ShowNews

Siggraph Asia, XR submissions closing
2024-05-16 08:00 - 17:00 (Pacific/Auckland)
Siggraph Asia has an open call for XR experiences.

Extended Reality (XR) is an umbrella term for augmented (AR), mixed (MR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences. Based on the reality-virtuality continuum first proposed by Milgram, it covers the spectrum of immersion from completely physical to completely virtual.

We welcome submissions that push the boundaries of XR technology in research, development and content creation to offer novel experiences to attendees for the SIGGRAPH Asia 2024 XR Program. This includes state-of-the-art XR for interactive technologies, immersive installation and experiences, storytelling, creative expression, novel displays, collaborative tools, assistive technologies, and any societally and scientifically impactful solutions

There will be 2 categories of submission for SIGGRAPH ASIA 2024 XR Program this year.

Category 1: Like past years, we welcome XR Demo submissions that are state-of-the-art, highly novel, and presents attendees with demonstrations that they have never experienced before. The main requirements are:

Must present a novel experience, either in the form of an application or artefact
Properly defined space and equipment required
At least one presenter present at all times
It can be any form of XR and its interaction with other sensory modalities (touch, sound, smell and taste)

Category 2: We welcome XR Theater submissions, which are immersive cinematic storytelling and narrative experiences that can be viewed in a VR display theater-like setting. This submission focuses on the quality of the content (story, visual representation, etc) rather than the novelty in the research. The main requirements are:

It is either a seated or standing experience. Physical walking or wide spatial interaction is not possible due to limited space.
It works in a small space with a consumer headset without any custom device.
It can be demonstrated without the presence of a presenter.
It is primarily VR using standard VR hardware (e.g. Meta Quest). AR/MR submissions are inadvisable unless they obey the aforementioned requirement.

Submissions close 20 June
SIGGRAPH Asia runs in Tokyo 3-6 December

Creative Actualisation
2024-05-15 18:00 - 20:00
Join us for a joint event between Proud Voices On Screen and PASC.
Minority creatives can feel a burden in needing to represent their community on screen. On the other hand, it is freeing to be able to create work you and your community want to see. Creating characters and stories that project what you want to experience in the world can bring things into existence – creation as actualisation.
Nathan Joe will moderate a discussion with filmmakers Ramon Te Wake, Rachel Fawcett and Ankita Singh as they explore their approach to creating work that surpasses known tropes and potentially creates new ones.

Dabble, campaign closes
2024-05-15
This Boosted campaign will help to fund a short film aimed to showcase the tone and style of an anticipated tv series project: DABBLE.
DABBLE follows the creative lives of three queer twenty-somethings — Maud, MT, and Mick — as they navigate the come-ups and setbacks of being artists in Tamaki Makaurau.
It’s a struggle-dark comedy balancing an artist’s reality of day-to-day struggles of being broke, millennial queers with elements of magical realism…

Kōpere Ake webinar
2024-05-14 18:30 - 19:30
Applying for Kōpere Ake? Need help or advice?

Experienced TV creator and NZWG Vice President Rachel Lang can give you top tips about what to include in your series proposal (and what not to) and answer all your curly questions.

Rachel will cover tips and tricks in creating your best Kōpere Ake application, including:
– Title
– Logline
– How many hours / how many episodes / what genre
– If it’s adapted – where from?
– How your story begins / why it’s a great yarn
– Where your story might go
– A description of the characters
– The world of the show
– Tone and Style

Online Workshops
6.30pm -7.30pm, Tuesday 14 May and 10am – 11am, Sunday 19 May

RSVP through the link below for your preferred workshop: https://forms.gle/tzdtowA17MUbWZxD7

Nowhere to Be, campaign closes
2024-05-13
‘NOWHERE TO BE’ is an intimate portrait of humanity shot during the global coronavirus pandemic, pulling back the curtain on those who are usually behind the camera – showing that the need to create will always endure.
It’s April 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic ravages the world, humanity is brought to a standstill. All ages, races, and genders are suddenly united in experience. As people grapple with the consequences, 31 cinematographers across 21 countries turned to an integral part of human nature: storytelling. They did this in the only way they knew how with a camera in hand. Using their art to look inward. Examining reflections, hopes, dreams and regrets. Uncovering the human experience of a moment in time that will define a generation.
Filmmaker Charlotte Evans is an award-winning documentary, music video, and commercial director. Since starting her career as an editor in London, Charlotte has directed, produced and edited music videos for artists such as Benee, Kimbra and Aldous Harding. She is currently in post-production on her first feature documentary Being Chlöe, developed from her short OK Chlöe.

Homecoming, campaign closes
2024-05-13
Fundraising for a short film that tells the story of a transgender woman, Charlotte, returning home to come out to her parents . But the dinner quickly goes south, as her parents struggle to come to terms with her transition, and Charlotte’s anxieties begin to manifest themselves in dark, sinister ways.
The film is a psychological drama, written and directed by emerging transgender filmmaker Grae Meek, and is an authentic portrayal of the anxieties of coming out to those you love – and perhaps fear – the most.

Screen Acting Workshop 2024, Auckland
2024-05-11 - 2024-05-12
This weekend intensive trains actors to create believable characters and emotionally connected relationships on screen.
Working in pairs with scripts, actors learn the Art of Relating, which maximises creative choices and trains actor to bring their emotional instincts to the screen.

PISA Writers Room, Christchurch
2024-05-11
Our second Writer’s Room for 2024 will be in Ōtautahi (Christchurch) and online, and will be led by award winning writer Victor Rodger ONZM (Sons, My Name is Gary Cooper). The topic of focus for this Writer’s Room will be: Synopsis and Treatments.

Victor Rodger (Iva) is a multiple award winning Otautahi-born writer of Sāmoan and Scottish descent who works in television, theatre and film. His screen credits include Shortland Street, Teine Sa: The Ancient Ones and This is Piki. He currently has two television projects in development, including one that is set in his hometown. In 2021 he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to theatre and the Pacific arts.

Queer Producers Incubator
2024-05-10 - 2024-05-11
The Queer Producers Incubator is a two-day intensive workshop taking place on Fri 10th and Sat 11th May in Tāmaki Makaurau. The workshop will support and upskill 5 emerging queer identifying producers who have at least one project in development.
Sessions from guest speakers will be tailored to the group and include the following topics:
– Supporting a team through story development
– Upskilling in pitching, funding and financing
– Creating safe spaces in development, production, and marketing.
After the workshop, the 5 participants will receive mentoring in the form of 2 x 1 hour Zoom sessions with a producer mentor, to be completed by the end of June 2024.
The aim is to upskill queer producers, offering tailored support and a network of peers as they progress further in their careers.

Scene Group, Wellington, application deadline
2024-05-10
A month long season of weekly scene groups is coming to you!
Collaboratively run, democratic, no leader, participatory – just practice and encouragement. You will prepare and perform a scene for your peers and support each other to have fun and take risks. Positive, encouraging feedback only. A chance to improve your acting “fitness” or try out characters you think you’d never get cast for.
4 Tuesday evenings in a row, 21 May – 11 June. Ideally you can commit to all of them.

Scene Group, Christchurch, application deadline
2024-05-10
A month long season of weekly scene groups is coming to you!
Collaboratively run, democratic, no leader, participatory – just practice and encouragement. You will prepare and perform a scene for your peers and support each other to have fun and take risks. Positive, encouraging feedback only. A chance to improve your acting “fitness” or try out characters you think you’d never get cast for.
4 Sunday evenings in a row, 26 May – 16 June. Ideally you can commit to all of them.

My Grubby Halo, campaign closes
2024-05-10
The Pink Floyd Experience are a Kiwi band who have been wowing crowds for 28 years. They are hard-working men and women with day jobs.
They have toured widely in New Zealand and Australia and have a following on social media approaching 45,000 true believers internationally. Their gigs are sold-old, visually and audio-wise brilliant – reproducing image-for-image and note- for-note the true sound of the original Pink Floyd. The band have covered every Pink Floyd album, including “The Wall” and last year’s spectacular 50th Anniversary “Dark Side of the Moon” tour.
This year they will reproduce one of Pink Floyd’s most iconic concert experiences – the awesome “Pulse” show, first staged at Earls Court in London thirty years ago. There’ll be “Pulse” and much more, at venues throughout Aotearoa.
Two very experienced film-makers and journalists, Rob Harley and Alan Seay, want to work with the Pink Floyd Experience to make a highly memorable 60-75 minute, high quality documentary on the 2024 tour.

