Cliff Curtis Advocates Collaboration between Australian & NZ Film Industries

Jonathon Moran, The Australian, May 17, 2004

Whale Rider and Once Were Warriors star Cliff Curtis has urged Australia and New Zealand's film industries to work more closely. Curtis, who played Oscar-nominated Keisha Castle-Hughes' father in Whale Rider, said the countries needed to join forces to avoid falling behind in the global film industry.

Image: Samantha Morton is coming to NZ to film Vincent Ward's River Queen

For more news on the New Zealand Film and TV industry please read on....Cliff Curtis Advocates Collaboration between Australian & NZ Film Industries

Jonathon Moran, The Australian, May 17, 2004

Whale Rider and Once Were Warriors star Cliff Curtis has urged Australia and New Zealand's film industries to work more closely. Curtis, who played Oscar-nominated Keisha Castle-Hughes' father in Whale Rider, said the countries needed to join forces to avoid falling behind in the global film industry.

Image: Samantha Morton is coming to NZ to film Vincent Ward's River Queen

For more news on the New Zealand Film and TV industry please read on...."If we play the cards right and we share our resources, and we build treaties and we build co-production deals that are favourable for investors, we can help regenerate where the Australian film industry has been lagging," he said.

The 35-year-old actor is in Cannes promoting his latest movie, Spooked, as part of the city's prestigious annual international film festival.

"We have just got to get over ourselves and I think Australia has got to take the lead because they have got a larger economy. They have got an established infrastructure and they have got to give NZ some well-earned respect, and if they are smart they will do it."

Curtis said NZ's film industry was at a crossroads and had to find a balance between big budget Hollywood movies and its domestic product.

NZ has a strong line-up of international films in the coming year including Peter Jackson's next flick, King Kong, and Shrek director Andrew Adamson's The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

They follow three years of international productions in the country including Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Tom Cruise's The Last Samurai.

"What it reflects is the potential of us growing as a service industry for Hollywood where we service their mega movies," Curtis said. "The balance is having a domestic industry to match, and with Whale Rider, it shows that we have the potential to do it."

Lord of the Rings had helped put NZ on the map again but the industry could not rely on overseas productions alone, he said. "New Zealand is sitting really well right now and it has a chance to get up and get running. We have a real opportunity here to get a second shot at it."

Curtis said he would ideally like to act in one US feature film a year, which would support his passion of producing domestic films back home.

"I have got three on the cards at the moment but I am a bit fussy," he said. The success of Whale Rider has helped Curtis to promote himself and he is also in talks for an Indian production.

"Whale Rider is a really nice project for people to reference me from," he said.

"I have got some serious credits there all the way back to The Piano and so Whale Rider is a really nice reference."

NZ INDUSTRY NEWS

TV3 accuses TVNZ of Wasting Taxpayer Dollars Courtesy OnFilm Update
TV3 has called on government and opposition politicians to look at why TVNZ is spending extra millions on foreign news and current affairs programming. Director of News and Current Affairs, Mark Jennings said that TVNZ had bid close to $1.3 million dollars in an attempt to wrestle ABC News and 20/20 away from 3 News.

"This is twice what we are paying for the product and it is not even a product they need," says Jennings. " They already have NBC, CNN and BBC providing them with coverage of American issues. This is either incompetence or a return to the anti-competitive behaviour that TVNZ indulged in during the 90's."

"It doesn't make sense to pay to line the pockets of foreign news organisations when your company (TVNZ) is going cap in hand to the government for extra money to spend on charter programming. Surely there has to be some responsibility when you're spending taxpayer dollars".

TV3 brought the 20/20 franchise to New Zealand in 1991 and developed it into a strong and award winning current affairs programme after it lost 60 minutes to TVNZ. TVNZ dropped the 60 minutes franchise two years ago and set up the "all local" current affairs programme, SUNDAY.

"It would appear they now want to go back to using material from American current affairs reporters which means either more axing of local reporters or Sunday is in line to become the most expensive programme on New Zealand television."

"I thought the TVNZ charter was supposed to make them spend more on programming that wouldn't otherwise get to air, rather than ratchet up costs in the competitive news environment.

