Young Creators: Before You Say Yes to Web Series

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Get more control over your career by knowing the pitfalls to avoid before you set out on your web series dreams.

Be informed about issues currently facing web content creators in NZ. Lately, we’ve seen some appalling agreements given to our director members to sign.

In response, DEGNZ has been busy on a standard contract for scripted content on the Web for Directors that will be launched at Before You Say Yes to Web Series.

You have the right to be compensated fairly for your creativity, ideas and hard work. This contract will help!

If the mention of “contract” makes you want to curl up into the foetal position, no fear, we’re bringing Tim Riley in from Dominion Law to break down that jargon. Without boring you to death.

DEGNZ supports your right to work for free, too. But if you do get the opportunity to make scripted online content and be paid, we’d like you to know what we believe is fair for your creative contribution. And when there isn’t enough hard cash involved, what you should ask for to make up the difference.

Be sure to bring your mates and get in the mix!

 

When: Saturday 28 October, 10am – 12pm

Entry: DEGNZ members – Free / Non-members – $5 koha

Where: St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby, Auckland

Main entrance & carpark behind the Centre.

 

Before You Say Yes to Web Series is the first event and official launch of Young Creators, a brand new initiative from the Directors & Editors Guild of NZ.

DEGNZ Young Creators is a programme of events with a mission to inform and inspire younger or emerging directors and editors to build successful, sustainable careers in the screen industry.

 

Share the Facebook event here!

Stay up to date with Young Creators at facebook.com/degnz and twitter.com/degnz_online!

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Wellington Screenlink: Forging Ties with Asia

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Join DEGNZ, the Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA) and Screen Composers Guild (SCGNZ) for networking drinks and conversation in Wellington.

Sound editor and POW Studios CEO John McKay will share his career highlights and observations from his 40 years in film and TV, including recent successes in Asia.

John will chat about POW’s business philosophy and its approach to developing IP through the lens of their collaboration on NORI ROLLER COASTER BOY, NZ’s first TV co-pro with Korea.

Look forward to seeing you there!

When: Wednesday 25 October, 5–7pm

Where: The General Practitioner, Corner of Willis & Boulcott Streets, Wellington

Cash Bar  |  Nibbles provided

Free to members of DEGNZ, SPADA & SCGNZ   |   Non-members $5 koha

 

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Book Tickets to the DEGNZ Lifetime Membership Awards Dinner 2017

The Directors & Editors Guild of NZ warmly invites you to join us for a night to honour and celebrate our Lifetime Members.

DEGNZ has formerly awarded Lifetime Memberships to John Reid, Keith Hunter and George Andrews in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the guild over the years. The Lifetime Membership Awards Dinner is an opportunity to officially acknowledge their Lifetime Membership with an award.

The evening will begin at 6pm with drinks and canapés in the Longroom’s private bar. The awards presentations shall begin at 6:30pm, followed by an excellent banquet style dinner from 7pm.

Lifetime members head shots

Keith Hunter
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
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.

George Andrews
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. In 2002 he was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to television.

Industry and partners are welcome to attend.

When: Friday 6 October, 6pm start
Tickets: $55
Ticket Sales end: Monday 2 October, midnight

BOOK NOW

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Invitation to Observe Equity’s Highly Popular Casting Hothouse

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The Directors & Editors Guild of NZ invites our member directors to take part in Equity New Zealand’s Casting Hothouse in an observational capacity. The Casting Hothouse, Equity’s unique intensive audition/casting workshop to maximise skills and employment outcomes in the local and international market, is returning in September 2017.

This is an opportunity for up to eight DEGNZ directors to observe the auditioning/screen testing process with experienced casting directors working with New Zealand actors.

Please note that any directors taking part are there as observers only and will not take part in any of the processes. Please also note the processes are confidential and that the actors are working with the casting directors in a workshop environment.

The Hothouse is a major initiative by Equity to give members an opportunity to develop the skills and confidence to tackle the US, Australian and New Zealand casting experience head on. It is NOT designed to assist New Zealand actors to leave New Zealand permanently. Rather it is an opportunity to equip New Zealand actors with the tools to work overseas as well as home and to show overseas companies that New Zealand has a professional talent pool. It will assist these performers to maintain a long lasting career.

 

How it will work

Two US casting directors, an Australian and a New Zealand casting director will host the New Zealand workshops.

The casting directors taking part are:

Matt Skrobalak ­

Kerry Barden

Miranda Rivers

Nathan Llloyd

Performers will be allocated into four groups and the casting directors will issue scripts, film mock auditions, look at reading techniques, provide feedback and give the participants the skills to handle the pressure and get them through the whole experience unscarred. All performers will work with all the casting directors.

The intensity and length of the classes will ensure that the training and skills development is hard wired into them and their audition and casting skills become instinctive.

 

When: Wednesday 27 – Thursday 28 September, 10am – 5:30pm, with drinks each night

Where: TBC, Auckland

TO APPLY please send your application in ONE PDF or DOC to tema@deganz.co.nz with ‘Hothouse Application’ in the subject line. In your application, please provide:

  • CV
  • A brief letter on why you would like to attend

Application Deadline: Tue 12 September

 Equity New Zealand

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Robyn Malcolm Leads Insightful Rehearsal Room Workshop

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It was a pleasure to have esteemed actress Robyn Malcolm facilitate our most recent Rehearsal Room for directors and actors in Auckland. The directors had the opportunity to bring a scene from one of their own projects, or be provided a scene, which they got to rehearse and explore with a bunch of talented actors.

After lunch, everyone came together for an in-depth review and discussion of the scenes and rehearsal process with Robyn providing plenty of great advice on how directors and actors can build positive working relationships to achieve brilliant results.

Registrations are now open for the next Rehearsal Room in Wellington with Actor/Director Ian Hughes – Saturday 2 September, 9.30am – 1.30pm. Register here. Deadline: 22 August (Directors) / 28 August (Actors)

 

 

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