Stuff reports that South Pacific Pictures chief executive John Barnett has sold his stake in the production company to its United Kingdom-based majority shareholder All3Media.

Documents filed with the Companies Office show Barnett’s stake, held by Endeavour Entertainment Limited, was transferred to All3Media on April 5.

There was no sale price mentioned for the 1.8 million shares, which had been held by companies ultimately owned by Barnett and Alastair Lawrence.

Barnett could not be reached as he is currently attending a trade show in France.

Barnett led a management buy-out of South Pacific from Television New Zealand ownership in 1998.

All3Media – one of Britain’s largest production companies – bought into the company in 2005.

South Pacific Pictures follows fellow Kiwi production companies Screentime and EyeWorks Touchdown, the latter formerly owned by local interests including Julie Christie, into foreign ownership.

Produced by Ruth Korver and Andrew Beattie, How to Meet Girls From a Distance was directed by Dean Hewison and written by Hewison, Richard Falkner and Sam Dickson. The film stars Falkner, Scarlet Hemingway, Jonathan Brugh and Aidee Walker. Toby (Falkner) has always been unlucky with girls. When he meets the girl of his dreams, Phoebe (Hemingway), he resolves to learn everything about her before meeting her. But this girl brings challenges that Toby hasn’t had to face before ‐ including a boyfriend ‐ and Toby finds himself crossing lines he never thought he’d cross. Then there’s the problem of how to keep her, without her finding out that he knows everything about her. How far would you go for a crush?

From first draft to screen in just six months with a budget of NZ$100,000, How to Meet Girls From a Distance had its world premiere at 2012 New Zealand International Film Festival. NZ Herald reviewer, Francesca Rudkin applauded the cast and crew “for doing the seemingly impossible by making a film in six months, and, even better, for making it genuinely funny.” TVNZ reviewer Darren Bevan agreed, “From cringe-worthy dancing to dodgy tracheotomies, How to Meet Girls From a Distance is highly amusing, utterly rewarding and a totally unmissable experience which shows creativity comes from the simplest of ideas and the tightest of deadlines.” The film has recently been released on DVD in New Zealand and Australia by Madman.

The Beijing International Film Festival runs from April 16th – 23rd and is hosted by the General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China and People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, and organized by the Film Bureau of the General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China and Beijing Municipal Bureau of Radio, Film and Television. The festival aims to “integrate domestic and international film resources and to create a platform for film exhibition and exchange”, as well as to position itself as an “international, professional, innovative, high-end and market-oriented” festival.

Richard Falkner will attend as a guest of the festival.

Life Force II builds on the worldwide success of Life Force I, a six part series co-produced by NHK, NHNZ, France Télévisions, Science Channel and Animal Planet and distributed by Off the Fence. Life Force I premiered in early 2011. The series was sold to territories throughout the world and earned high ratings and a stack of awards.

Life Force II is once again a global production, with the Science Channel, Discovery Network International and Arte partnering NHK and NHNZ in the production. Off the Fence will distribute the series.

Life Force II delves into the science and mystery of evolution and unravels the stories of how and why animals in six extraordinary environments evolved to be so strange and unique. Each program will transport us back in time to discover the very processes of evolution itself, showing the many exotic, strange, and amazing ways life mutates to adapt, survive and thrive.

NHK Executive Producer of Natural History Programs, Shin Murata, is excited to have a second Life Force series in production.

“We at NHK are thrilled to be able to work with our long-time friends at NHNZ once more,” he said.

“This will be the fourth time the two organizations do a true co-production in the sense that we both play a hands-on role in making the programs. And the participation of our other partners from all continents will enable us to use even newer camera technologies to reveal more of the mysteries of life and evolution on a global scale.”

NHNZ is a production house renowned for its ability to bring producers together from all over the world and Managing Director Michael Stedman is delighted to have a second series of Life Force moving into production.

“It is wonderful to be able to carry on with the momentum gained through the first Life Force series, and have the opportunity to work with the many talented people involved in this co-production.”

