Members of DEGNZ and SPADA are invited to the next networking opportunity this month, so join us for a drink. With two dates, one in Wellington on Thursday 12th March, and one in Auckland on Wednesday 18 March, we hope to see you there!
We were thrilled to host the Rehearsal Room last Saturday 21st February in Auckland. Moderated by accomplished actor and director Rene Naufahu, four directors and eight actors came together and rehearsed scenes. Rene bought his experience as both an actor having worked with some heavy weight Hollywood directors and his own strengths as a director to guide the directors and actors through the workshop.
Some feedback from the participants:
“I’ve learnt a lot and it pushed me outside of my comfort zone”
“The guys running it were very hands on and kept us on track. Lots of wise words, interesting working with different people”
“It was really useful in getting me to get something on the page and then off the page”
A huge thanks to those who participated, DEGNZ members Jane Sherning Warren, James Solomon, Adam Fresco and Samuel Shelton as our directors. And of course from Actors Equity Stuart Shacklock, Daniel Pujol, Jodie Hilcock, Tony Buckler, Carl Drake, Kate Castle, Brett Gribble and Mary McCormick.
There are six more Rehearsal Rooms throughout the year and it is a great opportunity to practice your craft and see scenes come to life. You can register your interest in participating on eventbrite here and follow us on facebook here.
Four emerging film directors have been selected to attend renowned Australian directing and acting coach Rob Marchand’s Character-based Improvisation Workshop to be held from 20 – 24 March 2015 by the Directors & Editors Guild of NZ.
They are:
- Gillian Ashurst (Snakeskin)
- Max Currie (Everything We Loved)
- Alyx Duncan (The Red House)
- Lauren Jackson (I’m Going to Mum’s)
“This workshop is all about directors working with actors—putting the script to one side and going ‘off-road’ to improvise and explore the wider possibilities of character in order to enrich the story,” said writer/director Fiona Samuel.
“The selected projects and creative teams are bursting with potential, and I hope the five days working with Rob Marchand will give a huge boost to these new and exciting films in development.”
The selection panel comprised Samuel, actor Theresa Healey and producer Christina Milligan.
“Rob fully explores UK director Mike Leigh’s method of improvisation in his workshops,” said DEGNZ Executive Director Tui Ruwhiu.
“I am confident that this approach will be a rich and rewarding experience for not only the directors on the course, but for the actors they will bring with them as well as those they work with in future.”
Rob Marchand is an award-winning film director with over 25 years experience who is hailed as Australia’s foremost expert in this process. Rob runs his acclaimed workshops in Europe, the U.K. Australia and now in New Zealand.
The workshop is made possible with the financial assistance of the New Zealand Film Commission and the assistance of Script to Screen.
We are happy to announce two dates for Networking Drinks with WIFT in February, one in Auckland and one in Wellington. Join us in Wellington at MEOW on Wednesday 25th February or in Auckland at the Long Room on Thursday 26th February. We hope to see you there!
The Directors & Editors Guild of NZ (DEGNZ) is pleased to announce the selection of filmmaker Tusi Tamasese as the recipient of the first DEGNZ International Director Mentorship.
Tamasese will be matched with an international film director as a mentor to help guide his career.
“The panel deliberated long and hard over all the candidates, but Tusi’s unique voice and cinematic vision ultimately won us over,” said Guild President Peter Roberts.
“With a critically acclaimed first feature under his belt and the prospects of a strong filmmaking career ahead, we felt that Tusi would really benefit from the experienced guiding hand of an internationally successful director,” added DEGNZ board member Roseanne Liang.
The selection panel comprised Roberts, Liang, New Zealand Film Commission Professional Development Executive Bonnie Slater, independent producer Fiona Copland and DEGNZ Executive Director Tui Ruwhiu.
DEGNZ mentorships are intended to provide mid-career filmmakers with support and engagement with successful, seasoned filmmakers from the international industry. Through the mentorship, NZ filmmakers will connect with the wider world which impacts so heavily on the financing of their work, their ability to reach their audience and their assumptions about their careers.
The International Director Mentorship is part of a three-year, intensive professional development programme that DEGNZ runs with the financial support of the New Zealand Film Commission.
The inaugural DEGNZ International Mentorship in 2014 was awarded to editor Cushla Dillon, who has been mentored by expat New Zealand editor Justine Wright. The feature films Locke, Iron Lady and The Last King of Scotland number among Wright’s film editing credits.
DEGNZ intends to award three further mentorships in 2015, starting with one for documentary directing, then one each for drama directing and editing.