Rehearsal Dynamics with Miranda Harcourt

Want to supercharge your work with actors? Rehearsal Dynamics is a full-day DEGNZ director’s workshop on March 7 with acting coach, actor and director Miranda Harcourt.

We will work practically with actors, referring to case studies and focusing on the directors’ skills of diagnosis, solution, preparation and communication using Miranda’s 5 tools:

Connection
White Space
Internal landscape
Vista + Objects
Journey

All directors will work on a task in break outs during the morning session. Then in the afternoon, six of the directors will rehearse and direct pairs of actors on 2-minute scenes, while the rest observe. The Guild will select the Director Participants and Observers (limited spaces) from applications.

About Miranda Harcourt

Miranda is an acting coach, actor and director. Miranda’s specialty is screen naturalism. Her approach is based on years of writing and performing Verbatim theatre in prisons in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, as well as her work as an on-set acting coach with renowned actors and directors on films all over the world.

She has taught at TIFF in Toronto, at NFTS and NYU Tisch, The London Film School and Directors UK in Britain, at AFTRS and The Hub in Sydney, at Toi Whakaari, The Actors’ Program, Otago University and Victoria University in Aotearoa. For seven years Miranda was the Head of the Acting Department at Toi Whakaari – New Zealand Drama School.

In her work with actors and directors, Miranda aims to shift paradigms, empowering creatives to realise their own talent. She introduces simple but innovative ways of thinking about and achieving connection and character. She has developed a series of tools and exercises for use in rehearsal and on-set that get actors to where they need to be, fast.

Workshop Details

Price: 
DEGNZ member – Free
Non-member – Participant $95; Observer $45

Lunch, tea and coffee included.

When: Sunday 7 March 2021, 10am – 5pm

Where: Auckland venue TBC

Preparation if selected: All participants shall receive a provocation to prepare. We will also ask Director Participants to email us a 2-page script for two performers, not written by the director. These will be distributed to the actors a week before the workshop.

Eligibility

  • Rehearsal Dynamics is for directors who are considered to be mid-career, emerging or established talent.
  • Priority will be given to those who are actively engaged in directing or preparing to direct narrative drama.
  • To be eligible to apply, you must have narrative directing experience. This can be in feature film, scripted drama, telefeatures, short films and/or web series. Please contact us if you’re unsure.

To Apply

Applications Close: Monday 22 February, 10AM

STEP 1: Complete the registration form below.

STEP 2: Send in one PDF to tema@deganz.co.nz:

  • your bio with filmography, and
  • a brief, maximum 1-page letter that summarises why you would like to participate and how you think this workshop could benefit your current or upcoming work or projects.

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Registration Form

 

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

NZFC

Direct South_ Short Film Workshops

DEGNZ presents three award-winning filmmakers in a workshop series for short film directors in Te Waipounamu South Island.

Thousands of short films get made every year by filmmakers around the world. One challenge for directors is how do you direct a short film that gets noticed by audiences and the industry, especially when you invest so much of yourself in your film?

Hear how three filmmakers made their acclaimed shorts and what they learnt doing them. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and discover ways to improve your craft and your projects. Direct South brings you three perspectives as each director shares practical insights into their personal directing process for short film.

Tutor Lineup

Jackie van Beek  //  Sat 27 February
Christchurch & Online

Zia Mandviwalla  //  Sat 10 April
Blenheim & Online

Michelle Savill  //  Sun 30 May
Dunedin & Online

A hybrid series, workshops will be in Christchurch, Blenheim and Dunedin, while participants can also join and interact with us on Zoom.

Get the full details > 

DEGNZ is excited to present a workshop with director Rob Sarkies for South Island-based directors on November 28 – 29. Rob will outline his process and encourage participants to develop processes specific to them.


About Rob Sarkies

Rob Sarkies

Credit: Matt Grace Photography

Wellington-based, but a South Islander at heart, Rob works across feature films, series television and commercials. His work includes acclaimed feature Out of the Blue about the Aramoana shootings, Consent based on Louise Nicholas’s fight for justice, Jean about aviator Jean Batten, black-buddy-comedy Two Little Boys, Wanted, The Gulf and NZ classic Scarfies.

Process! Process! Process!

This will be a practical workshop that will take participants through Rob’s film-making process from development to shoot and examine how process can be adapted from project to project.

The workshop will cover:

  • Development process (how to avoid ‘development hell’ or at least ensure your project comes out the better at the end of it)
  • Process leading to production (script prep, visual prep, storyboards, casting process)
  • Pre-Production (rehearsal process, binding your collaborators to the same vision)
  • Practical process on set (scene blocking, working with cast, working with your DP)

A workshop full of practical hints to help you control the beast of a feature film rather than having it control you.

