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Kia ora tatou

Sir Howard Morrison's passing - and watching the wonderful array of musicians and performers in full musical flight during his tangi - was a reminder of the generations of musical talent we have been privileged to witness in this country. It's easy to forget, now that NZ music is widely accepted by young New Zealanders, that earlier generations of musicians struggled to be heard on our airwaves - and that their song writing was largely ignored. So those that broke through in those earlier years will always be particularly special. NZ On Screen has a lovely range of programmes featuring Sir Howard. As it does for Martyn Sanderson, another industry pioneer in a very different way, who we have also lost recently: we acknowledge Martyn's very special contribution to film, theatre and television - a remarkable and distinctive talent.

Television Hits

The children's and special interest funding round this month was a treat, with major investments made in programmes for children and young people and in several significant series for diverse audiences. Without NZ On Air investment, none of these programmes would be made. Thanks to our broadcaster and programme maker partners, for continuing to support and make these important programmes.

Hopefully you're watching the new thriller series The Cult which launched on TV2 last month. Our congratulations go to Rachel, Phil and the Great Southern team for a brilliantly shot and executed series which raises the TV drama bar even further. The season finale of Outrageous Fortune was also a brilliant success with massive numbers tuning in. And in a completely different part of the spectrum, check out Kiwa's Aunty Moves In on Maori Television for a warm-hearted, not-remotely cheesy series about doing good out there. And the very clever What's Really In Our Food? on TV3 and Birdland on TV One. Plus everything else local!

Platinum Fund

We've had over 70 proposals for the docu-drama project on TV One. It's a fantastic response and both TVNZ and NZ On Air are delighted with the interest in something different. Results will be conveyed as soon as we're able.

Talented Musicians

The APRA Silver Scrolls in Christchurch last month showed again the fantastic songwriting talents we have. Congratulations to James Milne and Luke Buda for Apple Pie Bed - we're proud to have helped with the music video, and by including the song on Kiwi Hits Disc 117. The NZ Music Awards this month were also splendid - read more in the Music items in this newsletter. Special congratulations to Ray Columbus and The Invaders who were inducted by RIANZ and APRA into the NZ Music Hall of Fame.

Newsletter and Website

You'll notice we've (belatedly) gone a bit modern in our newsletter and hope this makes it easier to read and access. I want to pay a special tribute to an unsung hero, our accountant Hui-Ping Wu. Most of you won't know her, but over many months she has painstakingly been converting years and years of elderly funding information into our new system. Hui-Ping has saved us heaps of money and has given us - and you - one of the most transparent funding reporting systems there is, through the search function on our new website. Thank you Hui-Ping.

Reminder

The last funding deadline for this year is 30 October (New Recording deadline 6 November).

And finally, let's hope those reported economic 'green shoots' are about to flower for our summer.

Cheers,
Jane

 

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We propose to have five funding rounds instead of six in 2010.

Easter falls awkwardly next year so holding a sixth meeting would have meant either setting an unreasonably early January deadline, or holding a December meeting so late that we wouldn't be able to issue contracts before Christmas. Of course we also need to ensure we have sufficient working days to appraise applications properly and just can't make the dates of a sixth meeting fit. So the dates for the 2010 funding rounds and deadlines are:

Deadlines
Meeting dates
TV Genre Series Rounds
29 January 2010 10 & 11 March Documentaries, Factual, Arts/Culture
23 April 2010 2 & 3 June Māori, Arts/Culture
25 June 2010 4 & 5 August Documentary, Factual, Platinum
27 August 2010 6 & 7 October Children's, Special Interest, Arts/Culture
29 October 2010 8 & 9 December Documentary, Māori, Factual, Platinum
As usual, one off programmes,drama and comedy
can come to any meeting.
New Recording deadlines:

5 February
30 April
2 July
5 November

We'll be sending out our handy wall chart setting out the deadlines with the release our annual report next month.

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Call for fresh ideas for a 10 x ½ hour series.

We're looking for ideas for an Ethnic Diversity series for TVNZ which will explore the cultural diversity of New Zealand by revealing the emerging communities of new New Zealanders.

Read the Request for Proposals

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This funding round focused on Arts and Culture, Special Interest and Children's programmes.

