DEGNZ Receives NZ on Air Support

DEGNZ Receives NZ on Air Support for Drama Director Attachments

The Directors and Editors Guild of NZ (DEGNZ) has received NZ On Air Industry Development Fund support for its DEGNZ Drama Director Attachment Initiative, which will see up to three paid director attachments to New Zealand drama productions in 2015/2016.

The initiative is designed to develop and up-skill new television drama directors, contribute to the ongoing production of quality future drama, and provide another training pathway to those currently available by placing emerging directors as attachments on local drama one-offs or series.

“We are focused on maximizing the work opportunities for established and emerging DEGNZ member directors in drama,” said DEGNZ Executive Director Tui Ruwhiu.

“We are extremely pleased that NZ On Air has come behind this training initiative at a time when the environment is buoyant for both local drama and international drama shooting here.”

“This domestic scheme enhances the already successful director attachment programmes DEGNZ has run on international productions Spartacus and Ash vs. Evil Dead thanks to producer Rob Tapert and the New Zealand Film Commission,” he added.

The cost for the attachments will be split between NZ On Air (60%) and the production company (40%), with DEGNZ administering the scheme and monitoring the directors through the attachments.

Working together with local production companies, DEGNZ will identify upcoming drama productions that could take director attachments. Calls for applications will be made with DEGNZ and NZ On Air feeding into the final selection, with the successful candidate ultimately being chosen by the production company.

While the attachment is primarily a director shadowing opportunity through preproduction, production and post-production across a maximum 12-week period, the attachment will get to direct on the production if he or she proves herself.

DEGNZ has already had initial discussions with some local production companies regarding the initiative and expects to make a call for the first attachment opportunity in the near future.

The criteria and calls for applications will be made available on the DEGNZ website when attachment opportunities become available.

ENDS

© Scoop Media