Spada And Producers Guild Of America Form Alliance

Press Release

Wednesday 14 May 2008

Spada And Producers Guild Of America Form Alliance

The Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand (SPADA) and the Producers Guild of America (PGA) have formed an alliance, it was announced today by SPADA Chief Executive, Penelope Borland.

A Memorandum of Understanding was presented at the annual SPADA conference, signed by Stuart Levy, Chair of the PGA's International Committee and SPADA's President, Richard Fletcher. The signing of the MOU marked the culmination of months of discussion initiated by the PGA's New Zealand representative, Bruce Kerner. Mayor of Wellington Kerry Prendergast served as a witness. Penelope Borland, SPADA's CEO, was also present at the signing.

"Over the past two years the PGA has started to reach out internationally to our colleagues and New Zealand is clearly one of the most inspiring territories when it comes to film making. It's quite impressive - Peter Jackson, of course, is infamous for what he's done - but I think that the film making industry and television and new media, it really feels like for a small population in a small country the extent of creativity and production is significant and so I think that there will be a lot of exciting opportunities for our members and members of SPADA to team up on projects and share information and really get to know each other." said Stuart Levy.

Richard Fletcher also noted the potential future benefits for the domestic screen production industry, and more specifically SPADA members, "This MOU creates an alliance with a like-minded body in the most important territory, being the US, and gives access to the knowledge of the PGA and also hopefully will lead to long term individual alliances between members of both associations."

"On a practical level, it provides our members access to the services of PGA offices in Los Angeles and New York; as well as the long-term reciprocal benefits of introducing new business contacts, networking, screenings and other activities being held in both countries."

The signing of the MOU marked the culmination of months of discussion and work initiated by the PGA's New Zealand Representative, Bruce Kerner. Penelope Borland, SPADA's CEO, "We're really looking forward to working with Bruce and the rest of the PGA's Board of Directors to create a relationship that will allow a sharing of information and an exchange of ideas in the area of film, television and new media production".

ENDS

SPADA represents New Zealand's film and television producers and senior industry professionals. It has over 350 members and works to represent and strengthen the New Zealand independent screen industry on both a local and international level.

www.spada.co.nz

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