For arts lovers, a new 8 x ½ hour series on TV 3 Beneath My Wings takes a behind the scenes look at the Royal New Zealand Ballet as they prepare for the 2010 season of From Here to There.

A new series for children aims to encourage participation in a wide variety of sports. Airing on weekends, Kiwisports will cover a broad range of club and school sports as well as focus on healthy lifestyles. It's a new stable mate for the rugby-focused Small Blacks. Zip the Frog and Mac the Dog will be back on our screens with a new 3D animated series for pre-schoolers on numeracy. Their last series of five minute programmes on literacy was a best Children's/Youth Programme finalist at the 2008 Qantas film & television awards.

In the Special Interest arena, joining many of our much-loved series that have been renewed, Mike King tackles issues around mental health with The Nutters Club. Following on from the success of his radio show of the same name, the TV show will include stories, information and support, all with a large dollop of humour. The programme is set to air in prime time on Māori Television.

For all the decisions from the October funding round see the tables at the end of this newsletter. You can also see them in the Latest Decisions pages on the website - these get updated after every Board meeting.

 

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Tiki Taane was awarded the NZ On Air Radio Airplay Record of the Year Tui at the Vodafone NZ Music Awards .

award logo

Tiki's smash hit song Always On My Mind was the most played NZ song on NZ radio in the qualifying year to 31 May, beating out other big tunes by the likes of Midnight Youth, Ladyhawke, Dane Rumble and Smashproof. Always On My Mind, the fourth single from Tiki Taane's NZ On Air-funded debut solo album, was a huge cross-format hit and is still on the RadioScope NZ Airplay Chart after 75 consecutive weeks.


At the APRA Silver Scroll Awards in September, the Most Performed Work in NZ award went to Midnight Youth's NZ On Air New Recording Artist-funded song The Letter. So why a different "most-played" song at the Tuis? To start with, the qualifying years are different - APRA's year is to 30 June and the Tui year is to 31 May. Also, the Tui counts radio airplay only while APRA includes radio and television spins.

 

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Feature Film Funding

Sadly, NZ On Air will not now be able to consider any further feature film drama applications until the new financial year.

As mentioned in the last newsletter, we have a limited budget for feature film funding. At the October meeting we supported a further two films (bringing the total films supported this year to three), which means our drama funds available for films are now fully committed for the year.

Invoice deadlines for Labour Weekend

Please send your invoices and reports by lunchtime Thursday 22 October for payments on Tuesday 27 October.

Applications

Applications and support letters must contain correct budgets and cover sheets with figures that match. Increasingly we are receiving applications with errors and inconsistencies between applicants' figures and broadcasters' figures. Sorting these out means extra work for the TV team and delays the processing of applications. Please use round figures to the nearest dollar.

Contractual Obligations General

Your funding agreements are a legally binding document and NZ On Air will insist on contractual obligations being met. Public funding quite properly requires high standards of accountability. Please be familiar with the requirements of your contracts, check our website for further information, and contact the TV team if help or advice is needed. Once a contract is executed, changes are generally agreed to by us only in exceptional circumstances.

Contractual Obligations Broadcaster agreements

Producers must provide NZ On Air with a copy of their signed broadcaster agreement.

For development projects it is a requirement of the first drawdown, together with any writers' agreements. For production projects it is a requirement of the second drawdown. Funds will not be released until these contractual obligations have been fulfilled.

Contractual Obligations Income Reporting

If your programme is earning income, it is likely you will need to report and share that income with NZ On Air. Reports are due on a six-monthly basis from the date of first transmission. Income sharing applies to all programmes where NZ On Air funding is $200,000 or above.

As well as reporting the income to NZ On Air, you need to provide information to support your reports, such as distribution agreements and statements from your distributor. Where distribution expenses are being claimed, these need to be itemised. Find out more about the television application process.

Or download a template sales income report.

If your programme was funded by NZ On Air prior to 1 April 2007 and you have not yet completed a recoupment variation, you may be entitled to a larger share of net income than your contract currently states. Please contact naomi@nzonair.govt.nz if you are unsure.

