Six accomplished storytellers, each with their own unique point of view, deliver Keynote Addresses on the BSS 2020 theme Transforming Culture: documentary maker Leanne Pooley, games designer and producer Maru Nihoniho, writer and activist Cole Meyers, producer Emma Slade, writer/ director Sebastián Lelio and microbiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles.

This session is from the Big Screen Symposium held in Auckland on the 4th and 5th of December 2020.
The Big Screen Symposium 2020 was brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions. We gratefully thank our event partners – the New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand On Air, Te Māngai Paho, Images & Sound, Screen Auckland and AUT.

In this session, storytelling for the docuseries format, producer, director and editor Arielle Kilker delves into what it means to write for a documentary series. Using her project hit Netflix series Cheer, Arielle covers finding the narrative across the series as a whole, how to keep the heart of a character’s backstory in the present tense, and simplifying story for efficiency and dramatic impact while still honouring truth and integrity. This session is presented by the US Embassy. Arielle is introduced by producer Cass Avery.

This session is from the Big Screen Symposium held in Auckland on the 4th and 5th of December 2020. The Big Screen Symposium 2020 was brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A

Productions. We gratefully thank our event partners – the New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand On Air, Te Māngai Paho, Images & Sound, Screen Auckland and AUT.

In this session, two-time Academy Award-nominated producer Finola Dwyer whose projects include Brooklyn and An Education, shares her approach to filmmaking using the film Brooklyn as a case study. Finola talks to Carthew Neal, Academy Award-Winning producer for Jojo Rabbit, about the response to challenges thrown up during production that ultimately achieved this ambitious film.

This session is from the Big Screen Symposium held in Auckland on the 4th and 5th of December 2020. The Big Screen Symposium 2020 was brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions. We gratefully thank our event partners – the New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand On Air, Te Māngai Paho, Images & Sound, Screen Auckland and AUT.

In this masterclass, screenwriter Sophie Henderson explores how to build a story with empathy that connects with its audience. She argues for character authenticity over likeability and talks about putting your whole self into your script. This session is presented by Department of Post. Sophie is introduced by actor and director Lucy Wigmore.

This session is from the Big Screen Symposium held in Auckland on the 4th and 5th of December 2020.

The Big Screen Symposium 2020 was brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions. We gratefully thank our event partners – the New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand On Air, Te Māngai Paho, Images & Sound, Screen Auckland and AUT.

In this panel discussion, writer and director Becs Arahanga, content commissioner at Māori Television (kaikōkiri Kaupapa at  Whakaata Māori) Lanita Ririnui and producer Piripi Curtis explore ideas and methods for Tikanga Māori to be incorporated into the creation of screen work, from the development of the idea, through to funding, production, distribution and audience engagement. They share their own transformative experiences and discuss future ways to tell stories with Tikanga led values and processes. This panel is moderated by producer Kay Ellmers.

This session is from the Big Screen Symposium held in Auckland on the 4th and 5th of December 2020.

The Big Screen Symposium 2020 was brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions. We gratefully thank our event partners – the New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand On Air, Te Māngai Paho, Images & Sound, Screen Auckland and AUT.

NZ On Air’s Chief Executive Cameron Harland and Head of Funding Amie Mills outline the challenges, ideas and opportunities ahead as we all try to put 2020 behind us.

In this case study of 2020 box office hit Savage, writer/director Sam Kelly and producer Vicky Pope share what they learned from the unforeseen pitfalls and breakthroughs while bringing to life this ambitious feature film.

This session is from the Big Screen Symposium held in Auckland on the 4th and 5th of December 2020.

The Big Screen Symposium 2020 was brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions. We gratefully thank our event partners – the New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand On Air, Te Māngai Paho, Images & Sound, Screen Auckland and AUT.

This podcast opens with an address from Hon. Carmel Sepuloni (Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage) who launched the Premium Productions for International Audiences Fund (Pūtea Kiriata Hiranga – Premium Fund) at the Big Screen Symposium. Then producer Emma Slade talks to Annabelle Sheehan (NZ Film Commission), Cameron Harland (NZ On Air) and Larry Parr (Te Māngai Pāho) about this new fund.

In this session, we hear from Australian multi-hyphenate Scott Ryan about his process creating, writing and starring in the crime drama series Mr In-between. FX renewed the series for a third season which was in production when this session was recorded. Scott is the sole writer and Nash Edgerton is the sole director across the seasons. Mr In-between is based on the 2005 feature film The Magician, which is also written by and stars Scott Ryan. This session is moderated by entertainment journalist, film critic and broadcaster Dominic Corry.

This session is from the Big Screen Symposium held in Auckland on the 4th and 5th of December 2020.

The Big Screen Symposium 2020 was brought to you by Script to Screen and J&A Productions. We gratefully thank our event partners – the New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand On Air, Te Māngai Paho, Images & Sound, Screen Auckland and AUT.