Big Screen Symposium & Script to Screen

NZ On Air Head of Music Teresa Patterson presents a conversation with experienced music supervisor Amine Ramer and Executive Producer Philippa Rennie to discuss the use of music in New Zealand screen stories. This includes forensic examination of a script, advice on budgeting for music, deciding how to use what songs where, and collaborating with the director, producer and editor on song choices.

This session uses Testify as an example to show the power the right song has, to elevate moments on screen.

This session is presented by NZ On Air to encourage more New Zealand music in our screen stories.  

Hear how three friends came together to create the groundbreaking YouTube sensation Viva La Dirt League. After 13 years they had amassed 6.27 million subscribers and 3.4 billion views. In this session with Adam King and Alan Morrison, they tell their story which led to over 1,000 sketches and videos being released and several projects in development. This session is presented by Screen Auckland. 

Getting on the Same Page is a method devised by Alexander Swords, a designer, a director, and a game runner, to get key creatives working together towards the same outcome. His “one page” of six instruments are taken from a range of creative processes to act as a source of truth. It holds intention, facilitates clearer communication, and helps teams hold themselves to account. During development it acts as prompts for all the important questions, and in production it helps teams understand the relationship between the many elements that come together for screen magic. 

Screen industry practitioners Piripi Curtis, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Angela Cudd, and Tihini Grant discuss the diverse strategies Māori producers employ within their unique productions, with the aim of creating a greater awareness of Māori values, practices and perspectives when it comes to filming on iwi and hapu owned land.  

This session shares respectful engagement practices and nuances of engaging with mana whenua. 

Three leading screenwriters, Michael Bennett, Dianne Taylor and Lulu Wang share their experiences on the craft of writing for film and series, from the first idea being conceptualised through to the final draft for production based on examples from their own acclaimed work.

This session is moderated by Marc Laureano and presented by South Pacific Pictures.  

James Napier Robertson has established himself as one of New Zealand’s most successful filmmakers over the last ten years with acclaimed films I’m Not Harry Jenson, The Dark Horse, Whina and Joika. Delving into the craft of directing, James’s masterclass offers insights into how a story can be told with visual choices and clarity of meaning.

This session is presented by the Department of Post.  

 Celebrating New Zealand talent the 2024 BSS Keynote address included seven New Zealand acting practitioners with unique stories and outlooks. In this podcast Cliff Curtis shares his thoughts on the BSS 2024 theme Stepping into the Unknown.  

This session, was presented by Te Mangai Paho. 

Celebrating New Zealand talent the 2024 BSS Keynote address included seven New Zealand acting practitioners with unique stories and outlooks. In this podcast Pax Assadi shares his thoughts on the BSS 2024 theme Stepping into the Unknown.  

This session, was presented by Te Mangai Paho. 

Celebrating New Zealand talent the 2024 BSS Keynote address included seven New Zealand acting practitioners with unique stories and outlooks. In this podcast Jess Hong shares her thoughts on the BSS 2024 theme Stepping into the Unknown.  

This session, was presented by Te Mangai Paho. 

Celebrating New Zealand talent the 2024 BSS Keynote address included seven New Zealand acting practitioners with unique stories and outlooks. In this podcast Shane Rangi shares his thoughts on the BSS 2024 theme Stepping into the Unknown.  

This session, was presented by Te Mangai Paho.