Obviously our growth in ratings, particularly in the main urban centers, where 3 news is now number one (18-49) has sent TVNZ into a panic and they are throwing money at the problem.

My message to the politicians is, stop worrying about their credit card bills and look at where the big money is being wasted. Bring TVNZ's board into line and save the taxpayers millions."

ED'S NOTE: Further to the TV3 release, here's a piece from the NZ Herald that elaborates on the dustup a little..www.nzherald.co.nz

Roger Donaldson to Return to NZ with Antony Hopkins in tow

Courtesy OnFilm Update
According to a press release carried by Screen International and Hollywood Reporter, among others, "Anthony Hopkins has committed to star in THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN for [ex-pat Kiwi/Aussie] director Roger Donaldson. The fact-based film is one of the projects in development at Cameo FJ Entertainment, the new production partnership of Freddy Braidy and Francesco Juilland launched in Cannes.

INDIAN, written and to be directed by Donaldson, centres on the life of Burt Monro, a New Zealander who invested several decades building a 1920 Indian motorcycle. He then travelled to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, where he set the land-speed world record in the 1970s."

For those who came in late, Donaldson directed seminal NZ features SLEEPING DOGS and SMASH PALACE, before decamping to Hollywood in the early '80s, where he's had a regular stream of work since - a few of his earliest non-NZ movies were MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY* (with - oh look - Anthony Hopkins & Mel Gibson), NO WAY OUT (Kevin Costner), and COCKTAIL (Tom Cruise); recent films include THE RECRUIT (Al Pacino) and 13 DAYS ).

Miramax to Release Number 2 in Australia and New Zealand

Courtesy OnFilm Update
A faxed press release we received today announces that Miramax has acquired the aforementioned distribution rights. Will forward the full release on when someone emails me a copy (sorry, but life is too short) but in the meantime, here are the basics:

NUMBER 2 is written and will be directed by playwright Toa Fraser, based on his excellent play of the same name. Producers are Lydia Livingstone and Philippa Campbell (for Colonial Encounters), and Tim White of Working Title Films (which will release the film in the UK).

The logline is (or at least was year):
"Nanna Maria, the ailing Fijian matriarch orders her grandchildren home to Mt Roskill, to prepare a Sicilian-style feast, at which she will name her successor".

River Queen to star Samantha Morton, Kiefer Sutherland and Cliff Curtis
Academy-award nominee Samantha Morton, Keifer Sutherland, Cliff Curtis and Temuera Morrison will head the cast of director Vincent Ward's epic feature RIVER QUEEN.

RIVER QUEEN is from an original story by Vincent Ward who co-wrote the screenplay with fellow New Zealander Toa Fraser. It is an intimate story set amongst epic 19th century surroundings, following the journey of a young woman's conflict when caught between two cultures.

RIVER QUEEN marks the return of Ward to his home country after several years working in Los Angeles and Sydney. Since his debut feature VIGIL (1984), his films have consistently earned critical acclaim and festival attention. VIGIL, THE NAVIGATOR (1988) and MAP OF THE HUMAN HEART (1993) were officially selected for the Cannes Film Festival. These films alongside WHAT DREAMS MAY COME (1998) secured Ward's position as a unique directorial voice in contemporary cinema.

RIVER QUEEN is a collaboration between Silverscreen Films in New Zealand and the Film Consortium in London - produced by the two principals, Don Reynolds and Chris Auty, and executive produced by Jim Stern, Neil Peplow and Geoff Dixon.

Principal photography for RIVER QUEEN commences on 28 June 2004, around various locations in the North Island of New Zealand.

RIVER QUEEN is financed by the New Zealand Film Production Fund, the New Zealand Film Commission, The Film Consortium, The UK Film Council, Endgame and Invicta. International sales of RIVER QUEEN are being handled by The Works excluding Japan and the rest of Asia which are being sold by New Zealand Film.

