Big Screen Symposium & Script to Screen

Bec Smith is an agent at United Talent Agency, one of the biggest talent agencies in the world. Originally from Australia, Bec has worked at UTA in Los Angeles for 10 years and her client list includes many acclaimed fellow Australians.

The agency system in the US plays an integral part in the packaging of film and high-end television projects, and Bec’s work as an agent goes beyond the representation of filmmakers.

Connecting talent, seeking finance and representing sales for her clients’ independent films are key parts of her job.

In this special conversation with Jill Macnab, Bec demystifies the US agency system and gives you her take on the current film and television market informed by her recent attendance at festivals and markets including Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Toronto and the American Film Market.

Presented by Department of Post

Bec's session took place on Sunday 1st October, 1:20pm at the Big Screen Symposium 2017 in Auckland, NZ.

The Big Screen Symposium is New Zealand's annual premiere film event, proudly brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions.

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Michael Bennett, Miriama McDowell, Jessica Hansell, and Todd Karehana each give their take on our theme Authenticity & Pretence in the context of their recent projects, working practice, and view of the world.

Presented by NZ On Air

This session took place on Sunday 1 October, 9.30am at the Big Screen Symposium 2017 in Auckland, NZ.

The Big Screen Symposium is New Zealand's annual premiere film event, proudly brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions.

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This session is moderated by Shuchi Kothari.

Francis Lee joins us from the UK to share stories about the making of his first feature, GOD’S OWN COUNTRY, winner of Best British Feature Film at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, Best Director prize in Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition and the Männer Jury Award for Best Film at Berlin Film Festival. BFI describes the film as “one of the most assured, fully-formed British debuts of recent years”. Tune in to hear from Francis who started his directing career at 40 when he quit acting to make three self-financed short films.

This talk took place on 3 August, 2017 after the 1:00pm screening at the Wintergarden at the Civic Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand. 

MOUNTAIN is described by The Guardian as“a 70-minute rush of adrenaline; a safari into the sublime; a vertiginous voyage to the top of the world”. Director, Jennifer Peedom (SHERPA) visits Auckland to share stories about her experience working for the second time with high altitude cinematographer Renan Ozturk; her collaborations with writer Robert Macfarlane and narrator Willem Defoe; creating an atmospheric score with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and wrangling more than 2,000 hours of footage shot in 15 countries to make her spectacular new movie.

This Q&A took place on 1 August, 2017 after a 6:30pm screening of the film at Wintergarden at the Civic Theatre in Auckland.

This session is moderated by Helene Wong.

Fresh from the World Premiere in Sydney, legendary filmmaker Gaylene Preston reveals what she discovered about Helen Clark, and the challenges she faced when making a documentary across multiple continents with a high profile subject.

This discussion took place on 25 July, 2017 after an 11:00am screening at Wintergarden at the Civic Theatre in Auckland. 

This session is moderated by Max Currie.

Francis Lee joins us from the UK to share stories about the making of his first feature, GOD’S OWN COUNTRY, winner of Best British Feature Film at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, Best Director prize in Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition and the Männer Jury Award for Best Film at Berlin Film Festival. BFI describes the film as “one of the most assured, fully-formed British debuts of recent years”. Tune in to hear from Francis who started his directing career at 40 when he quit acting to make three self-financed short films.

This TALK took place on 2 August, 2017 after a 6:30pm screening at the Wintergarden at the Civic Theater in Auckland, New Zealand. 

Moderated by Brita McVeigh.

“I’m fascinated by tightly-knit communities and how they operate – how characters battle for individuality or for their place within the society.”

Esteemed Australian director Tony Krawitz has directed across drama, documentary and television. His dramatic features JEWBOY and DEAD EUROPE were based in the Jewish and Greek communities respectively. THE TALL MAN was set on an island off the Queensland coast in one of the largest Indigenous communities in Australia that had been ripped apart by a murder.

For each of these films, Tony embedded himself within a community as an essential part of reaching a deep and nuanced understanding of and connection to his material. In this session, Tony discusses his immersive process and how it differs – and how it is the same – across adaptation, original story, and documentary.

Presented by Greenstone.

Tony's session took place on Sun 25th September, 2:15pm at the Big Screen Symposium 2016 in Auckland, NZ.

The Big Screen Symposium is New Zealand's annual premiere film event, proudly brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions.

Moderated by Emily Perkins.

An acclaimed author, Jonathan Raymond is also the award-winning screenwriter behind the courageously minimalistic festival hits WENDY AND LUCY, MEEK’S CUTOFF, OLD JOY and NIGHT MOVES – on which he collaborated with revered indie director Kelly Reichardt. Jonathan also co-wrote the HBO miniseries MILDRED PIERCE, winner of five Emmy Awards, with legendary director Todd Haynes.

In this conversation Emily Perkins talks to Jonathan about what risk means to him within the creative process, remaining open to new possibilities while searching for the heart of the material, and finding and investing yourself in the work while truly sharing the vision with your collaborators – in Jonathan’s case two of the boldest auteurs in independent cinema today.

Jon's session took place on Sat 24th September, 11am at the Big Screen Symposium 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand.

The Big Screen Symposium is New Zealand's annual premiere film event, proudly brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions.

Moderated by Max Currie.

Recent years have seen exceptional television drama out of Australia. Like in the US and Europe, much of the most sought after acting, writing and directing talent is working across both film and TV.

Amongst her lauded film credits, writer/director Cate Shortland (SOMERSAULT, LORE) has written on the esteemed award-winning Australian dramas THE SLAP, DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND, DEADLINE GALLIPOLI and THE KETTERING INCIDENT. Currently she has her own show in development with Matchbox Pictures.

Join Cate & Tony as they provide us a writer’s and director’s behind the scenes perspective on the crafting of high-end television across the ditch.

Sun 25 Sept, Big Screen Symposium 2016, Auckland, NZ.

The Big Screen Symposium is New Zealand's annual premiere film event, proudly brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions.

Moderated by Bailey Mackey.

In this intimate conversation with Bailey Mackey, esteemed actor Cliff Curtis shares his process when preparing for each role, his approach to risk-taking, his experiences at home and beyond, and what makes him tick.

Homegrown star and greatly respected actor Cliff Curtis has starred in many of NZ’s most celebrated films including THE PIANO, ONCE WERE WARRIORS, WHALE RIDER and THE DARK HORSE, whilst also carving a career as a chameleon character actor in Hollywood. He has also produced films including BOY and EAGLE VS SHARK with producer Ainsley Gardiner.

He currently stars in AMC’s FEAR THE WALKING DEAD alongside Kim Dickens. The show premiered on August 23, 2015, and was the most watched series premiere in U.S cable TV history.

This session took place on Sunday 25th September, 3.25pm at the Big Screen Symposium 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand.

The Big Screen Symposium is New Zealand's annual premiere film event, proudly brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions.