MEDIA RELEASE
5 May 2008
Eyeworks’ New Film Development Initiative
Matthew Metcalfe joins EYEWORKS NZ Film and Drama
Eyeworks NZ takes a significant step in developing the film and television drama side of its business with the
announcement that Matthew Metcalfe will join the company in July as Joint Head of Production for Film and TV Drama.
Eyeworks NZ CEO Julie Christie says, “Matthew is New Zealand’s most exciting and talented young producer and we will
give him the support he needs to expand his already considerable slate. I’m confident that he, combined with veteran
producer Robin Scholes, will jointly develop and build a sustainable film and drama business for Eyeworks. ”
Matthew Metcalfe says, “I am excited to be joining such a successful international company where I will have the support
and resources to see a new slate of feature films into production. These films will reflect the international ambitions
of the company and its growing reputation as a significant film and television drama provider to the world.”
While Matthew will develop his own films, he and existing development executive Robin Scholes will operate jointly on
some projects, including a new film from director Glenn Standring (Perfect Creature). His ventures include a new project
with writer Alan Sharp (Rob Roy, Dean Spanley) and a period drama/thriller set on the remote West Coast of New Zealand
during World War II, as well as a major UK production based on a classic English novel not yet brought to the screen.
Robin Scholes continues with a film directed by Brendan Donovan (Insider’s Guide to Love), an adaptation of Indian Ink’s
Krishnan’s Dairy, development of local television series and telefeatures and some Korean co-productions.
The upcoming Glenn Standring film will draw on Matthew Metcalfe’s significant experience with UK co-productions. His
current production Dean Spanley, which stars Bryan Brown, Sam Neill, Peter O’Toole and Jeremy Northam, and is directed
by Toa Fraser (No 2), follows on from the Lions Gate thriller Nemesis Game and the First Look Studios horror, The
Ferryman. He has garnered significant co-production experience with the UK, Canada and Germany, having acted as producer
or executive producer on five projects involving those countries and New Zealand. He will continue his strong ties with
veteran UK producer Alan Harris. The pair have worked together on two features and are currently working on a select
slate of UK and internationally focused productions.
ENDS