DOUGRAY SCOTT AND SAFFRON BURROWS HEADLINE NEW ZEALAND'S PERFECT CREATURE
New Zealand is the setting for the futuristic new vampire film PERFECT CREATURE, starring Dougray Scott (MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2, ENIGMA, RIPLEY'S GAME), Saffron Burrows (TROY, ENIGMA, FRIDA), Stuart Wilson (THE MASK OF ZORRO) and Scott Wills (STICKMEN).

"Stylistically it's BLADE RUNNER meets SEVEN," says Standring. "In a slick twist of convention, vampires are no longer mankind's nemesis but its spiritual saviour. Their ability to protect human life from viral and DNA mutations has made them indispensable. However, this delicate balance looks set to be destroyed when one of their own turns into what we know best and fear most - a vampire who preys on humans."

Bafta award winning producer Tim Sanders joins forces with Roc Media's Russel Fischer and Haneet Vaswani (BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM) and Spice Factory's Michael Cowan and Jason Piette, who are some of Europe's most active film producers (THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, BRIDGE OVER SAN LUIS REY, PLOTS WITH A VIEW, HEAD IN THE CLOUDS).

"I was immediately drawn to Glenn's script as an outstanding example of this popular genre. With strong support from the New Zealand Film Commission, we spent the last two years developing the project in conjunction with Arclight and Spice Factory,” says producer Tim Sanders.

"We believed in this project from its inception over two years ago, which Glenn brought to us whilst we were developing another project together. I was immediately taken with the immense uniqueness of the story. We plan to continue to focus on event type movies like PERFECT CREATURE, which audiences want to see on a big screen."

"We were blown away by Glenn's vision and talent and think he could be the next Peter Jackson with PERFECT CREATURE. It's a classic in the genre. The opportunity to work with such a great creative team on a US $20million project is very appealing," says Michael Cowan.

With some of New Zealand's leading technical and creative talent on board, the special effects for the film are a closely guarded secret. The effects are in very safe hands with some of THE LORD OF THE RINGS masters working alongside acclaimed New Zealand SFX houses Animation Research and Oktobor.

This UK/New Zealand co-production is currently in official pre-production. Principal photography commences May 23 on location in the New Zealand cities of Dunedin and Auckland.

PERFECT CREATURE is funded by the New Zealand Film Production Fund, the New Zealand Film Commission, Movision, Roc Media and the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Arclight Films International has secured international sales rights alongside New Zealand Film, which is selling rights to Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. Arclight has already secured presales with Nikkatsu Japan and Scanbox Scandinavia.

Daybreak Pacific enters International Film Distribution Business

Daybreak Pacific has teamed up with established foreign sales entity, GLOBAL CINEMA GROUP to sell their own product and those of other international producers.

At Cannes this year, the Daybreak-Global’s slate includes nine feature films, two by UK producer, Merchant Ivory Productions Limited, and three films produced by Daybreak Pacific Limited, (TREASURE ISLAND KIDS TRILOGY)as well as four other films by international producers, including the next James Ivory film WHITE COUNTESS starring Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave.

President of Global Cinema, Peter Elson and Senior Vice President Mark Huljich have moved the Global Los Angeles office to the famed Sunset Strip in Hollywood. “Daybreak’s partnership with Global has given us the resources we needed to become very active in today’s exciting market place”, said Elson. “We look forward to selling more films by New Zealand producers as well as those from other countries”.

Joint CEO of Daybreak Pacific, Grant Bradley, explains that usually the first step to financing a film is to obtain representation by a sales company.

“Up until now there has only been one local opportunity in New Zealand for film makers. The New Zealand Film Commission has been the only opportunity to obtain local finance and distribution,” said Bradley, “But, of course, the types of films they support are limited by their government mandate.”

He says the Daybreak/Global partnership means that New Zealand producers who wish to produce commercial films with an international theme now have a second alternative.

Global is reporting strong sales from Cannes and in particular have received excellent buyer support for the TREASURE ISLAND KIDS trilogy, produced in New Zealand by Daybreak Pacific this year.

