Alana Henderson

How long have you been in screen production and how did you get started?

My first real job in the industry was actually as a Stand-in and Body Double for Saoirse Ronan on the Lovely Bones. It was such a great opportunity to observe the Cast and Crew from the sidelines and see how everything fitted together and how each role contributed towards the final product. While there I asked the ADs and Production for more work and opportunities to upskill when I wasn’t needed on set and it paid off. I managed to wiggle my way into the industry full time from there. For the last ten years plus I’ve worked mainly in the Production department (these days as either a Production or Cast Coordinator). My experience so far has included work on smaller locally produced shows as well as big scale international projects all across NZ and Fiji.

My advice to anyone wanting to get into the industry would be to put yourself out there and ask for work/experience in the sector you’re most interested in, and then once given the chance make yourself useful and you’ll be employed in no time.

Why did you choose film/TV as a career?

I think what I love most is the storytelling aspect and the ability to express ideas and emotions in such a powerful yet beautiful visual style. It’s such a rush to be involved in a project you are really passionate about and that you know could spread positivity, inspiration or an educational message around the world. I’ve seen first hand how even the little films can have a big impact on the community and I absolutely love that film can have that power.

In terms of lifestyle I love the flexibility and variation – the change of project, of people, of locations. It keeps it fresh and interesting and means there is always a new challenge to tackle.

And although I was drawn in by these points above, I know I’ve remained in the industry due to the many like-minded souls and the comforting feelings found by working in a crew (aka film family). It’s my home away from home.

Do you also work outside of film?

No not currently, there’s no time to fit anything else in at the moment. The industry is booming and it’s fantastic to be caught up in it all. I’m trying to ride the wave as long as I can!

What have you learnt about your department as a whole?

That no two projects are the same and expect the unexpected... oh and also never assume anything! Production is a department of many hats and as well as being friendly and accommodating you also need to be adaptable, hardworking, a real problem solver and willing to get stuck in and do whatever needs to be done to ensure the project runs smoothly.

I’ve also learnt how important the team is around you. You’re nothing without your team. (Hence a little kindness and support to your other team members goes a long way!)

Why have you chosen to join the Guild? What do you want and expect from the Guild?

I partly joined the Guild as I wanted to be part of a community I deeply respect while also using it as an opportunity to learn and grow as much as I can from others more experienced than myself. However, I also felt strongly about supporting the fantastic work that the Guild does. Special mention to how they handled the outbreak of COVID – it was a relief to have such informative newsletters guiding us and keeping us well informed during such a scary and bizarre time.

What strengths do you think the NZ industry has? What could contribute to a more sustainable industry?

New Zealand is full of such talent and creative flair but I’ve also found it to be full of friendly, helpful lovely people who generate such great vibes and who make you feel so welcome. No wonder international shows love coming here – we have stunning scenery but also such A-list crew that often end up making their job a breeze. It’s a no brainer for them really!

Something I would love to see soon is an updated crew rate card which I think would help towards fostering more pay equality between shows and also possibly help to review the huge shifts in pay between different departments as well. I’d like to see a rate card that suggested a payscale for newbies or those starting out, for those with a few years under their belt and also for those who have been in the industry for decades and are very experienced in their fields.

I also hope that the future of the NZ film industry heads in the direction of more work life balance – especially for parents who juggle kids/other life responsibilities as well as a 12-14 hour day at work. (How do they do it?!) I’ve started to see more instances where job sharing has worked well and I love the idea of family friendly days or daycare being provided on site. I think it’s important to remember that although what we do for work is awesome – we should also remember to have a life outside of the film industry too. This work/life balance will also ensure we are allowing room to foster good mental and physical health – something that I'm personally passionate about.