We’re delighted to offer you this workshop on Production Design. Building the world of a story can make or break your film or tv show. How does the production designer create a space that serves the story? How do they work with the director of a film or creator of a tv show to realise their creative vision? How do they determine what projects to take? What is their own favourite creative work to date and why?

Join Emily Mafile’o, Jane Bucknell and Tracey Collins in conversation with Kiel McNaughton as they discuss their work and their creative process.

About the panel:

Emily Mafile’o
Emily Mafile’o is a multi-talented production designer, art director, set designer and photographer. Her Production Design credits include the feature film Red, White & Brass (2021) and the shorts The Return (2022), Lea Tupu’anga/Mother Tongue and TV series SIS, Brutal Lives 2 (2022). Her Art Director credits include TV series The Panthers, Baby Mamas Club, feature documentary For My Father’s Kingdom and the short My Friend Michael Jones. Emily is on a mission to empower Māori and Pasifika communities through creativity, cultural revitalisation, and community connections via Taro Patch Collective.

Jane Bucknell
Jane is an accomplished filmmaker with a vibrant career spanning two decades. She has numerous credits in costume design, production design and art direction. She was nominated for Best Production Design at the 2022 NZ TV Awards for TV Series The Panthers and is currently production designing a new half-hour dramedy series Madam produced by Tavake and XYZ Films for Warner Bros. She is an active member of the worldwide Production Designers Collective.

Tracey Collins
Tracey (Trix) is an established Production Designer living and working in Auckland. She has been awarded with NZ Screen Awards for feature film White Lies (2013), TV series This Is Not My Life (2011), and Piece of my Heart (2009). She has designed films and TV in many genres including drama – Murder Is Forever Forever (2018), The Other Side of Heaven: Fire of Faith (2019), Dirty Laundry (2016) and Bliss (2011). Recently Tracey has been designing for the Power Rangers universe. She also works as a Theatre and Entertainment Designer and is an artist.

Moderator: Kiel McNaughton
Kiel McNaughton is a director and producer of television comedy and drama, and with Kerry Warkia, one half of production company Brown Sugar Apple Grunt. After four years as a core cast member of Shortland St, he left to direct and executive produce the award-winning comedy series Auckland Daze. He has since directed full seasons of Find Me A Māori Bride, This Is Piki and Princess of Chaos, and episodes of My Life is Murder, Vegas and Good Grief and the 2020 feature film The Legend of Baron Toa.

RSVP essential to office@wiftnz.org.nz

WIFT NZ members FREE; Non-members $20, Students $10, cash at the door; includes wine and nibbles.