Workshop Details


When:

Saturday 28 November 2020, 9am – 5pm
Sunday 29 November 2020, 9am – 4pm

Where:

In Christchurch – venue TBC

And virtually on Zoom Meetings for those who cannot attend physically. Virtual participants will be able to interact with the tutor and moderator.

Price:

DEGNZ member – Free
Non-member attending Christchurch – $110*
Non-member attending Zoom – $80*

Lunch and refreshments provided for participants attending Christchurch.

*Discounted due to COVID-19. Normal Regional price $145

To Apply

The Guild invites directors based in the South Island to apply as there are limited spaces. Applicants should, ideally, have at least some directing experience on a short film/in other screen content OR production/crew experience. If you have a question, please get in touch.

STEP 1: Complete the application form below.

STEP 2: Send in one PDF to tema@deganz.co.nz:

  • Your filmography with a short bio or CV, and
  • a brief, maximum 1-page letter that tells us why you would like to participate and what you hope to gain from the workshop.

Application Deadline: 1PM, Monday 16 November 2020

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Application Form

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Cancellation and payment policies

 


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

NZFC

Supported by Screen CanterburyNZ

Screen CanterburyNZ logo

DEGNZ invites directors to join us for a one-day Wellington workshop, taught by Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand, on best practices for directing on-screen intimacy.

In Directing In the Intimate Zone, we will discuss and work with actors on the process of developing scenes that involve intimacy, nudity and/or simulated sex, developed by UK intimacy coordinator Ita O’Brien and based on Equity NZ’s Intimacy Guidelines for Stage and Screen. The workshop will also look at directing intimacy in the COVID-19 era.

There are four places for directors to participate, as well as places for directors to observe.

During the class, Participant Directors will take turns to direct pairs of actors in intimate scenes under Jennifer’s guidance. Participant Directors upon selection will each be invited to submit a short, intimate scene – either with or without dialogue – for consideration ahead of the workshop.

About Jennifer Ward-Lealand

Jennifer Ward-LealandSince training at Auckland’s influential Theatre Corporate, Jennifer has worked extensively in theatre, film, television, musical and radio for 40 years. One of New Zealand’s most recognisable acting talents and a respected theatre director, she has taught for The Actors’ Program, Toi Whakaari, UNITEC, Te Pou and NASDA.

Jennifer is currently President of Equity New Zealand, Patron of Q Theatre, and serves as a trust board member of The Actors Benevolent Fund. She was named SPADA Industry Champion in 2018 and in 2019 given a Women of Influence (Arts & Culture) Award. In the 2019 New Year’s Honours List she received a CNZM, Companion of the NZ Order of Merit for services to theatre, film and television and is this year’s New Zealander of the Year. Jennifer is a trained intimacy coordinator under the mentorship of Ita O’Brien, Intimacy on Set (UK).

Workshop Details

When: Sunday 15 November 2020, 9am – 5pm

Where: RANDOM, 43 Hanson Street, Mount Cook, Wellington 6021

Price:
DEGNZ member – Free
Non-member – $75 (discounted due to COVID-19. Normal price $95)

Lunch and refreshments provided.

Eligibility:

This workshop is R18.

To be eligible to apply as a Participant Director:

  • You must have experience directing at least short films/dramatic content.
  • Priority will be given to those who are actively engaged in directing or preparing to direct narrative drama, especially if you are dealing with scenes of nudity, intimacy and/or simulated sex.

To Apply

To register as an Observer, complete the registration form below.

To apply as a Participant Director, complete the registration form below and email your supporting documents to tema@deganz.co.nz before the registration deadline:

  • a CV/bio with filmography
  • a brief letter summarising why you would like to participate as a director, what you hope to gain from the workshop, and any experience directing intimacy (not a requirement for selection).

If you apply as a Participant and are unsuccessful, you will receive an offer to attend as an Observer.

Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. 

Registration Deadline: 1PM, Thursday 5 November 2020

Registration Form

 

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Cancellation and payment policies



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

NZFC

The 3rd round of the 2020 Table Reads opens today. Open to writer-director teams and solo writer/directors from around Aotearoa who are members of DEGNZ and the New Zealand Writers Guild. Enter the draw with your feature film script and you could win a free online table read with up to six professional actors to help you with your next rewrite!

We would also like to hear from New Zealand actors interested in taking part. For information on how to submit a script or register as an actor, head over here.