Release of Spada Cultural Capability Handbook

Spada Cultural Capability Handbook

Spada is delighted to launch its Cultural Capability Handbook. This Handbook serves as a guide to fostering authentic, respectful, and inclusive screen productions in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Handbook seeks to provide information, guidance, resources and support for producers, productions, companies and other industry organisations and practitioners working on screen projects with content, characters, and people from cultural backgrounds outside their own lived experience. It emphasises the importance of accurately representing Māori, Pasifika, Pan-Asian, and other culturally specific stories, highlighting the unique considerations required for diverse storytelling.  

The Cultural Capability Handbook is a living document, which reflects the evolving nature of key terms, knowledge, and resources in this space.  

Spada would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this project to life, particularly ex-Spada Board member Karin Williams, and NZ On Air for their financial support.  

• View and Download the Cultural Capability Handbook HERE.

Greenlit Sustainability Tools

Greenlit supports the screen sector in Aotearoa with environmentally sustainable production practice, and Spada supports their work.

The Greenlit tools are tailor-made to help domestic screen productions implement environmentally sustainable processes. This resource includes links to watch / listen to Spada discussions in the sustainability space.

• View the Greenlit Sustainability Tools HERE

Additional Spada Resources

These documents are often especially helpful to direct new and emerging practitioners to when they're unsure of how to proceed.

• AI Resources for Producers HERE - links to best practice and Guidelines to AI for screen stories
• Spada Starter Pack (Updated Feb 2025) HERE - a comprehensive guide to producing screen stories at every stage.
• Best Practice Guide to Writer / Producer Relationships HERE - a comprehensive overview of the relationship between writers and producers designed to support positive collaborations.
• Emerging Filmmakers Resource HERE - a helpful overview for those new to working with producers
• Spada Entertainment Lawyers List HERE
• Spada YouTube Channel HERE (latest episode on the Access Coordinator Role)
• Spada Podcast on SPOTIFY and APPLE PODCASTS (latest episode on the Access Coordinator Role)
• NZ Broadcast Commissioners List HERE

While we aim to keep our Resources regularly updated these are all living documents so Spada welcomes feedback at comms@spada.co.nz.

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Kia pai tō rā - have a great day.

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Ness Simons (she / her / they)

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