For further information please contact: Diana Goulding + 649 480 4858 + 64 (0) 21 33 11 03

Kiwi TV Programme Stats Welcomed
New figures, from NZ On Air's Local Content Survey, show that a third of programmes screened on the major free-to-air networks last year were New Zealand-made. Between 6am and midnight TV One screened 54.6% local content, TV2 24.3% and TV3 20.4%

Blue Sky Opportunities at this Year's SPAA Conference
The 2004 SPAA Conference will be held amongst the tropical surrounds of the Sheraton Mirage on Queensland's Gold Coast from 8 - 10 August. . more [http://www.spaa.org.au/conference ]

CLOSING DATES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AT SPAA
Pitching Competition, Talent Assist Scheme, Emerging Producers Scheme deadlines are......

... more [ http://www.spaa.org.au/newconf/index.cfm?CategoryID=87 ]

Indie Film Club
IndieClub is a world-wide network of people and resources for independent film-makers. The Auckland IndieClub meets monthly at Galbraith's Alehouse, 2 Mt Eden Road.

Contact Mike Hallett at mike.hallett@xtra.co.nz for further details. Visit www.indieclub.com to join (FREE) and qualify for discounts on film-making supplies from major online stores.

DR LARS HENRIK GASS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE MOVING IMAGE CENTRE AND THE GOETHE INSTITUTE PRESENTS

INTERNATIONALE KURZFILMTAGE OBERHAUSEN (OBERHAUSEN SHORT FILMS)

From the Archive of the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen

Saturday 29th May 6.30pm, as part of The Easy Listening Series Auckland Art Gallery Auditorium (cnr Kitchener Wellesley St)

Eastern European Film Programme
This program includes several of the most important films from the Socialist countries of Eastern Europe.

Monday 31st May 6.30pm,  Rialto Cinema, Newmarket, Auckland

Bookings can be made at the Rialto – normal ticket prices apply

Historical Overview- International Film: Tuesday 1st June 6.30pm, Rialto Cinema, Newmarket, Auckland Bookings can be made at the Rialto – normal ticket prices apply.

Notices

Auckland Office Space Sought
WIFT Auckland is currently seeking a new office space. Ideally enough for 1-2 persons, with access to a meeting area, and at a minimal price. If you know of any space that may be available please contact the office on 09 378 7271 or email wiftauckland@titan.co.nz

Frontseat Seeking Stories
The new weekly arts show (Sunday nights on TV One), is looking for people and events to profile. Do you have ideas or subjects that would make a great profile for the show? ‘Arts’ is widely defined. Email Frontseat’s researcher Mary Parker mary@frontseat.co.nz

48HOURS STARTS IN JUNE

48HOURS is is NZ's premiere short film competition in which filmmaking teams have just one weekend to write, shoot, edit and survive the completion of an entire short film! Prizes include international travel, cash, GX30 mobile phones, Apple eMacs, writing workshops, directing workshops, Apple editing software, a dvd of the best of AK & WGTN, TV Specials, set visits and much, much more.

Premiere Sponsors: V Energy Drink, Vodafone, Apple, Voyage Affairs Secondary Sponsors: Writers Guild of NZ, Screen Directors Guild of NZ, The NZ Film Commission, Fulbright New Zealand, Montana Wines, The British Council New Zealand.

NZ On Air – May Newsletter Online

The May newsletter is now on our website www.nzonair.govt.nz It contains television and music funding decisions from the April round, advice that our Television Local Content Report 2003 has been published and distributed. This is also on our website under Policy & Research and is available in hard copy, on request. The newsletter advises that Kathryn Quirk has joined the staff as our Auckland-based Client Relations Manager. In addition, it advises that Sally Courche has returned from maternity leave (in a part-time capacity), and that Board Member, Professor Albert Wendt, will be departing after the June board meeting, to take up an appointment overseas.

To download a PDF copy of our May newsletter click on this link www.nzonair.govt.nz

Screenhub Launches Online Industry Directory
Listings are free to the Screen Hub Index, the new on-line film and television directory, which is in three parts:

A Production Report, listing all productions currently in planning, pre-production, production and post-production in Australia and New Zealand.

A Production Directory, listing all Australian and New Zealand film and television industry personnel, companies, organisations and resources.

