, and their hours generally longer that most others in the execution of their work.”
“Director rates have been trending downward in many sectors of the industry over the last 10 to 20 years and we need to do something about it.”
New Zealand directors get very few opportunities to work on international productions coming to New Zealand, depending almost exclusively on domestic New Zealand production to make a living.
With the number of local feature films produced each year in New Zealand numbering between five and fifteen, only five to fifteen New Zealand directors get a job on those productions, and in many cases the director is required to reduce or defer their fee to get the production made.
The majority of the Guild’s directors are contracted to productions for New Zealand television, documentary, advertising and in the corporate arena where they make videos, promos and branded content.
“The status of directors within the industry and with the wider public is generally high. Unfortunately, the reality when it comes to terms and conditions and particularly income for many of our director members is poor,” Ruwhiu concluded.
“Collective bargaining would provide a positive means for the Guild to improve the lot of directors in New Zealand, which is not possible under the current individual contracting regime.”
ENDS
For more information contact:
Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director
Directors & Editors Guild of NZ
+64 21 659 950
tui@deganz.co.nz
DEGNZ invites you to a special Screenlink networking evening on 15 November in Auckland for members of DEGNZ, NZWG, SCGNZ and SPADA.
Join Clive Dougall, winemaker for Seresin Estate, to taste and learn about five handcrafted wines from Marlborough.
The sentinel stone at the entrance to Seresin Estate bears a subtle handprint, a symbol of strength, gateway to the heart, tiller of the soil and the mark of the artisan.
Founded in 1992 by cinematographer and longtime DEGNZ supporter Michael Seresin, the Estate lies in the heart of Marlborough at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, with vineyards spread across the warm stony Wairau Valley floor and up into the gentle clay slopes of the Omaka Valley to the South.
The official wine tasting will run for one hour, followed by networking time with Seresin wine at hand.
Wine and nibbles provided.
What: Seresin Estate Wine Tasting & Networking Evening
When: Wed 15 November, 6 – 7.45pm
Where: St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby, Auckland
Entrance and carpark at back of Centre
TICKETS are free but must be booked in advance via Eventbrite as spaces are limited.
Members only – DEGNZ, SPADA, SCGNZ, NZWG
You must be 18+ to attend.
Tickets close Monday 6 November, 12 noon.
It was a great night at the DEGNZ Lifetime Membership Awards Dinner on October 6 as we came together to honour our three Lifetime members Keith Hunter, George Andrews and John Reid.
“We wanted to acknowledge their passion for the craft of directing and the industry, which has seen all of them go above and beyond in seeking to ensure the creative, cultural and financial wellbeing of New Zealand directors and screen practitioners.” – Howard Taylor, President of the Guild
The event was held at Longroom in Ponsonby, Auckland. Thank you to everyone who attended for helping to make the night such a success!
L to R: George Andrews, John Reid, DEGNZ President Howard Taylor, Keith Hunter.
PHOTO: Focalpoint Photos
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday 12 October 2017
At an awards ceremony and dinner on Friday 6 October in Ponsonby Auckland, Howard Taylor, President of the Directors & Editors Guild of NZ, confirmed Lifetime memberships with the presentation of certificates for three long-serving members of the guild, directors Keith Hunter and John Reid, and producer George Andrews.
“Keith, John and George each have made significant contributions over many years as board members, with Keith and John involved in setting up the guild,” Taylor said.
“We wanted to acknowledge their passion for the craft of directing and the industry, which has seen all of them go above and beyond in seeking to ensure the creative cultural and financial wellbeing of New Zealand directors and screen practitioners.”
The Guild’s first President, Keith Hunter is an award-winning writer and documentary maker, known for his investigations into miscarriages of justice. His screen credits include The Remand of Ivan Curry, Out of the Dark, Staunch, and award-winner Murder on the Blade?, about the Scott Watson case. Hunter has also directed drama and comedy on shows such as Mortimer’s Patch and Letter to Blanchy.
John Reid made his feature debut with an acclaimed adaptation of Roger Hall play Middle Age Spread. Since then he has directed three more features ranging from raw comedy to moody arthouse pieces, plus a host of television programmes and commercials. John was Guild President for many years.
Long time Guild board member producer George Andrews has been making documentaries about New Zealand for more than 40 years, including legendary documentary series Landmarks. He has also been a vocal advocate for public service broadcasting and helped found TV3. In 2002 he was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to television.
“All three maintain an interest in industry matters and remain active,” Executive Director of DEGNZ Tui Ruwhiu said. “John is writing a book on stalwart of the New Zealand film industry John O’Shea, while Keith is penning his yet to be announced third book. George, as always, continues to pursue screen projects that are close to his heart while finishing a book and working with the Film Archive.”
“We are so pleased that these three industry icons will have a permanent place within DEGNZ.”
ENDS
For further information contact:
Tui Ruwhiu
Executive Director
Directors & editors Guild of NZ
+64 9 360 2102
+64 21 659 950
tui@deganz.co.nz