Postgraduate Screen Production at University of Auckland Department of Film, TV and Media Studies

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Postgraduate Screen Production at University of Auckland Department of Film, TV and Media Studies Cargo a film by Leo Woodhead screened at Venice, London, Tribeca, Paris, NZFF, Melbourne, Telluride

1 Postgraduate Screen Production at University of Auckland Department of Film, TV and Media Studies Cargo a film by Leo Woodhead screened at Venice, London, Tribeca, Paris, NZFF, Melbourne, Telluride Nominated Best Short Film, Best Director, Best Performance, Best Cinematography NZScreen Awards 2008 The Department of Film, Television and Media Studies at the University of Auckland offers the leading graduate-level film production program in New Zealand. We offer an intensive "film-school-style" experience for future writers, directors and producers of drama and documentary films. Past student works have screened at major international A-list festivals including Venice, London and New York as well as making regular appearances in the New Zealand International Film Festival. The University of Auckland prides itself on the high percentage of our students who go on to work in the industry. As most of our staff members are working practitioners, either here or overseas, our courses are closely informed by trends and shifts in the professional industry. This industry interface is further strengthened by guest lecturers and industry production supervisors who serve as consultants on students final projects.

Black and White by Kirsty MacDonald Winner Best Short Documentary/Emerging Director DocNZ FF Photo by Chris Pryor BA (Hons)/Postgraduate Diploma in Screen Production During this year, students can

2 Black and White by Kirsty MacDonald Winner Best Short Documentary/Emerging Director DocNZ FF Photo by Chris Pryor BA (Hons)/Postgraduate Diploma in Screen Production During this year, students can expect an intensive individual and group learning experience. Starting with basic production management, shot composition, and editing, we take students all the way through interviewing documentary subjects to advanced blocking and camera movement. Students can expect to direct actors in front of the class, pitch documentary ideas and cut trailers as part of the many assignments. Students learn AVID, EP Scheduling, and Final Draft. The year ends with a production project, where, depending on their area of focus, students will complete their own 10-minute short film, documentary and/or write a feature screenplay. Master of Arts in Screen Production Students with a Postgraduate Diploma or BA (Hons) in Screen Production or equivalent can apply for entry to the MA year, where they will focus on a major project of their choice. Less class- and exercise-driven, an MA allows students to choose a project in screenwriting, producing or directing (drama or documentary) and work closely with a supervisor to realize their vision. The high quality of the students as well as the rigorousness of their supervision has meant that many of these projects have gone on to screen at festivals here and around the world. In recognition of these strengths, our MA is accredited by ScreenMark, a prestigious industry stamp of approval only awarded to courses that provide high-quality, practical, tertiary-level training in the screen industry.

Staff Coffee and Allah written by staff member Shuchi Kothari screened in Competition at the Venice Film Festival. Produced by staff members Sarina Pearson and Shuchi Kothari.

3 Staff Coffee and Allah written by staff member Shuchi Kothari screened in Competition at the Venice Film Festival. Produced by staff members Sarina Pearson and Shuchi Kothari. Vanessa Alexander is an Emmy-nominated producer/director/writer (Being Eve) who has worked as a professional director and producer of drama for the last ten years. She was the lead director on Outrageous Fortune (Ep 1 Series 1), the writer director of the no-budget feature (Magik and Rose) and has produced numerous shorts films, including the Oscar-nominated Two Cars, One Night. Vanessa is a past winner of SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year, has twice been a finalist for Best Director and Best Screenplay, and won Best TV Series at the NZ Screen Awards She continues to work in the industry, is the current Chair of Script-to-Screen, and a former Board member of the NZ Film Commission. Dr Annie Goldson has been producing and directing award-winning documentaries for 20 years that have been released theatrically and sold to broadcasters around the globe, including Channel4, PBS and HBO. Her credits include Punitive Damage, An Island Calling, Georgie Girl, Sheilas, and Elgar s Enigma. Annie is also the director of the biennial New Zealand International Documentary Conference, a trustee of the DOCNZ International Film Festival, and a former president of the Screen Director s Guild of New Zealand. She was recently honored with a New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) from the New Zealand Government for her services to film. Dr Shuchi Kothari is a screenwriter and producer working across the film industries in New Zealand, India, and the United States. In 2008, she had the honour of having not one but two of her features selected for debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (Apron Strings, Firaaq). Apart from her many feature writing credits, she has written short films (Coffee and Allah Venice 2008), produced short films (The Six Dollar Fifty Man Cannes, Sundance 2009) and was writer/producer on A Thousand Apologies - a

comedy series for TV 3 made with a number of former graduates of this programme. She was awarded a NZFC Writer s Award in 2009. Professor Annamarie Jagose teaches scriptwriting.