Funding Decision Letters

The Funding decision letters sent out after our board meeting are now sent in email form only; no hard copies will be posted. The letters also contain a link to the Contract Initiation form on our website, where you can download the appropriate form to complete and return. In the unlikely event that you have not heard from us two days after our Board meeting, please contact teresa@nzonair.govt.nz.

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September and October are busy months for awards and music competitions around the country.

There are the finals of the Smokefree Rockquest, the APRA Silver Scroll Awards, the Vodafone NZ Music Awards, Smokefree Pacifica Beats and 98.5 RDU's RounDUp battle of the bands.

The Smokefree Rockquest was won by Wellington College student and solo singer-songwriter The Jesse Sheehan and the Smokefree Pacifica Beats prize was won by Babylon Rhythm from Tamaki College. Both get NZ On Air funding for recording a debut single and making a music video. Down south, Christchurch b.net station RDU's RounDUp winning band was Sleepy Age.

And coming up, there's 42UNHEARD. 42Unheard is a new band competition launched by 42Below along with sponsors MTV, The Edge, Kiwi FM, Universal Music, Real Groove, Red Bull and LG Arena. Universal will release a single by the winning band, the band will be taken to the CMJ Music Marathon in New York in October 2010 and will receive a whole host of prizes including guaranteed TV and radio airplay, an NZ On Air-funded music video and a spread in Real Groove. The finals for 42Unheard will be held on December 10 in Auckland.

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The Television team are keen to source photos for productions supported by NZ On Air for use on our new website and newsletter.

This not only keeps our website up to date, but also helps you promote your shows. So remember to let your publicist know that when they are supplying the broadcaster they should also email pictures to us. Images, ideally at 300dpi, can be sent to Teresa Tito at teresa@nzonair.govt.nz

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New Zealand will be back at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York in October, bigger and bolder than before.


NZ On Air and the NZ Music Commission have mounted a New Zealand music showcase at the annual US college radio music fest in New York for two years running. The inaugural showcase in 2007 was dubbed "one of the hottest tickets at CMJ" by UK music bible NME and helped get airplay traction for the likes of Liam Finn, Cut Off Your Hands and The Brunettes on college radio in America. The word spread and the 2008 show was crammed too for Bang Bang Eche, The Naked & Famous and US college radio darlings, The Ruby Suns.

The 2009 showcase, on the opening night of CMJ, is going to be bigger than before - a bigger, cooler space with more acts - thanks to sponsors 42BELOW, Red Bull and Wild Rock Wine. The art is by The Mint Chicks' Ruban Nielson, winner of the Tui for Best Album Art at this year's NZ Music Awards.

 

NZ at CMJ 09

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Discussions are in full swing around how digital issues will affect Regional Television stations.

There are some important issues surrounding Digital Switch Over (DSO) for the regional stations. Regional television operators have made submissions to the "Digital Futures" discussion paper by the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. Submissions are available to read at the MCH Website.

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An updated version is now available on our website.

Some years ago we commissioned Brian Pauling and Sarah Ayton to write a manual on the pleasures and pitfalls of managing an access radio station. Anyone involved in access radio will find this publication an invaluable source of information. Station managers should download this version to replace the one they were originally issued.

Download Radio Diversity: A handbook for access radio

Find out more about access radio

New face at Wellington Access Radio

In August, the access radio group of stations welcomed Phil O'Brien as manager of Wellington Access Radio. Phil has a wealth of experience in both commercial and public service radio.

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This annual event takes place 1 - 4 December 2009 in Melbourne.

The World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP) is a member-run, not-for-profit organization, dedicated to celebrating the best in science, history and other factual television genres. Local producer Amanda Evans is on the conference steering committee.

The event, for factual broadcasters and producers, has a 2-to-1 producer-to-broadcaster ratio, ensuring opportunities for face-to-face meetings. Leading international producers and broadcasters collaborate to develop dynamic member-produced panels and talks - a "by-the-industry and for-the-industry" model that always ensures relevant topics and valuable behind-the-scenes insight.

Registration for the 2009 WCSFP is now open. For more information visit the WCSFP website.

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This month NZ On Screen celebrated New Zealand's unique natural heritage with the launch of a Nature collection.