Like the first series, Life Force II will continue to set itself apart from traditional natural history shows by carefully crafting a blend of genres, combining exceptional wildlife photography by world-class crews with CGI, cinematic-style narratives and cutting-edge science to give viewers “evolutionary drama”.

The original production team will be joined by producer Lorne Townend, whose directing credits include the series How the Universe Works for Discovery US, Animals In the Womb: Dogs for Channel 4 and National Geographic and the long running Naked Science series, also for National Geographic. He most recently worked on Mankind: The Story of All of Us, a 12 part series for History Channel.

The regions that will feature in Life Force II are South West China, Borneo, South West Africa, Central America, India’s Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, and East Africa.

The production will be two years in the making, with delivery in mid-2014.

For more information contact:

NHK
Ryoichiro Toji & Haruyuki Ichinohashi, International Public Relations
Tel: +81-3-5455-2459
E-mail: s02201-nhkpr@nhk.or.jp
www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld

NHNZ

Neil Harraway, EVP Development and Marketing
Ph +64 21 368 462
www.nhnz.tv
http://www.facebook.com/NHNZMedia

Aaron Carotta: host of Choice TV's upcoming television series 'Bucket Wish'.

This upcoming new series Bucket Wish featuring ‘Adventure Aaron ‘ (NZ cancer survivor)  as he embarks  on a journey through some of New Zealand’s Most Extreme adventures accompanied by two CanTeen Members with wishes to complete their own bucket list.

In this 13-episode series, each week  candidates nominate themselves for one of the Bucket Wish list adventures by writing a short piece about themselves and why they should be chosen to join Aaron.  The nominations are then put forward online via the Choice TV Facebook page so the public are able to vote.   The candidate with the most Facebook ‘Likes’ is chosen along with one that Aaron has personally selected.

The aim of this  new television series, Bucket Wish, is  to give CanTeen members the chance to live their dream.

Hamilton CanTeen members Victoria Carroll, 22, who has acute myeloid leukaemia, and Hope Atwood, 23, whose younger brother battled with brain cancer, both wished to meet and cook with a celebrity chef.

“I love to cook and bake, and I love watching cooking shows on TV, particularly ones by Gordon Ramsay and Master Chef,” Ms Carroll wrote to show creator and adventurer Aaron Carotta on Facebook.

“I remember when I was sick and could not eat for a period of about 10 weeks, I would watch the cooking shows and dream of all the wonderful food I could potentially make and eat when I was better.”

Mr Carotta, a cancer survivor himself, granted the pair’s wishes on Saturday at the filming of an episode of Bucket Wish at Hamilton’s Smith and McKenzie Chophouse.

Chef and owner Toby Elliottyson said they were required to cook eight servings of his steak dish, along with cauliflower puree, caramelised onions, arancini (fried rice balls) and a pea and horseradish crush.

“They did a really good job. I was super happy and super proud of them for getting in there and giving it a go,” Mr Elliottyson said. “It was pretty special for them too and a good bit of fun.”

Current Master Chef champ Chelsea Winter helped the girls with the challenge.

Florida-based Mr Carotta, who recovered from his own battle with cancer in 2008, has been ticking off a series of bucket list adventures in New Zealand, and across the world, for three years.

Known as Adventure Aaron, he has produced a TV series about his travels.

He said having CanTeen members join him on his Bucket Wish journey through New Zealand “has been the greatest experience of all”.

Bucket Wish is scheduled to air on Choice TV on September 29.

Source: Waikato Times

Babies First Concepts: Building vocabulary, introducing numbers and counting, and exploring first concepts.

Press Release: Quickflix

www.quickflix.co.nz

24 August 2012

Family favourite Quickflix launches educational TV programmes for babies

Developmental experts and parents alike understand how important it is to actively help babies learn. Giving your baby a range of experiences and information forms the basis of their knowledge about the world.