4 comedy series for TV 3 made with a number of former graduates of this programme. She was awarded a NZFC Writer s Award in Professor Annamarie Jagose teaches scriptwriting. She is also a prizewinning novelist and short story writer. Her latest novel, Slow Water, is a work of historical fiction and won major literary awards in both Australia and New Zealand: the Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction at the Victorian Premier s Literary Awards and the Deutz Medal for Fiction at the Montana New Zealand Book Awards. Dr Sarina Pearson produced the television documentary A Taste of Place and co-produced the short films Fleeting Beauty, Clean Linen and Coffee and Allah, as well as the television comedy series A Thousand Apologies. Peter Simpson Our Senior Technician has a broad skill-set that focuses on post-production. Peter has also produced, shot, and edited independent documentaries (Best Doco 2006 DocNZ -Geese In A Flock). He is also a regular finalist in the 48 Hour Filmmaking Competition and won it in We also regularly employ industry members to teach on our courses. Most recently, Caroline Grose (former Head of Development at the NZFC, Fox Australia) and Robin Scholes (Once Were Warriors, Rain). Alumni Roseanne Liang directs her short film Henchman which went on to screen at the London Film Festival On average more than 75% of our students go on to work in the film and television industry, many of them in key creative positions. Unlike courses that train students for specific jobs, our success lies in our ability to provide a broad creative education for graduate-level students who are ready to work at a professional level as creative leaders.

Roseanne Liang - Writer/Director Henchman (London), Banana in a Nutshell (NZFF- Finalist, Best Digital Feature, New Zealand Screen Awards New Filmmaker of the Year) Take 3 (Berlin) Helena Brooks -

5 Roseanne Liang - Writer/Director Henchman (London), Banana in a Nutshell (NZFF- Finalist, Best Digital Feature, New Zealand Screen Awards New Filmmaker of the Year) Take 3 (Berlin) Helena Brooks - Writer/Director Harry and Peter in Love (NY Festivals) Nothing Special (In Competition: Cannes), Various Commercials Kirsty MacDonald - Producer/Director Good For a Girl, Black and White (Best Short Doco and Best Emerging Director 2006 DocNZ FF) James Frankham Director Waka Moana (MTS) - Pacific Solution (DocNZ, EIDF, Seoul, Korea, Istanbul, Turkey, FIFO) Finalist, Best Director, New Zealand Screen Awards Leo Woodhead Writer/Director Cargo (Venice, London, Tribeca, Telluride, Melbourne, Paris, Prague). Nominated Best Short Film 2008 Qantas Awards. Recently won the Screenwriter Scholarship to intern with Killer Films in N.Y. Jochen Fitzherbert Writer/Director The Bridge (NZFC short - Valladolid) Editor (Power Rangers) SFX Editor (30 days of Night) Kimberley Hikaka - Producer - Honky Tonk (NZFF) Sandor Lau Director/Producer - Behaviours of a Backpacker (NZFF, TV3), Squeegee Bandit (NZFF) Finalist Best Digital Feature NZ Screen Awards Alex Lee Producer and Head of DocNZ Festival and Tamarillo Films. Adam Luxton - Writer/Director Rope (NZFF),The Road Out of Town (NZFF) Chris Payne Producer - Embers (NZFF, Show Me Best Student Film) Graduates have also had success working on Shortland Street, Asia Downunder, Outrageous Fortune, Power Rangers, Bro Town and a variety of documentary projects for TVNZ and TV3. Still others have found employment within the infrastructures of South Pacific Pictures, Eyeworks and Great Southern Television. See trailers of student work at: Antonia Prebble in Honky Tonk (NZ Film Festival 2006) Produced by Kimberley Hikaka, Directed by Paul Scantlebury and Written by P. Scantelbury and Andrew Headley

An Island Calling documentary feature by staff member Annie Goldson (photo by Briar March) Best Documentary Qantas Screen Awards 2008 HOW TO APPLY?

6 An Island Calling documentary feature by staff member Annie Goldson (photo by Briar March) Best Documentary Qantas Screen Awards 2008 HOW TO APPLY? Entry to the Postgraduate Screen Production Program is competitive with selection made on the basis of a portfolio that includes your academic transcript, and a sample of creative work relevant to the area you intend to focus (i.e writing, directing or producing). We are still accepting applications for the BA(Hons)/PGDIp year starting March Due to some confusion over dates this year we will review all applications received by Jan 15th 2011 The MA year is now closed for application until December 1 st For more information please contact: Department of Film, Television and Media Studies University of Auckland Private Bag Auckland 1020, Aotearoa New Zealand screen@auckland.ac.nz Phone: ext

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