Unitec appoints new HOD of Performing and Screen Arts

Unitec appoints new HOD of Performing and Screen Arts

We are delighted to announce that Alex Lee has been appointed as the new Head of Department of Performing and Screen Arts at Auckland's Unitec Institute of Technology.

Alex Lee, a practising media lawyer and film-maker, has worked in Asia Television Limited (Hong Kong) as a writer and presenter, holds two Masters of Laws (Auckland and Brussels) with honours and a Masters of Creative & Performing Arts, Film & TV Drama Directing (Auckland) (First Class Hons). He has lectured Production Management at the University of Auckland as well as law in Hong Kong and Auckland.

Alex is passionate about storytelling and is a producer/director of short and feature films in drama and documentary. His films have shown in international festivals and released in cinemas. He has a number of film, television and new media projects in development and post-production. He is currently co-producing the NZ Film Commission supported documentary "Hip Hop-eration" (working title). Alex also directs stage and theatre.

He sits on the executive boards of various industry film and performing arts guilds. Currently, he is Deputy Chairman of Film Auckland and is a member of the AucklandScreen and Digital Content Sector leadership group, and director of Creative Coalition, Asia NZ Film Foundation and Oryza Foundation for Asian Performing Arts. He also served on the Auckland Mayoral Creative Industries Think-tank.

Along with Dan Shanan, Alex founded the Documentary NZ Trust which runs the Documentary Edge Festival (Australasia's premiere international competitive documentary festival), Screen Edge Forum and DOC Lab.

He champions transmedia and collaborative filmmaking and has helped develop many of New Zealand's documentary and transmedia development strategies. He is passionate about the screen and performing arts. "I am looking forward to working with UNITEC and its dedicated staff to produce outstanding industry-ready graduates with sustainable life skills," says Lee.

Alex replaces Athina Tsoulis, who due to internal promotion to Deputy Executive Dean, vacated the Head of Department position in July after a four and a half year term. "It has been a pleasure leading the Performing and Screen Arts Department at Unitec and I am delighted to hand over the role to Alex and look forward to working with him in my new capacity," she says.

Alex takes up his appointment at Unitec on the 1st November, 2013.

ENDS

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