Aotearoa's landforms and its magnificent menagerie of natural oddities - birds, insects, and trees like nowhere else on the planet - are showcased in 15 award-winning NHNZ productions. From Discovery Channel and David Bellamy documentaries, to Wild South and Our World classics, this is a truly remarkable collection. The Nature collection has been curated for NZ On Screen by long-time presenter and producer, Peter Hayden.

TV and film classics continue to be regularly added to the site: Country Calendar spoofs, The Marching Girls, Howard Morrison concerts, Top Town finals, A Dog's Show, Woolly Valley, Count Homogenized, the best of Billy T's skits, the complete Revolution political history series, and a woolly popular Sheep collection of titles celebrating all-things-ovine.

Coming up in the next while are first episodes of Gliding On, and Close to Home, as well as Jane Campion's Cannes-winning short film Peel, and full length John O'Shea 60s rock'n'roll feature film Don't Let It Get You.

And check out Beth and her mates in Reservoir Hill, the latest project to go online supported by the Digital Content Partnership Fund.

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NZ On Air has to create new procedures to comply fully with the Public Records Act.

As part of this project we need to agree with Archives NZ which old (paper) files are retained permanently at Archives NZ, and which get destroyed after they are no longer required by us. Stakeholders are able to provide input on this policy if they wish. If you want to know more please email wayne@nzonair.govt.nz or call (04) 802 8303.

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Television








Genre

Programme

Total Amount Approved

No. Of Episodes

Length of Episodes (minutes)

Production Company

Channel

Arts/Culture ANZAC DAY 2010
WREATHLAYING CEREMONY
$43,044 1 90 TVNZ Ltd TV One
Arts/Culture BENEATH MY WINGS $716,565 8 30 Eyeworks New Zealand Ltd TV3
Arts/Culture KOTAHI TE WAIRUA -
ANZAC DAY 2010
$140,277 2 30 Maori Television Service MTS
Arts/Culture POLYFEST 2010 $199,987 5 30 TVNZ Ltd TV 2
Children BRYAN & BOBBY 3 $150,000 20 10 Treehut Limited TV3
Children COOL KIDS COOKING 3 $180,000 26 7 Top Shelf Productions Ltd TV 2
Children I AM TV 2010 $1,414,919 35 60 TVNZ Ltd TV 2
Children JUST THE JOB 5 $136,018 10 30 Dave Mason Productions Ltd TV 2
Children KIWISPORT $349,922 21 30 Quick TV Limited TV3
Children SMALL BLACKS TV 2010 $200,000 21 30 Content Creators Ltd TV 2
Children STICKY TV 2010 $2,000,000 210 40 Pickled Possum Productions TV3
Children STUDIO 2 2010 $1,559,275 120 30 TVNZ Ltd TV 2
Children THE ERIN SIMPSON
SHOW 2010
$1,749,952 120 30 Whitebait Productions TV 2
Children WHAT NOW 2010 $2,979,534 40 120 What Now Ltd TV 2
Children ZIP AND MAC 2 - NUMERACY $657,665 13 5 You And Media Ltd TV 2
Comedy AOTEAROHA SPECIAL
CHRISTMAS COMEDY SPECIAL
$139,858 1 60 TVWorks Ltd TV3
Comedy BROWN BRUTHAS
(Additional)
$26,601 N/A N/A Cinco Cine Film Productions TV3
Documentary THE GRAND PLAN $325,000 10 30 Paua Productions Ltd Prime
Documentary WHAT'S REALLY IN OUR...? $661,880 10 30 Top Shelf Productions Ltd TV3
Drama GIRL MEETS BOY $250,000 1 120 South Pacific Pictures TV3
Drama PIERRE $400,000 1 120 General Film Corporation TV One
News/Current Affairs THE NATION $1,133,156 36 60 Front Page Ltd TV3
Special Interest ATTITUDE 6 (2010) $1,535,100 40 30 RSVP Productions Ltd TV One
Special Interest ETHNIC DIVERSITY SERIES $350,000 10 30 TBC TV One
Special Interest MY GOD 5 $410,000 10 30 Pacific Screen Ltd TV One
Special Interest PACIFIC BEAT STREET 2010 $1,419,990 39 30 Drum Productions Ltd TV3
Special Interest PRAISE BE 2010 $485,577 40 30 TVNZ Ltd TV One
Special Interest PUKANA SUBTITLES 2010 $71,650 52 0 Cinco Cine Film Productions TV3
Special Interest RURAL DELIVERY 2010 $795,000 30 30 Showdown Productions Ltd TV One
Special Interest TAGATA PASIFIKA 2010 $1,435,459 52 30 TVNZ Ltd TV One
Special Interest THE NUTTERS CLUB $255,317 13 30 Top Shelf Productions Ltd MTS














