Got a Script? Table Read Submissions Open

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Bringing Writers, Directors & Actors together

A core cast โ€“ max six actors โ€“ together with a writer+director team OR writer/director will collaborate on each script-in-development table read.

The script must have a director attached and have been through a development process.
WRITER + DIRECTOR (Or Writer/Directors): either/both must be a member(s) of NZWG/DEGNZ.

DEGNZ and NZWG members are invited to apply for the script component. Submit a full-length draft feature film script for your name to go into the draw for a day-long table read*. Email guildhq@nzwritersguild.org.nz

ACTORS must be a member of Equity to apply. Actors apply here

Submission Deadline: Mon 19 June

Round 3 Table Read Date: Sat 8ย July, 10am

*Names remain for subsequent draws

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Register: The Rehearsal Room with Jeff Szusterman – Auckland

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RR with Jeff Szusterman

The Rehearsal Room brings together professionals โ€“ actors and directors โ€“ in a safe, supportive environment to practise working with each other on scenes under the guidance of an experienced moderator.

Register on our event page to have your name in the draw to participate. For each event, 4 directors and 8 actors will be selected. If you are selected, weโ€™ll email or phone you to confirm your participation.

Moderator – Jeff Szusterman

Jeff is an actor, director and teacher with over twenty years of experience in New Zealand and the United States. Jeff has directed over 200 broadcast hours across the years, starting with Shortland Street in 2007/2008. He has taught acting for screen at Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts and at AYA Drama School (for young people). His most recent webseries Jiwiโ€™s Machines gained three nominations at the 2016 LA Webfest including one for Best Direction. He is currently in funded development for a drama series for New Zealand television.

Who is The Rehearsal Room for?

Professional actors and directors. It is open to Actors Equity and DEGNZ members of all levels of experience, from novices to virtuosos.

Material

Directors will be asked to provide a two-character scene (2 pages) or, if you prefer, a scene will be provided for you. Directors and actors will receive scripts in advance.

Structure of the event

Directors and actors will spend time rehearsing their scenes, with emphasis on connection and content.

After morning tea, participants will block their scenes, before presenting them for shooting, followed by viewing and discussion. The shooting is a wide shot only, intended as a means to review performance, not for directors to direct camera.

 

When: Saturday 17 Juneย 2017, 9:30am โ€“ 1:30pm

Where:ย Kingsland, Auckland

Register at: Eventbrite

Director registrations close: 1 June

Actor registrations close:ย 12 June

Cost: Free โ€“ Open to DEGNZ & Equity NZ members ONLY.

The Rehearsal Room is hosted by Directors & Editors Guild of NZ and the Equity Foundation, with financial support from the New Zealand Film Commission.

 

 

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Laughs and Inspiration at our Recent Comedy Workshop

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Declan and Jonathan

As expected, there were many laughs during ourย Directing and Writing Comedy workshop with Jonathan Brough and Declan Fay on Saturday.

Jonathan and Declan shared their insights and experiences bringing to screenย some of Australia’s top ratedย TV comedies, including The Family Law, sketch comedy Fancy Boy and their recent collaboration on Ronny Chieng: International Student.

Jonathan is a Melbourne-based award-winning comedy director from New Zealand and Declan is one of Australia’s topย comedy writers and showrunners.

A special thanks to the New Zealand Film Commission and ASDACS (Australian Screen Directors Authorship Collecting Society) for making this workshop possible. ASDACS collects royalties on behalf of NZ and Australian film/TV directors. Don’t forget that it’s free to join for DEGNZ members.

 

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Apply Now: Directing Actors with Mark Travis

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The Directors & Editors Guild of NZย invites youย to apply for a 2-day Directing Actors workshop with renowned American director, writer and teacher Mark Travis.

The workshop will be held in Auckland on Saturday and Sunday, 10ย andย 11 June.

About Mark Travis

Acclaimed as “the directorโ€™s director”, Mark W. Travis is regarded as one of the worldโ€™s leading authorities in the art and craft of film directing. Drawing from his impressive background in design, writing, acting, and his wide range of experience directing theatre, film and television, Mark is able to bring new insights and exceptional clarity to the complex task of directing the feature film.

Markโ€™s unique approach to working with actors and characters (The Travis Techniqueโ„ข) has gained the attention of directors, writers and actors worldwide and is becoming a standard approach for stimulating powerful performances.

For the past 20 years Mark has been sharing his directing techniques with student as well as professional directors, around the world, visiting over 17 countries and 30 film schools and organisations, including the American Film Institute, Pixar Animation Studios, UCLA Extension and Griffith University. Mark served as Tammy Davis’ directing mentor on New Zealand film Born to Dance.

Directing Actors

Directors will be immersed into the complex world of actor, character and story. The interpretation of story, the perception of character and the techniques of acting, when combined, create a complex world full of expectations, desires, projections, misunderstandings, and even miscommunications. Yet, this world is the core of every story told on screen and must be entered by the director with a sense of confidence and conviction and a willingness to collaborate.

Mark will introduce participantsย to the essential aspects and tools of The Travis Techniqueโ„ข, specifically the Interrogation Process and the Power of Staging. Using scenes from an established screenplay with the participation of professional actors, participants will get the opportunity to practice and explore this organic approach to directing actors.

 

All participants will be required to do some prepย ahead of the workshop on the script that will be used acrossย both days.

 

Cost:ย DEGNZ members free, Non-members $100

When:ย Saturday 10 June, 9am – 5pm &ย Sunday 11 June,ย 9am – 4pm.

Where:ย Kingsland, Auckland

Lunch will be provided each day.

 

TO APPLYย please send your application inย ONEย PDF or DOCย toย tema@deganz.co.nzย with ‘Directing Actors Workshop’ in the subject line. In your application, please provide:

  • CV
  • links to samples of your work
  • a maximum one-page letter stating why you want to attend this workshop
  • please also include your mobile number and dietary requirements.

Application Deadline: 9am, Monday 29 May.

This eventย is brought to you with the support of the New Zealand Film Commission.

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Watch: Film Talk with One Thousand Ropes Filmmakers

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One-Thousand-Ropes

Last month we held a wonderful Film Talk with writer/director Tusi Tamasese and producer Catherine Fitzgerald talking with Chris Dudman on the making of One Thousand Ropes.

One Thousand Ropes is a powerful character drama of a father reconnecting with his youngest daughter and together putting to rest the ghosts that haunt them.

It was a spectacular evening exploring the many versions of the story and characters that led to the eventual film, the temporality of the film, the balance between violence and healing, and the question of belonging.

This event was part of the Film Talk Series, presented by DEGNZ and Rialto Cinemas in Auckland.

 

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