NZ Producers Selected For Top-Level Programme

28 February 2006

NZ Producers Selected For Top-Level International Training Programme

Four leading New Zealand television producers and entrepreneurs have been selected for Enterprise Tasman, a top-level film and television business training programme being held 24-28 March 2006 in Melbourne.

Enterprise Tasman will be conducted by leading UK-based screen business educator Jonathan Olsberg, with instructors and tutors from Europe, UK and the USA. Designed to provide advanced business skills for company and industry growth, Enterprise Tasman is sponsored by the New Zealand Screen Council in partnership with the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and a number of other Australian film organisations.

¡§Big players aside, the New Zealand screen production sector comprises of small to medium-sized operators poised for the transition to stronger businesses. A training programme such as Enterprise Tasman provides participants the opportunity to network with overseas peers, as well as learn key skills essential to growing a business¡¨ says Tim Thorpe, Executive Director of the New Zealand Screen Council.

The successful New Zealand applicants are:

„h Jane Andrews, co-owner of production company Jam TV. Jam TV has recently produced the top-rating and award-winning series Intrepid Journeys and Off the Rails.
„h James Heyward, proprietor of the Queenstown and Auckland-based company, Making Movies. Making Movies produces documentaries and adventure programmes for the international market, with clients including Discovery Channel and National Geographic. Heyward has also developed a specialist media management IT application ¡V LogIt ¡V which has been licensed to TV production companies and government departments.
„h Mark Albiston, co-owner of production company Sticky TV. Sticky TV produces the successful arts programme The Living Room, together with documentaries, short films and music videos.
„h David Rose, Managing Director, Satellite Media. Satellite Media has produced an extensive range of television programmes (mainly in the music genre). The company is also active in publishing as owners of magazines Rip It Up and Back2Basics, and in new media, where its affiliate Satellite Interactive is now responsible for all of Coke New Zealand¡¦s online and digital work.

The four New Zealanders will join twelve leading Australian production company executives on the training programme.

The New Zealand Screen Council, tasked with facilitating economic growth in the high-profile screen sector, has developed a range of business training programmes for implementation this year. Tim Thorpe says ¡§We see this as an important element of our strategy to promote sustainable growth in the New Zealand screen sector. Enterprise Tasman is the major international opportunity in our training programme, but we will also offer shorter courses in New Zealand as part of the work to strengthen business growth.¡¨

ENDS

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