Major screen showcase launched: www.nzonscreen.com

23 October 2008

Media release

Major screen showcase launched today: www.nzonscreen.com

From today, all New Zealanders will have free access to a unique online collection of New Zealand television and film content.

NZ On Screen, conceived and funded by NZ On Air, is a continually evolving showcase of New Zealand television and film.

It provides video clips from programmes and movies – and in many cases the whole programme – as well as commentary about the programmes, their makers, and their place in New Zealand’s screen culture history.

The site was launched today by Broadcasting Minister Trevor Mallard. At launch, the site has more than 250 titles and accompanying content, with more being added all the time.

NZ On Screen manager, Brenda Leeuwenberg, said the site was unique in that it featured content from a wide range of programme makers, channels and genres.

``This is not just content from one source or one channel. The unifying principle is New Zealand content, old and new, housed on one site for New Zealanders and the world to enjoy.

``Over nearly a century, New Zealanders have created vast amounts of wonderful screen moments. NZ On Screen is bringing them to the surface for everyone to see.

``From the earliest days of New Zealand film until this very minute, this screen culture has been created and updated, continuously defining and reflecting who we are as New Zealanders.

``For the first time ever, this rich screen culture will be available for all New Zealanders to see, for free, in one place, at www.nzonscreen.com.’’

ENDS

Attached: background on NZ On Screen

Promo on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dif_T966oM

Background

In 2007 NZ On Air initiated the NZ On Screen project as an integral part of its digital strategy.

Since 1989 NZ On Air has funded over 15,000 hours of local television production. Much of this content is no longer easily accessible to the NZ public. NZ On Screen aims to change that. NZ On Screen is fully funded by NZ On Air.

NZ On Screen is grateful to all of the producers, directors, actors, writers, musicians, crew, broadcasters, archives, rights agencies, guilds and libraries for their help in creating this absolutely unique site.

NZ On Screen is a continually growing fund of old and new screen material – for example:

• you can watch the first episode of Gloss, an unforgettable drama series that showcased the most outstanding 1980s fashion and excesses, from shoulder pads to champagne swilling, and read stories about the people that made Gloss so special, including where they are now, twenty years on

• you can watch Kim Hill’s infamous interview with journalist John Pilger, in which he calls her questions ``uninformed’’ and ``a disgrace’’ – and then link to the Radio New Zealand website in which a commentator calls John Pilger a ``pillock’’

• see Flare, a documentary featuring some stunning 70s ski moves and fashion, directed by Sam Neill – who directed several documentaries for the National Film Unit in the 1970s before he became famous as an actor

• check out the US trailer for Once Were Warriors, and just as interesting, you can see never-before-seen behind the scenes clips from the filming. And if you want to know more about the director, or actors in that film, you can find it out by looking at E Tipu E Rea, a 1980s documentary series that was a breeding ground for so many who are now the stalwarts of New Zealand film and television, such as Temuera Morrison, Lee Tamahori, Rawiri Paratene and Rena Owen

• remind yourself that before the fabulous Flight of the Conchords, Jemaine Clement could be seen in the 1990s Gibson Group comedy series Skitz, alongside future bro’Town members Robbie Magasiva, Oscar Kightly, and others

• get busy after school, taking in the retro appeal of After School, Spot On, Nice One Stu, or for more retro fun, search out a bit of Telethon, Hudson and Halls, or Billy T James

• watch full length documentaries, national treasures that tell our story, such as Florian Habicht’s award-winning Kaikohe Demolition, Tainui Stephens’ Maori Battalion March to Victory, Niki Caro’s Footage, Merata Mita’s Patu! and many more.

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