So, you want to be a producer?

Creative producers make it happen – they bring stories to life; they are first on and last off and everything in between – good producers engender and inspire creative excellence and strong collaborations that deliver world-class work that stands the test of time.

Without producers, creative works stay in bottom drawers… so, investing in the professional development and upskilling of New Zealand’s producing capacity is crucial to a robust and sustainable screen industry. A key training ground for equipping emerging producers
with the skills and tools to progress into feature films is by producing a short film.
This six-day programme (split over two three-day workshops) is designed for emerging producers who are committed to, or tracking towards, making their first short films and ultimately working as feature film producers. Its purpose is to provide participants with a thorough overview of the skills and knowledge base required to effectively produce short films at a professional level.

The Emerging Producers’ Intensive is programmed and presented by highly experienced producers Sue Maslin and Charlotte Seymour of Film Art Media.

Sue Maslin (AO) is one of Australia’s most successful film, television, and digital content producers with a track record of creating award-winning feature and documentary films including the box office hit, The Dressmaker starring Kate Winslet. Sue is a highly experienced course leader in Creative Producing and serves as Adjunct Professor at RMIT University. As the main course lecturer of the NZFC’s A – Z of Producing, Sue is well-known to the New Zealand industry.

Charlotte Seymour is a fiction and non-fiction producer with over 20 years of screen industry experience. As Program Operations Manager at Screen Australia, she was engaged in working with assessors and applicants in the delivery of all of Screen Australia’s funding programs. As a freelance consultant, she has delivered documentary and drama workshops for emerging First Nation’ creative teams. Most recently she facilitated a four week-long intensive producing workshop for Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department to develop 10 emerging indigenous producers from across Australia.

Applications:

From an open call for applicants to the WIFT and SPADA memberships, 20 people will be selected to participate in this programme.  Although there is no obligation, it is intended that successful applicants will agree to make their contact details available to emerging key creatives searching for a producer to work with, particularly if they intend to apply for short film funding. You will also have expressed a
commitment to produce at least one film for each of the following two years.

To get the most from this course you must have a short film script (less than 15 minutes including credits in duration).

Dates/timings for workshops (2022):

Workshop 1: 29 Apr – 1 May (9AM – 5.30PM each day)
Workshop 2: 6-8 May (9AM – 5.30PM each day)
Venue: Click Studios, Building 55, 145 Carrington Rd, Mt Albert (south end of the Unitec site)
Fee: WIFT and SPADA members $287.50 incl GST (lunch included)

Note: Travel assistance will be available for participants from outside the Auckland region

Closing Date for Applications:  Thursday 30 September 2021

To apply please email a single page with your best pitch outlining why you should be included in this course, together with a copy of your current C.V. to WIFT NZ

Successful applicants will be advised by Friday 15 October 2021.

This programme has been funded by the New Zealand Film Commission.