Created in conjunction with childhood specialists, educational TV programmes are an effective way to support the benefits of books, toys and games.

Quickflix, New Zealand’s first digital TV and movie streaming service, is already proving hugely popular with Kiwi families. Family-oriented movies are the most-watched category in the film section, while the Kids TV programmes have taken off since they were introduced a few weeks ago.

Now, the youngest members of the household have their own dedicated section, with almost 100 TV programmes designed specifically for the under threes – and more to be added soon. This comprehensive on demand library will take you and your baby on an exciting journey with songs, stories, new friends and interactive activities. Every programme is specifically designed to address the developmental milestones in the first few years, with categories including First Concepts, Imagination and Creativity, Guessing Games, Music and Art, Nature and Animals, and Bedtime.

Parents are encouraged to take part with their babies and toddlers, so they can be part of the learning process and discover new, fun ideas together. For a baby, repetition is learning. Every time they watch, they absorb more information and their comprehension increases. Being able to anticipate events gives them a sense of confidence and control.

Because Quickflix offers unlimited streaming, you and your baby will be able to view your favourite programmes as often as you like.

Quickflix Babies content is available wherever you are – on your iPad, iPhone, Mac, PC, Sony Bravia or Panasonic Viera Connect TV or home theatre system, and even your Playstation 3®. Quickflix is coming soon to Samsung smart TVs and Galaxy mobile devices as well as Xbox 360.

To sign up for a free 14-day trial, visit quickflix.co.nz.

-END

Sima Urale: appointed for head tutor at New Zealand Film and Television School

Sima Urale has been appointed to the role of Head Tutor at The New Zealand Film and Television School, in Wellington City.

Urale returns to her hometown to take up this new role. With more than twenty years’ experience in the film and theatre industry she will bring a wealth of practical and academic knowledge with her to the Film School. She is a well-known and respected New Zealand filmmaker who has won national and international awards for her films that explore social and political issues.

We are delighted with Urale’s appointment said Sashi Meanger, Executive Director, The Film School. “She brings a wealth of expertise to the school, we are excited to have secured someone of this calibre, as Head Tutor” he said.

Holding a Bachelor of Film and Television from the Victorian College of Art Film and Television and a graduate of Toi Whakaari, Urale has performed in various theatre productions throughout New Zealand and directed a number of television productions in documentary and drama, corporate videos, music videos, short films and commercials.

Her feature film ‘Apron Strings’ opened the 2008 New Zealand Film Festival and had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. In 2009 it won the Diversity Award at WIFIT international in Los Angeles and at the Qantas Awards, won the Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Cinematography and Production Design Awards.

Short films, ‘O Tamaiti’, ‘Still Life’, ‘Coffee and Allah’, produced by Urale , have won several awards as has her documentary ‘Velvet Dreams’, produced for TVNZ’s Work of Art series. Her performance in the award winning play ‘Think of a Garden’ won her Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards.

A Fulbright alumni, Urale has filmed projects internationally and travelled extensively as a guest filmmaker, from Russia, Poland to Canada as well as filming commercials from Malaysia to New York. In the last two years as well as working in commercial production, she has been a Senior Lecturer in Film and Television at Unitec in Auckland sharing her passion to young up and coming filmmakers.

“I’m very excited to be starting with the Film School” said Urale. “This school is one of New Zealand’s most highly regarded and specialised education institutions. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to inspire the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers and to work alongside talented practioners and tutors that have contributed enormously to the success of the Film School” she said.

Urale is being welcomed to the Film School at a ceremony being held today and will start in her new role as Head Tutor on 10 September 2012.

Source: Fuseworks Media

Simon Morton: documentary film-maker of 'Making Tracks.'

Source:  The Dominion Post

Emperor film: staring Tommy Lee Jones

A Hollywood blockbuster film made in New Zealand will make is debut at the Toronto Film Festival.

Emperor, set in post-World War II Japan, was filmed in Wellington, Hamilton and Auckland, with about 300 New Zealanders involved in the cast and crew.

