Big Screen Symposium & Script to Screen
đď¸ Podcasts recorded at the annual Big Screen Symposium & TALKS series recorded by Script to Screen at various regional events in Aotearoa, NZ. đď¸ These podcasts are shared to help develop the craft and culture of storytelling for the screen in Aotearoa and beyond.
Episodes

Thursday May 15, 2025
AI for VFX | BSS2024
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
Kimball Thurston leads the strategy for future technology for VFX production at Weta FX. This session uses real-life examples as he offers insight into the AI intersections with creative artists and how these tools add to the creative process, not take away from it. This session is presented by Weta FX and WingNut Films.Â

Thursday May 15, 2025
In the Spirit of Coopetition - RFONZ Panel Discussion | BSS2024
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
The eleven regional film offices around New Zealand might be seen as competitors, but theyâve found a way over the last decade to cooperate and collaborate with each other in the spirit of âNZ Incâ, recognising the healthy âcoopetitionâ can be the best way to combine resources and achieve shared goals. Theyâre working towards a vision shared by many, a well-functioning Aotearoa New Zealand screen industry. This panel discusses how and why the RFOs work together and what lessons can be learnt about this collaboration. And most importantly, what exactly does a well-functioning screen industry look like, from North to South? Join this outstanding panel are moderator Jaclyn Philpott (Association of Film Commissioners International) visiting from Los Angeles, Petrina DâRozario from Screen CanterburyNZ, Mark Westerby from Screen Wellington, Kahli Scott from Film Queenstown Lakes and Jade Kent from Film Bay of Plenty.Â

Thursday May 15, 2025
Casting: Anousha Zarkesh in conversation with Fraser Brown | BSS2024
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
Australian Casting director Anousha Zarkesh, an influential creative force in the Australian screen industry, is in conversation with producer Fraser Brown discussing how to establish a great relationship with your Casting Director. They cover searching for new talent and attaching high-profile actors, the importance of cultural considerations and respect protocols and considerations in early develipment and budgeting. This session is a collaboration with Actors Equity.Â

Thursday May 15, 2025
Alexander Swords: Diverse Storytelling Patterns | BSS2024
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
ALEXANDER SWORDS presents Diverse Story Telling Patterns. He introduces the building blocks and patterns discovered in his research for Narrative Design. This gives an insight âunder the hoodâ of how the different conventions function to engage audiences around the world. Youâll discover what film and tv writers can learn from narrative design in games.Â

Thursday May 15, 2025
Accessibility Matters | BSS2024
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
Historically speaking, there has been a lack of representation and access for those who are deaf, disabled or neurodivergent within the screen industry. Chelsea Bridges, Jared Flitcroft and Felicity Hamill have a mission to improve industry standards by using their skills as access coordinators. This new role helps create a safe place on set for everyone. It can also improve every stage of production from development through to post-production to ensure best practice is implemented in front of and behind the camera. This session was moderated by Dale Corlett and Tayla Hancock from the New Zealand Film Commission. Â

Thursday May 15, 2025
Case Study: Job-Sharing | BSS2024
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
With many people unable to continue working full time due to changing life circumstances and wellbeing concerns or outright leaving the screen industry, job-sharing is becoming a widely recommended practice. Jonathon Dutton from Screen Well Australia presents the findings from the Screen Australia funded initiative, Breaking Down the Barriers to Job-Sharing which involved piloting job-sharing on a Matchbox Pictureâs production in Sydney. Following Jonathonâs presentation, Screen Guildâs ED Kelly Lucas initiates a discussion with the audience to gain some answers about how our screen industry could successfully implement job-sharing.Â

Thursday May 15, 2025
Case Study: Equity and Inclusion with Miles From Nowhere | BSS2024
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
NZ On Air Head of Partnerships Raewyn Rasch introduces a case study of Sky Originals show Miles From Nowhere, where producers Ahmed Osman and Sam Wilton talk about the strategies they implemented to ensure inclusive representation of the Muslim community throughout the entire production process from casting to call sheets to creative decisions. Focused on representing the changing face of Aotearoa New Zealand, they explain how this level of equity and representation in front of and behind the camera can be achieved. This session was presented by NZ On Air. Â

Thursday May 15, 2025
Music & Screen â A Beautiful Collision | Testify | BSS2024
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
NZ On Air Head of Music Teresa Patterson presents a conversation with experienced music supervisor Amine Ramer and Executive Producer Philippa Rennie to discuss the use of music in New Zealand screen stories. This includes forensic examination of a script, advice on budgeting for music, deciding how to use what songs where, and collaborating with the director, producer and editor on song choices.
This session uses Testify as an example to show the power the right song has, to elevate moments on screen.
This session is presented by NZ On Air to encourage more New Zealand music in our screen stories. Â

Thursday May 15, 2025
The Rise of Viva La Dirt League | BSS2024
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
Hear how three friends came together to create the groundbreaking YouTube sensation Viva La Dirt League. After 13 years they had amassed 6.27 million subscribers and 3.4 billion views. In this session with Adam King and Alan Morrison, they tell their story which led to over 1,000 sketches and videos being released and several projects in development. This session is presented by Screen Auckland.Â

Thursday May 15, 2025
Alexander Swords: Getting On The Same Page | BSS2024
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
Getting on the Same Page is a method devised by Alexander Swords, a designer, a director, and a game runner, to get key creatives working together towards the same outcome. His âone pageâ of six instruments are taken from a range of creative processes to act as a source of truth. It holds intention, facilitates clearer communication, and helps teams hold themselves to account. During development it acts as prompts for all the important questions, and in production it helps teams understand the relationship between the many elements that come together for screen magic.Â

Thursday May 15, 2025
Mana Whenua: Navigating MÄori concepts in western contexts | BSS2024
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
Screen industry practitioners Piripi Curtis, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Angela Cudd, and Tihini Grant discuss the diverse strategies MÄori producers employ within their unique productions, with the aim of creating a greater awareness of MÄori values, practices and perspectives when it comes to filming on iwi and hapu owned land. Â
This session shares respectful engagement practices and nuances of engaging with mana whenua.Â

Tuesday May 13, 2025
Writing Methodology | BSS2024
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Tuesday May 13, 2025
Three leading screenwriters, Michael Bennett, Dianne Taylor and Lulu Wang share their experiences on the craft of writing for film and series, from the first idea being conceptualised through to the final draft for production based on examples from their own acclaimed work.
This session is moderated by Marc Laureano and presented by South Pacific Pictures. Â