“Create and Celebrate” at this Year’s SPADA Conference

SPADA – Screen Production and Development Association

15 September 2011

“Create and Celebrate” at this Year’s SPADA Conference

SPADA CONFERENCE 2011
10-11 November
SkyCity Auckland Convention Centre

SPADA’s 19th annual conference kicks off with the head of one of the world’s top factual television production houses, NHNZ Managing Director Michael Stedman, delivering the NZ On Air John O’Shea Memorial Address. In addition to producing over 1500 hours of television; Stedman has held senior positions in Australia and New Zealand including Head of Training at the Australian Film and Television School (AFTRS), Head of Features for ABC in Australia, Consultant to the United Nations and Director of Production for TVNZ. “It’s been a challenging time for the New Zealand screen industry, and someone of Michael’s pedigree and standing in the industry will have a lot to say – and won’t be afraid to say – what he thinks about the current state of our screen industry landscape. He’s guaranteed to deliver a speech befitting the spirit of John O’Shea,” says SPADA CEO Penelope Borland.

Hot topics being discussed at this year’s conference include 3D technology, public broadcasting, children’s drama, indigenous low-budget filmmaking, and all-media production. Leading the discussion on 3D technology and all-media production are International Emmy Award winning Australian producers Marcus Gillezeau and Ellenor Cox from Firelight Productions. Having produced and directed over 50 productions ranging from cutting edge documentaries (Afrika – Cape Town to Cairo, Dreamtime to Dance, Cave in the Snow, Scorched) and high end music clips, to innovative youth -based webcasts. Gillezeau and Cox will be discussing the approach they took with Storm Surfers – from concept to audience. This fully convergent, all-media project is being delivered globally via TV, the Internet and mobile phones - not to mention they’re currently in post-production on the 3D feature version.

David Kleeman, one of the world’s leading minds on children and media, will also present at this year’s conference. David is President of the American Center for Children and Media, and is on the Advisory Board Chair to the international children's TV festival, PRIX JEUNESSE. He has advised producers, broadcasters, government organisations and NGOs; has undertaken a major study on children and public service media in the digital age, and numerous articles for trade, academic and general press.

UK-born producer Neil Peplow has over 16 feature films under his belt, including Waking Ned Devine, Bright Young Things and The Proposition. He was responsible for implementing A Bigger Future 2 – the UK film industry’s skills strategy for 2010-2013; and instrumental in creating a programme of funding that linked industry with education to ensure the curriculum remains relevant, as well as re-skilling existing practitioners in the latest technologies. With screen industry training a hot topic in New Zealand, Peplow’s experience to date, and his current role as Director of Screen Content at AFTRS in Australia, makes his visit to New Zealand a very timely one.

After screening in this year’s Official Selection Un Certain Regard at Cannes, Ivan Sen’s Toomelah has been garnering critical acclaim from many different factions. Producer David Jowsey and director Ivan Sen are the principals in BUNYA Productions – a boutique digital feature production company based out of Sydney. Jowsey will be attending the SPADA Conference to discuss his approach to low budget, high-quality digital feature filmmaking; to be followed by a special industry screening of Toomelah.

The conference will also feature a special hour long live recording of TVNZ 7’s Media7 on Friday November 11. Not for the faint-hearted, delegates will have the opportunity to enter this year’s South Pacific Pictures’ Big Pitch held during the Great Screenrights’ Lunch on Friday November 11.

SPADA’s annual Industry Awards will be held at the end of the opening day, Thursday November 10, announcing the recipients of the SPADA New Filmmaker of the Year (Principal Sponsor Park Road Post Production), the Crombie Lockwood/MTJ Independent Producer of the Year, and the SPADA/Onfilm Industry Champion.

SPADA Conference Principal Sponsor NZ Film Commission Key Sponsors/Sponsors/ Supporters include TVNZ, Screenrights, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED), Film Finances, TV3, M?ori Television, NZ On Air, South Pacific Pictures, Panavision, Kodak, Film Archives, Goethe Institut, Images & Sound, Onfilm: and SPADA’s Premiere Partner Telecom.

For further programme details and registration information GO TO www.spada.co.nz

SPADA
Formed in 1982, the Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand (SPADA) represents the collective interests of independent producers and production companies on all issues affecting the business and creative aspects of screen production in New Zealand.

ENDS

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