How We Got There: Kiel McNaughton and Kerry Warkia
2024-05-09 18:00 - 20:00
Join us in the second instalment of How We Got There: From Idea to Impact, where attendees come face to face with two vanguard storytellers whose cultural identities fuel their mahi.
This event brings you face-to-face with Kiel McNaughton and Kerry Warkia, a storytelling duo whose cultural identities fuel their creative work. Starting as actors, they’ve built Brown Sugar Apple Grunt Productions into a force in the New Zealand screen industry. Their passion for diversity and showcasing unique stories has led to a successful portfolio of web series, features, and television series.

Doc Edge Festival 2024 - Programme Launch
2024-05-09
By invitation, Christchurch

Moana Pasifika Producers Development Initiative - Q&A
2024-05-08 18:30 - 19:30
The Moana Pasifika Producers Development Initiative is an initiative funded by the New Zealand Film Commission that aims to provide emerging Moana Pasifika screen producers with the skills, knowledge, and networks to develop and produce compelling content for New Zealand’s screen industry. Our vision is to implement impactful change to New Zealand’s screen sector by increasing and developing the number of competent Pacific Islands creative practitioners. Through a series of consecutive fono, coupled with a 4-month mentorship, participants will cover the producer-specific knowledge to upskill and springboard their careers, enabling them to better understand, safely navigate and feel confident to contribute to New Zealand’s screen sector.
Interested in applying to our Moana Pasifika Producers Development Initiative? Unsure about something? Still have more questions? Join our online Q&A about the programme, the application process and requirements.
Save your spot by registering today!

Paint It Black, campaign closes
2024-05-08
Fundraising campaign for David Harrison’s short drama.
After an actress’s career is ruined for rejecting another actor’s sexual advances, her family devises an elaborate plot to enact revenge by dismantling his reputation.
Who are we?
Dead Slate Studios is a production company made up of film school graduates. Our members specialize in Producing, Directing, Acting, Camera, Lighting, Audio, Post Production, and Art Design.
We are a group of collaborators who thrive off each other’s creativity. Paint it Black was originally a film school final project, but now that we have graduated, we are embarking on reshooting the film to elevate its overall quality for submission to Film Festivals.

Low-Budget Feature Filmmaking, Auckland
2024-05-04 13:00 - 16:00
Michael Duignan (The Paragon), Tom Levesque (Shut Eye), and Tom Sainsbury (Loop Track) will join Mia Maramara to discuss the end-to-end production processes of their respective feature films and how they kept to their shoestring budgets of under $500K without scarifying craft and quality.

Pitchfest 2024
2024-05-03 - 2024-05-04
Pitchfest is hosted by Wellington’s Floating Rock Studio.
In 2022, they received an investment by Hillfarrance and are using that money to invest in YOU, the creator, of your upcoming animated film or TV series.
We’re here to support you and your vision with $100,000 to build a pitch, then present to buyers!

Indian Short Film Night, Christchurch
2024-05-02 19:00 - 20:30
India has the largest screen industry in the world, by output, producing double the number of films made in Hollywood each year. Nourished of course by a flourishing short film scene. In this collection Show Me Shorts has collaborated with the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala to curate six shorts from top Indian filmmakers.
The stories span different regions, languages and flavours, but are united in their exploration of the connections between friends, family and the natural world around us – all with English subtitles
Rating: TBC

7pm, Thursday 2 May, Alice Cinemas

BOOK TICKETS – CHRISTCHURCH

Two Productions Talk Sustainability
2024-05-02 10:00 - 11:30
We’d like to invite you to join the sustainability teams from two significant Auckland-based film productions for a discussion about sustainable practices on different screen productions, including waste and emissions reduction measures the productions undertook, and our experience calculating emissions footprints.
This is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions and learn from the people on the ground. Please share this invitation around and show support. We hope to see many of you there.
Last November the new points test for the 5% rebate uplift came into effect. In its shortest form, all productions wishing to access the Uplift are now required to:

Have a sustainability officer.
Produce a sustainability action plan ahead of production.
Produce a report on sustainability and their carbon emissions.

