Screen and Digital Strategy for Auckland
A partnership between game and digital media developers and Auckland’s film industry aims to increase the city’s economic potential across the wider screen and digital content sector.
The newly formed** Auckland Screen and Digital Content Sector **(ASDCS) is seeking industry support and feedback on its strategy. The group is made up of ATEED, Film Auckland, Creative Digital Content (CDC), the tertiary sector, NZ Game Developer’s Association, **New Zealand Trade and Enterprise **along with other members from the screen industry. The ASDCS leadership group developed the strategy and will implement it.
ASDCS co-chair and Trigger Happy CEO Shona Grundy says the strategy is a cohesive blueprint to boost their combined contribution to the city’s economy. It’s the first time the sectors have come together.
“Nationally the screen sector contributed almost $3 billion of gross revenue in 2011, of which almost $2.2 billion came from Auckland. But current screen production sector statistics don’t include digital content and high-value technology sectors such as gaming, digital media and software development. This strategy broadens the definition of the sector to include these increasingly significant areas.”
Ms Grundy says the screen production sector is a growth area. “Its growth potential is increased exponentially when the high-value digital content sector comes into the picture.”
The ASDCS Strategy is action-focused and has been developed by industry for industry, she says, with support from ATEED and its subsidiary Film Auckland.
Film Auckland Manager Michael Brook agrees it is an exciting step and says it seeks to redefine and grow the sector. “Importantly, the strategy is clear on its goals and deliverables and contains a specific action plan for 2012/13. We look forward to working with the other industry members to turn this into results.”
The strategy has six key objectives for the screen production sector including cross-sector collaboration, creating an optimum regulatory environment, developing innovative technologies, production and management processes, increasing sector infrastructure, ensuring a sustainable supply of talent and implementing a sales and marketing approach.
NZ Game Developers Chairperson** Stephen Knightly** describes the strategy as future-proofed and inclusive. “It covers the whole screen including film, animation and the fast-growing games sector, and has an eye on the future as the screen industry continues to go digital,” he says.
Oktobor Animation co-founder and CDC co-chair Dan Wang says he is encouraged by the motivation and the resolve of the ASDCS Strategy. “With a well-timed delivery of this strategy Auckland has an exciting opportunity to capitalise on the tremendous aptitude and potential locally. Now is the time to forge our identity as the hub for high-end digital content, services and technology to both the established West and the emergent East.”
Feedback can be sent to morgan.stewart@filmauckland.com. The strategy is considered to be in ‘perpetual beta’, giving the group flexibility for ongoing review. It will be formally reviewed on an annual basis.
Guild helpers needed
The Guild has made a very active effort this year (under new executive officer Karla Rodgers) to increase its membership. As you’ve already heard, there has been some great success in applying for funding to assist with a series of workshops set up to educate crew in all fields over the next 12 months. The Guild is very keen to hear from any production crew who could spare some time to help Karla co-ordinate workshop logistics. The workshops are tailor-made to inform and encompass all areas of screen production.
Please email info@nztecho.com or phone (09) 302 2022 if you can help or if you have information/skills that could be entered into an upcoming workshop.