A Casting Directory, listing all professional actors in Australia's film and television industries.

The Index is open to all film and television professionals with 30 minutes paid screen credits, or post-graduate degree-level qualification in film and television production or dramatic art (post graduate diplomas accepted), or are full members of their industry association. Agents have the opportunity to create multiple entries for their clients.

To list in the Index simply go to www.screenhub.com.au and follow the prompts.

Christmas' National Release
'Christmas' has just commenced its national release at the Academy Cinema in Dunedin.

'Christmas' won Best Digital Feature at the NZ Film Awards 2003, and scooped all the other major awards in the category including Best Script, Best Performance and Best Technical Contribution (Art Direction). And its producer, Leanne Saunders, received an Emerging Producer Award at the inaugural NZ Women In Film & Television Awards held at the WIFT International summit hosted in Auckland recently. Described as a 'blacker than black comedy' the film charts a kiwi family holed up in a suburban bungalow over the festive season, each member caught in their own private hell.

Screen Test - New Works by Elam Intermedia Students

SCREEN TEST investigates the screen as a historically passive receptor to the dominant projected image upon it, and challenge us to conceive new relationships both with what we view, and the way we view them. The mixed media projects of SCREEN TEST provide the viewer with a variety of meditations on what the screen can be as well as opening up the traditional relationship between screen and image.

Artists featuring works are: Gregory Bennett; Tyler Fox; Adam Willetts; Sue-Li Tasker Yeo; Gwen Norcliffe; Pomi Sung; Alice T. Bi; Anna Gates; Daniel Koene; Han Nin; Kathryn Zurita; Holly Shin; Rebecca Wright; Dianna Brinsden; Helga Fassonaki; Amelia Harris; Terese Storey; Rose Jakowitsch; and Kylie Duncan.

EXHIBITION:

May 13 - June 26, 2004
11am - 5pm Monday - Friday
11am - 4pm Saturday

FREE ADMISSION
FILM ARCHIVE EXHIBITION SPACE:
1st floor, 300 Karangahape Road, Auckland

NEW AWARDS TO NON-FICTION WRITERS
Two $35,000 awards are to be made available to writers of non-fiction in 2004. Copyright Licensing Ltd (CLL) will provide two $35,000 grants to writers of non-fiction books this year. This is the first time two grants have been made available. The grants come from copyright revenue collected by CLL on behalf of authors and publishers. Applications are now being sought from writers who must submit a project planned or underway to a selection committee set up by CLL. Applicants must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents and writers of proven merit. Applications close on 15 August 2004. The two winners of this year’s awards will be announced at a special ceremony on Wednesday 20 October. Full application details for the CLL Writers’ Awards are available on the website www.copyright.co.nz or by telephoning 09 480 2711.

ADVERTISING IN ONFILM'S JUNE ISSUE
In the June issue of Onfilm magazine we're doing our annual features on

• sound recording and
• stunts and physical effects (including health & safety, and security)

Don't miss your chance to advertise your services. Contact Kelly Lucas regarding advertising 09 630 1624 ext 375 or kelly@onfilm.co.nz

June issue: Booking deadline: Friday 21st May 2004 Material deadline: Friday 28th May 2004

_____________________________________________

We would like to include more information in DIRECTORS ONLINE about what our members are doing. Send your information to Shonagh Lindsay atoffice@sdgnz.co.nz or phone on 09 360 2102. DIRECTORS ONLINE is usually published fortnightly on a Monday or Friday and all information for the upcoming issue must be received 5pm the previous Tuesday. All information contained in DIRECTORS ONLINE is accepted in good faith and while SDGNZ attempts to ensure the credibility of parties it cannot accept responsibility for misrepresentation. DIRECTORS ONLINE is published with financial assistance from The New Zealand Film Commission.

_____________________________________________
Shonagh Lindsay
Communications Director
Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand
PH 64 9 360 2102 or 025 273 0939
Fax 64 9 360 2107
5 Blake St, Ponsonby
PO Box 47294 Ponsonby, Auckland
email: office@sdgnz.co.nz