The film features Lost star Matthew Fox as General Bonner Fellers, who must decide if Japanese Emperor Hirohito should be tried as a war criminal.

Emperor also stars veteran Tommy Lee Jones as General Douglas MacArthur – who governed post-war Japan – and Eriko Hatsune. The Japanese actress plays Aya, an exchange student whom Fox’s character had a love affair with before the war.

Fellers’ quest to find Aya in the ruins of bombed-out Tokyo comes to influence the history-making decision he makes on the Emperor’s future.

Auckland’s Southdown Freezing Works stands in as the ruined Japanese capital while Massey University plays Gen MacArthur’s headquarters.

Emperor was directed by Peter Webber, who also directed the atmospheric Girl With a Pearl Earring.

Source:  TVNZ

Nick Reygaert : company director and film maker.

A local multi-media  film company based in Te Anau has won a top international film award for its work on fly fishing.

Gin-Clear Media won Best Film of the Year in the Drake Fly Fishing Video Awards last week.

The awards are part of the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show in Reno, in the United States.

Company director and film maker Nick Reygaert said he was “absolutely over the moon” with the win. The company had entered the competition several times previously but without success.

The award was the highest accolade in the fly fishing film-making industry, he said. The company won for its natural history-style entry called Predator.

The film explores the world for the largest and most powerful fish that can be caught with a fly rod.

Fly fishing was a huge industry in New Zealand, contributing millions to the economy, he said.

Although the entry submitted for the Drake award was only a snapshot of the feature film, once completed it would include footage from “seven or eight” countries, including New Zealand.

The first two minutes of the film were shot in Southland, with further footage to be shot in October.

The film will be shown at a film festival at Invercargill’s Reading Cinema at 7.30pm on September 5.

The following link  is a preview trailer of the Drake Flying Fishing Video: Predator which won the award last week.

Source: Southland Times

Dr Paul Trotman : Dunedin film-maker; Otago medical graduate and practising doctor

Dunedin film-maker Dr Paul Trotman hopes the follow-up to his acclaimed film on the University of Otago’s body bequest programme will help “demystify” the medical profession.

His new film, Practising Medicine, follows Otago University medical students who featured in his previous documentary, Donated to Science, through their clinical years in medical school and their first year as doctors.

Dr Trotman, who is an Otago University medical graduate and a practising doctor, said the film, which airs next week, explored the many hurdles students had to overcome on their way to becoming doctors.

“It’s a fascinating journey as they go from knowing a whole lot of anatomy and biochemistry through to learning how to be doctors.” Hopefully, it would go some way to “demystifying” the medical profession, he said.

“I hope it takes a step towards people realising doctors are people and fallible and have all those other things that everybody else has.”

He had enjoyed following the students through such an important part of their lives and there was a little bit of sadness in having to say goodbye when he finished filming. He had spent five years following the students, including the time making Donated to Science.

“It was fantastic seeing …how they went from being basically kids to adults. It was very cool.”

The documentary was filmed at medical school campuses in both Dunedin and Wellington and at 12 hospitals around New Zealand.

Donated to Science screened to an audience of 720,000 and widespread acclaim when it premiered on TV3 in November 2009, with Dr Trotman picking up the best director award at the Edge Film Festival Awards.

He said he was “really pleased” with the popularity of Donated to Science.

“I was slightly surprised. It’s very rewarding when a lot of people want to see a film that you have done and it changes the way people think about something,” he said.

Otago University Otago School of Medical Sciences dean Prof Helen Nicholson, who produced both documentaries, said the film and leftover footage would be used to help teach medical students.

It was also hoped it would lead to research articles, which could take advantage of the interviews carried out as part of the documentary.

The next project Dr Trotman was working on with his company, PRN Films, was a documentary on the New Zealand healthcare system, which was largely being filmed at Oamaru Hospital.

Practising Medicine will screen on TV3 at 9.30pm next Thursday.

Source:  Otago Daily Times