19 local writers to workshop original TV concepts

SCRIPT TO SCREEN MEDIA RELEASE 02 July 2018

19 local writers to workshop original TV concepts with esteemed international writers and show runners

Applications to Script to Screen’s inaugural EPISODIC LAB AOTEAROA opened in June with 95 creative teams submitting 116 TV series’ concepts. Episodic Lab is the first initiative of its kind in New Zealand and aims to develop fresh and diverse voices in television writing. It is made possible thanks to support from NZ On Air, Lightbox, NZ Film Commission and Images & Sound.

Applicants needed to present a great TV idea, well written, and to demonstrate talent and tenacity with previous work created for television, web series, theatre or film. The selection panel of Australian-based writer/development producer Katherine Fry, writer/director/actor Oscar Kightley and writer/director Fiona Samuel were impressed by the calibre of the ideas and the talented teams behind them. They had a very difficult job choosing eight projects to be developed in the lab.

Fiona Samuel said on behalf of the selection panel, “We could easily have chosen twice the number of proposals from this crowded and talented field. There are so many entertaining and compelling stories waiting to be told and so many writers with the potential to take on episodic drama and bring something new to our screens.” The panel noted the high number of well-known actors who applied with original concepts, a number of whom will go on to participate.

The eight selected teams will develop their skills and their projects with guidance from experienced television writers from New Zealand, Australia, USA and Denmark during the five-day immersive lab. Script to Screen’s Executive Director Esther Cahill-Chiaroni said, “The number of applications received demonstrates a real hunger for development opportunities in writing for the small screen and we can see from the calibre of the writing submitted there is no shortage of talent. We are delighted to open this new programme, which will ultimately help lead to a greater range of stories for our audiences.”

Writers and teams who will participating in the inagural Episodic Lab in Auckland July 23-27 are:
• Abigail Greenwood and Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu with APRIL/JUNE
• Chelsie Preston Crayford, Michelle Savill and Sophie Henderson with WALL
• Cian Elyse White, Mike Jonathan, Piripi Curtis, Richard Curtis, Tihini Grant and Tim Worrall with ARMED OFFENDERS
• Dan Musgrove and Shoshana McCallum with ALL OF ME
• Dianne Taylor and Robyn Malcolm with PLANKTON
• Emily Anderton & Rochelle Bright with BELLONA
• Roseanne Liang, Kerry Warkia & Kiel McNaughton with STUNTIES
• Suli Moa with BIG WEDNESDAY.

Participants biographies can be found at script-to-screen.co.nz.

Script to Screen is a charitable trust with a strong track record providing high quality talent development for screenwriters, directors and producers. Thank you for the generous support from NZ On Air, Lightbox, the New Zealand Film Commission and Images and Sound.

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