New Member For Film New Zealand Board

December 12, 2012
Telecommunications CEO, Renowned Actor, And Producer Join Film New Zealand Board

Three outstanding talents in business, acting and filmmaking are about to join the board of Film New Zealand, the screen industry-founded organisation which markets New Zealand as an international centre for screen production.

Board Chairman Julian Grimmond says he is delighted to announce the appointments of TelstraClear CEO Dr Allan Freeth, New Zealand actor Miranda Harcourt and award-winning producer Catherine Madigan. Mr Grimmond says the appointments continue the longstanding tradition of Film New Zealand attracting senior and respected industry figures to its board.

“Miranda, Allan and Catherine are at the top of their fields in the creative and business sectors and are stellar appointments to our board. The two film appointments, Miranda Harcourt and Catherine Madigan, have in-depth experience with international film production, and Allan Freeth brings enormous commercial and global expertise, previously leading Wrightson and now as the head of an innovative telecommunications company. Attracting board directors with this diversity, calibre of skills and experience is crucial to the rapidly expanding New Zealand screen industry, and testimony to the standing the screen industry has in the economy,” says Julian Grimmond.

“No screen industry can thrive without its actors, and Miranda Harcourt is outstanding and entrepreneurial, known not only for her acting skills but also for fostering the next generation of talent.

“Catherine Madigan is a highly respected international line producer, with an impressive list of productions to her name. She brings an invaluable understanding of what international filmmakers look for when considering New Zealand as the best place to make their next production.

“Dr Freeth’s appointment reflects the convergence of screens and digital products available to the creative content markets. Dr Freeth’s considerable understanding of consumer delivery platforms, commercialisation of communication, and the digital frontier, makes his experience invaluable to the economic development of the New Zealand Screen Industry. It is a coming of age for the screen industry to have leaders with public company experience, recognising the economic advantages the New Zealand screen industry has to offer,” he says.

Latest Statistics New Zealand figures show in 2010 the screen sector was worth more than $2.8 billion to the New Zealand economy.

CEO Gisella Carr says the new appointments cap off a substantial year for Film New Zealand.

“For the first time in our fifteen year history, Film New Zealand has on-the-ground representation in Los Angeles, with our recently announced partnership with Park Road Post Production; international enquiries are on the up, and we’ve just announced a new film Emperor shooting here in the new year directed by Peter Webber (Girl with a Pearl Earring).

“The post production, digital and visual effects sectors continue to show impressive growth and we’ve recently teamed with a number of leading companies including Oktobor, DigiPost and Weta Digital to look at opportunities for industry consolidation and growth,” she says.

Dr Allan Freeth
Prior to his role as CEO of TelstraClear, Dr Freeth held senior executive positions at Trust Bank and was Chief Executive and Managing Director of Wrightson. He gained his Philosophy Doctorate in Population Genetics through the Australian National University in Canberra. He also has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from Canterbury University, and an MBA with Distinction. He has held directorships with Genesis Research and Development, GNS: Geological and Nuclear Sciences and the NZ Treasury Advisory Board, as well as Save the Children New Zealand and Save the Children International Board. He has chaired the Queen Margaret College Board of Governors in Wellington, and been a Trustee of the Massey Agricultural Research Fund. He is currently a Trustee of Crimestoppers New Zealand and is a regular speaker on governance for the not-for-profit sector. In 2010, he was appointed a Member of the Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum on Next Generation.

Miranda Harcourt
Miranda Harcourt, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated screen actors, and has played an integral role in developing New Zealand acting talent. As well as performing and directing numerous award winning productions for stage and screen, she was Head of Acting at Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School for seven years, and currently works both locally and internationally as an acting coach for screen on films including Jane Campion’s Bright Star; and Sir Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones and in New Zealand on Gaylene Preston’s Home By Christmas. She also coached young actors AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson on Bridge to Terabithia, both of whom have gone on to build successful careers in Hollywood. In 2010 she again worked with AnnaSophia Robb as her on-set coach in Hawaii on the Sony Pictures production Soul Surfer, (which went to number two at the US box office). She also has her own film and theatre production company MAP Films with husband Stuart McKenzie.

Catherine Madigan
Catherine Madigan has been involved in numerous feature films, television series, television commercials and documentaries both in New Zealand and overseas. Most recently she was Production Manager on Andrew Adamson’s latest feature Mister Pip (starring Hugh Laurie) filmed in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. She previously worked as a Line Producer on the documentary Brother Number One filmed in Cambodia and New Zealand.

Catherine production-managed the Hollywood feature film Vertical Limit shot in Queenstown, followed by a US feature in Thailand starring Angelina Jolie. She has also produced a behind-the-scenes DVD in Las Vegas with Celine Dion and has directed her own documentary in Sri Lanka about New Zealand aid reaching fishing communities post-tsunami. Catherine has produced several Tourism NZ commercials in recent years as well as the Tourism NZ International Short Film Competition. She is currently on the NZ Film Commission LBSG panel, the DOCNZ Advisory Board and is a member of WIFT.

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