The Waikato Film Blog

Hi Everyone.

It's been a short while since I did an update, I've been fairly busy with work flooding and holiday cancellations - so I do apologise but please remember that you can always update the news on here as well if you are a member.

In fact why not pass on this link to other film makers you know.

The V 48 Hours 2011

Registration for this years V48 Hours opened yesterday.  Head over to www.v48hours.co.nz and register your team for the largest film making competition in the Southern Hemisphere.  This year I'll be using this site as well to keep Waikato specific info for the Waikato competition and feel free to visit my personal blog to see how I go organising everything this year.

March 14th - Waikato Film Makers meeting and Screening.

The years first Waikato film makers meeting is the first  to combine with the Hamilton Film Society which will see a screning from Director Greg Page of his break out short film Decaff and a talk afterwards at Lido Cinema in Hamiltons CBD.  The event starts at 6pm

NZFC Escalator Scheme

Applications have now closed for this years contestable low budget film making funding.  Hopefully you managed to make it in on time, and good luck.  This scheme sees 4 film makers awarded 250000 to make a low budget feature.  This is the second year for the scheme with the first years successful applicants currently in various stages of production.

Student Activity

With the University and Wintec courses now officially starting expect to soon see an increase of crowds of newbies around the city.  If you're a new film maker in the city studying, then welcome.  It might not be a bad idea to look into the various rules regarding filming around Hamilton.  You'll be fine within the boundries of your educational institute but outside of that Hamilton has a few rules to follow for film makers.

Registration opens at 10 am this Thursday for the largest film making competition in the Southern Hemisphere and the race starts almost straight away with the return of the RUSH 2 REGO - with a traditional V48 Hours twist - this year, along with all teams registered in Christchurch, the 30th to 40th teams will win free registration.

This year teams from all over New Zealand (or all over the world in same cases) will again spend two days writing, shooting, cutting and surviving over the weekend of May 20th -22nd and Hamilton will once again be stepping up to plate. This year sees Rotorua join the fold as the latest centre to try and win the Grand National title, which was last year won by Aucklands Downlow Concept - the team behind the hit shows 7 Days and Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger. Hamilton Manager Paul A. Barlow feels though that this year is Hamilton's year to take the crown, "Waikato film makers are a versatile bunch, I'm sure that while we, as a nation are grieving, film makers will be able to take those emotions and create some wonderful cinema which can help people move forward - as always I have high hopes that our local talented film makers will show the world that they can lead the way".

While the competition is built on surprises, with four compulsory elements for each film not being announced until the launch event on the 20th, this year has seen a return of the V48 Seconds - an optional competition where teams can recreate a famous movie scene replacing an element of that scene with V.

Details for the Hamilton competition will be announced at a later date.

Registrations open at 10am at www.v48hours.co.nz, For more details regarding the Hamilton branch of the competition please contact Hamilton Manager, Paul A. Barlow, (027)3300344 or email pawb3@waikato.ac.nz

Hey Everyone

Just a few quick updates for today.

The Hobbit Production is due to start shooting in Mid February for 20 weeks (the entire production is being split into three  blocks each 20 weeks long and due to finish June 2012)  There has been no confirmation as to where filming will take place but Sir Ian McKellan has stated he is due on set on February 21st

Coming up on Sky's Rialto Channel this month is the Hamilton made "Evening with Richard O'Brien".  Check out your Skywatch for screening details.

Local film maker Klas Eriksson has released an Iphone app which will take your video footage and make it look like it was filmed on Super 8 film.  Check out the website for more info.

Film maker and music producer Tony Palmer who was scheduled to visit the country later this year but has had to pull out due to scheduling conflicts.

Two New Zealand Chaneels will be rebranding soon.  C4 will be changing to FOUR on Waitangi Day, moving its focus away from music television and more towards a broader range of show programming starting off with a new epsiode of the Simpson's (Four will now be the permanent home of the Simpsons).

The new logo

TVNZ has also said TVNZ6 will be rebranded later in the year to follow suit towards a more youth orientated market.

Finally Hamilton will miss out on the largest and most shallow media circus in the country as New Zealand's Next Top Model bypasses the city and instead heads to Tauranga to find potential contestants for the popular factual show.

_______________

If you have an updates remember members can update the blog anytime - let us know about what you are getting up to in Waikato's film community.

Hey all

I realise that of late this site has been very quiet - my hope was that it would perpetuate it's own usage and growth through the small but dedicated ommunity that had started to pop up but I can see that was not meant to be.

So I'm back for 2011 to help let everyone know what's going on and hopefully to keep growing this site for local film makers as well.

Of course the biggest production that will be happening this year is the Hobbit. Directed by Sir Peter Jackson filming is scheduled to begin in February and will include substantial shooting in Matamata yet again. So fr the cast includes Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, David Tennant, Sylvestor McCoy and a cast of returning actors such as Orlando Bloom, Sir Ian McKellan, Cate Blanchett and Andy Serkis.

In other news the NZFC has called for entries for this years Escalator Scheme - the low budget feature film plan which sees four films made with a budget of $250 000 each. For more details check out the official website here

The Documentary Edge Festival is also calling for participants - the countires largest expo for doco makers it includes guest speakers from around the world as well as NZ funders and channels. There's also a chance to pitch your idea for the next Bowling for Columbine to funders. Check out the site here

This year should also see a busy time for locally produced content with the film Shepherd having undertaken some filming already at Waitomo Caves, and the Waikato based team of Scott Granville and Ben Woollen move on through the NZFC First Writers Initiative where their feature script was chosen last year. Other work from around the region includes Fiona Jackson's PhD study into distribution and marketing of kiwi films, and an increase in corporate production happening as well a return of the V48 Hours later in the year.

Don't forget to use this site as much as possible - the aim is for it to be a resource for you. Anything you really want to see on here let me know and don't forget for almost all the pages you as a member can edit it yourself and let others know what you're up.