
Winter Sparks Creative Success
Winter has dawned its frosty tips on our windscreens and driveways but that does not mean filmmaking has been given the cold shoulder. Far from it!
Breaking the ice earlier this month were three TVC’s & two Music Videos.
We also had two short films near completion of post-production (Millie Cossou & Jacinta Compton’s The Lamb, The Girl and The Man and Legal Fictions Canvass) while another local short continues to gain international success as it hits the festivals (Rebecca Tansley and Sue Marshall’s The Finding). We toast (marshmallows) to their continued success.
A couple more local content creators may have cold hands but no doubt warm hearts, as they secure funding this quarter. Writer / Director David Hay received NZFC early development funding for his upcoming feature The High Road. Writer / Director Glenn Standring’s feature Babylon was one of the nine projects selected for Te Puna Kairangi (Premium Production Funding). For those of you who think it’d be when hell freezes over before you see any financial assistance, put that thought on ice and be encouraged by the efforts of two additional content creators in town effectively raising their own international investments for future projects. Bundle up and watch this space for more on that.
Let us not leave FOS and DCC out in the cold as we give gratitude for their continued support to filmmakers with opportunities of on the ground upskill work placements, script consulters and assistance for Event premiere attendance.
Out with the (c)old and in with the new for NHNZ Worldwide team who will be snug as a bug in a rug in their new premises in Stuart Street. The frosting on the cake in that they have chosen to leave behind their Post Production facilities fully operational at Melville Street. DCC’s film coordinator Antony Deaker slips into a new role at the Council as interviews take place for his replacement. Break a leg to whoever gets the job!
We were snowed under with several Screen workshops in town. Big thanks to Dale Corlett, Ness Patea, Ruth Korver, Dan Eady and others for their contributions towards these. It is but the tip of the iceberg as we hear of future workshops being lined up for the 2nd half of the year.
Yes indeedee, all of this has a snowball effect for more discussions around Studio Facilities and Production spaces especially no doubt as we see a Domestic Feature and International TV series coming to the Region at the same time in the season ahead.
Alright already, the incessant overuse of winter idioms must be (ice) capped.. it’s time for my chill pill….
Rebecca Rowe