You can read more about these requirements here: Accessing the 5% Uplift

Screen Producers Australia - Screen Business Essentials: Online
2024-05-02 09:00 - 2024-05-03 17:00 | online
This two-day online intensive, presented in conjunction with the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS), covers the essentials of setting up and running a screen business. The workshop covers the commercial framework in which producers must operate, including issues commonly encountered when building a creative business from the ground up.
The Screen Business Essentials program is vital for start-ups and serves as a refresher for established businesses and producers. Michelle Hardy (Industry Programs Consultant, SPA) is the course convenor. The program will be taught by a range of industry experts across the business, accounting, and legal sectors.
Topics include:
Legal structures for businesses and for productions, tax incentives and compliance, financial management of a production including managing cash flow and business planning;
Up-to-date information on copyright and chain of title, distribution and licensing agreements, employment law, cast and crew agreements, fringes and insurance; and
New insights into rights negotiation, film and television industry sources of finance.
The workshop will also feature a fun, fast-paced and high energy, digital speed networking event in which participants are randomly matched for a 5-minute meet and greet, giving attendees the opportunity to network with their fellow screen professionals.
If you are already involved in production and looking to get serious in terms of your business growth and project development, this course will be an invaluable two days with access to a range of industry experts.

Indian Short Film Night, Wellington
2024-05-01 19:00 - 20:30
India has the largest screen industry in the world, by output, producing double the number of films made in Hollywood each year. Nourished of course by a flourishing short film scene. In this collection Show Me Shorts has collaborated with the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala to curate six shorts from top Indian filmmakers.
The stories span different regions, languages and flavours, but are united in their exploration of the connections between friends, family and the natural world around us – all with English subtitles
Rating: TBC

7pm Wednesday 1 May, Southern Cross Garden Bar and Restaurant

BOOK TICKETS – WELLINGTON

What does AI mean for the entertainment industries?
2024-05-01 19:00 - 20:00
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the latest technological craze – enabling computers to create text, images, audio, and even video in mere seconds from just a short description of what the user wants.
However, like all disruptive technological developments, Generative AI has the potential to cause great harm, according to an expert in the field of game design. Associate Professor Adrian Clark is a lecturer in the University of Canterbury’s School of Product Design who describes himself as “equal parts fascinated and terrified by Generative AI”.
As the technology has improved, the results are becoming increasingly indistinguishable from real media or artistic works created by humans, allowing even the most artistically challenged person to bring their creative ideas to life.
“We’ve seen news stories of people using ChatGPT to cheat on school assignments and DeepFakes used to spread political disinformation and propaganda, but with Generative AI’s intrinsic creative focus the entertainment industries have perhaps the most to lose,” Dr Clark says. These concerns recently reached boiling point, culminating in 2023 with strikes by the Writers’ Guild of America and the Screen Actors’ Guild, both of which were calling for limits in the use of generative AI in their industries.
In his free UC Tauhere Connect public lecture, on Wednesday 1 May at the Ōtākaro 146 L1 Lecture Theatre, Dovedale campus, he will explore the subject: What does AI mean for the entertainment industries?
Associate Professor Adrian Clark is a lecturer in the University of Canterbury’s School of Product Design, where he teaches Game Design and Development. He is involved in teaching and research related to the Applied Immersive Game Design major in the Bachelor of Product Design degree, and Game Development in the Bachelor of Digital Screen (Honours) degree. With a PhD in Computer Science plus almost a decade of experience working as Head of R&D in a creative tech company he co-founded which worked extensively with film studios, Dr Clark has interests in both the technical and artistic sides of the creative industries.
UC Tauhere Connect public talk: What does AI mean for the entertainment industries? Presented by Associate Professor Adrian Clark, School of Product Design, Engineering, University of Canterbury, 7pm – 8pm, Wednesday 1 May 2024, the Ōtākaro 146 L1 Lecture Theatre, Dovedale campus, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.
Register to attend free at: www.canterbury.ac.nz/ucconnect.
It’s free to register to attend in person, to watch via Facebook livestream or view later on YouTube. Videos of UC Tauhere Connect public talks are available usually a week after the live event.

