Script to Screen presents a special lunch time talk at the
SPADA Conference in Wellington 2007:
Creating a National Cinema and a Unique Voice
on the World Stage
With Jeremy Nathan and Scott Meek
Friday 16 November 2007
Jeremy Nathan has been involved in the South African film and television industries for nearly twenty years. He has
produced numerous features, television dramas, documentaries and short films, including ZIMBABWE by Darrell Roodt
(2008), BUNNY CHOW by John Barker (Toronto 2007); BOESMAN AND LENA (with Danny Glover and Angela Bassett) by John Berry,
IN A TIME OF VIOLENCE (aka THE LINE) by Brian Tilley, THE FOREIGNER by Zola Maseko, PORTRAIT OF YOUNG MAN DROWNING by
Teboho Mahlatsi as well as SMS SUGAR MAN, a feature film shot on mobile phones.
He also produced the 5 hour documentary series, ULIBAMBWE LINGASHONI (Hold up the Sun), an in-depth history of the ANC.
SO BE IT by Joseph Gai Ramaka and PORTRAIT by Tebopho Mahlatsi both won the Venice Silver Lion, Best Short Film, in 1997
and 1999 respectively.
He is on the International Advisory Board of the Rotterdam International Film Festival (IFFR), SCRAWL (South African
Scriptwriters Laboratory) and has consulted for the South African Department of Arts and Culture and the National Film
and Video Foundation (NFVF) on film finance.
Jeremy has worked all over the continent of Africa, and has key relationships with producers in many African countries
including Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, Nigeria, Tunisia and Senegal.
Scott Meek has been in the industry since 1972 when he joined the National Film Theatre as Deputy Manager in London.
In 1984 he joined Zenith Productions as script editor, over the next decade becoming Head of Development, Head of
Creative Affairs, Director of Production and finally Managing Director. Zenith became one of Britain’s largest
independent film and television production companies producing over 20 feature films and 200 hours of television.
Features made under Scott’s creative supervision at Zenith include: Alex Cox’s SID AND NANCY; David Leland’s WISH YOU
WERE HERE; THE HIT and PRICK UP YOUR EARS both directed by Stephen Frears; Paul Schrader’s PATTY HEARST and John
Huston’s final film THE DEAD. Many Zenith films won awards at festivals from Cannes to Sundance during Scott's
involvement, Zenith itself won three separate awards as an outstanding creative and original company. Scott also
supervised Zenith’s television output, working with CBS, HBO, Showtime and PBS in the US, as well as the major
Australian, Canadian and all the UK broadcasters on award winning shows such as Inspector Morse, Tales from the
Hollywood Hills, Fields of Fire, Rhodes and Hamish Macbeth.
After leaving Zenith in 1998 Scott produced feature films, television series and set up 'Deep Indigo Productions',
before moving to Australia where he became Head of Drama for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Since 2006 he has
been the Sydney Evaluation Manager for the Film Finance Corporation Australia.
Join Jeremy and Scott for lunch and a special discussion on creating a national cinema and a unique voice in the
international film scene.
12.30pm- 1.30pm
Featherstone Room
Intercontinental Hotel
2 Grey Street, Wellington
Industry guild members $30 / non- industry $35 (includes lunch)
Bookings must be received by 12pm, Monday 12 November
ENDS