Misty Flicks Festival early submission deadline
2024-05-01
Misty Flicks is a not-for-profit independent film festival held annually in the Central region of Aotearoa, New Zealand. The festival offers a wide-ranging programme of local and indigenous cinema. It aims to introduce and unite audiences to different voices and cultures through the power of storytelling.
Misty Flicks creates a platform to nurture the careers of tomorrow’s storytellers by providing educational opportunities and workshops. It makes film accessible to its people and creates a sense of community and connectedness through the arts by connecting filmmakers and audiences in discussions and seminars based on the principles of manaakitanga.
Early festival submissions close 1 May. The festival runs 22-24 November.
https://filmfreeway.com/MistyFlicks

MariMari, campaign closing
2024-05-01
Paul Wolffram’s MariMari (fka Sanguma) is almost complete and prepping a festival premiere in July.
The team wants to fly subject Evelyn Kunda from Papua New Guinea to Aotearoa to attend the screening.
It is estimated that in Papua New Guinea, more than 200 people are killed as accused witches each year.
The documentary feature film addresses the shocking truth about sorcery accusation-related violence in Papua New Guinea to the world, and follows local human rights defender, Evelyn, as she rescues people who have fallen victim to sorcery accusation and gender-based violence. Evelyn does this work alone, while often in danger herself.

Ngā Aho Shorts, application deadline
2024-05-01
Ngā Aho Shorts in association with the NZ Film Commission, Te Māngai Pāho, NZ On Air, TMP and NZoA, is calling all production crews with a short film idea. Apply now for the 2024-2025 season of Ngā Aho Shorts funding and access one of four funding tiers designed to support a range of filmmakers.
Ngā Aho Shorts is a development pathway focused on empowering tangata whenua and te reo me ngā tikanga Māori within the film and screen industry.

Indian Short Film Night, Auckland
2024-04-30 19:00 - 20:30
India has the largest screen industry in the world, by output, producing double the number of films made in Hollywood each year. Nourished of course by a flourishing short film scene. In this collection Show Me Shorts has collaborated with the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala to curate six shorts from top Indian filmmakers.
The stories span different regions, languages and flavours, but are united in their exploration of the connections between friends, family and the natural world around us – all with English subtitles
Rating: TBC
Auckland
7pm Tuesday 30 April, The Kingslander

BOOK TICKETS – AUCKLAND

Youth in the Booth, campaign closes
2024-04-30
We’re making a cool comedy short film adaptation featuring podcast students and their tutor Miss Queeny, teaching young people about podcasting
Synopsis: The Youth from the local neighbourhood show up to a community arts programme to learn about podcasting, things get crazy when it goes on Spotify. Miss Queeny tries to keep things together, trying to bridge the gap between students & their parents
We want to show how strong young voices are. Your help is crucial through donations to support our project, bringing our authentic local stories to life
Please donate & help us share our story! let’s make “Youth in the Booth” come to life & celebrate the amazing youth in our community?

By the Skin of Her Teeth, campaign closes
2024-04-29
A 25-minute film centered around two female politicians, leading rival parties, as they await the results of the New Zealand election. To pass the time, they reflect on their competitiveness, sacrifices made, and backlash they faced leading up to the day. One is younger and more optimistic – often getting criticized for her lack of experience and grit, and the other is older and stauncher – often getting criticized for being past her use-by date, and too aggressive.
This film is a love letter to Kiwi women in politics, and explores the lengths they’re pushed to go, as they navigate their way through a male-dominated profession.

BPM public meeting
2024-04-28 16:00 - 17:00
BPM will present a public meeting on the issues currently impacting media in NZ.
Speakers so far confirmed are:
Irene Gardiner – President of SPADA
Paul Thompson – Chief Executive of RNZ
Peter Thompson – Associate Professor in Media and Communications at Victoria University of Wellington and Chair of BPM
Sunday 28 April at 4pm via Zoom. Link below. Please use password bpm24 if requested