Music








Funding Type

Artist - Project

Total Amount Approved

Production Company

NZ Music Albums Autozamm - Album 4 $50,000 Let The People Speak Entertainment
NZ Music Albums J Williams - Album 3 $50,000 Illegal Musik Ltd
NZ Music Albums Kingston - Album 2 $50,000 Kingston Music Ltd
NZ Music Albums Kirsten Morrell - Album 2 $50,000 KMR Recordings
NZ Music New Recordings Babylon Rhythm -
Reggae Is My Heart
$10,000 Smokefree Pacifica Beats
NZ Music New Recordings The Jesse Sheehan -
Brothers
$10,000 Smokefree Rockquest
NZ Music Videos All Left Out - We're Alive! $5,000 Isaac Promotions
NZ Music Videos Antiform - Bury Me $5,000 Systemwide Records Ltd
NZ Music Videos Brotha D - Come Back
(feat. J-Son)
$5,000 Dawn Raid Music Ltd
NZ Music Videos Charlie Ash -
Be My Party Tonight
$5,000 Charlie Ash Ltd
NZ Music Videos Dane Rumble - Cruel $5,000 Rumble Music Ltd
NZ Music Videos Dei Hamo - 4222 $5,000 Aviator Music Ltd
NZ Music Videos Dick Johnson -
Rocked My World (feat. Vince Harder)

$5,000 Magiktrax
NZ Music Videos False Start -
Children Of The Night
$5,000 Deadboy Records
NZ Music Videos Falter - Out Of Control $5,000 Smalltime Records
NZ Music Videos Fly My Pretties - Beat Repeat $5,000 Loop Media Ltd
NZ Music Videos For Da Grind - Remember
(feat. Nesian Mystik)
$5,000 For Da Grind
NZ Music Videos Frisko - Music
(feat. Aaradhna)
$5,000 Dawn Raid Music Ltd
NZ Music Videos Gin Wigmore - Hey Ho $5,000 Universal Music NZ Ltd
NZ Music Videos Isaac Aesili - I'm All In
(feat. Rachel Fraser)
$5,000 Isaac Aesili
NZ Music Videos Iva Lamkum -
Why Do We Fall In Love
$5,000 Base Promotions
NZ Music Videos Jordan Luck Band -
Johnnies Coin
$5,000 Siren Records
NZ Music Videos Julia Deans - A New Dialogue $5,000 Tardus Music
NZ Music Videos Junipah - Love Your Ways $5,000 Illegal Musik Ltd
NZ Music Videos Kirsten Morrell - Friday Boy $5,000 KMR Recordings
NZ Music Videos Minuit - Vampires $5,000 Isaac Promotions
NZ Music Videos Miriam Clancy -
Join The Chorus
$5,000 Desert Road Records
NZ Music Videos Motocade - Kissed In Time $5,000 Isaac Promotions
NZ Music Videos Opensouls - Telephone Song $5,000 Dirty Management
NZ Music Videos PNC - Bazooka's Theme $5,000 Dirty Management
NZ Music Videos Sarah Brown - Best Of You $5,000 Isaac Promotions
NZ Music Videos State Of Mind - Vega $5,000 Dirty Management
NZ Music Videos The Feelers - Blue Skies $5,000 The Feelers
NZ Music Videos The Lookie Loos - What You Cryin' For $5,000 The Lookie Loos Company
NZ Music Videos The Mint Chicks - She's A Mod $5,000 CRS Records
NZ Music Videos The Mots - Let's Go Fishing $5,000 Isaac Promotions
NZ Music Videos The Rabble - Blood & Whiskey $5,000 Filthy Lucre Enterprises Ltd
NZ Music Videos These Four Walls - Lay It Out $5,000 Isaac Promotions
NZ Music Videos Tourist -
A Heart Expecting More
$5,000 Tourist Sound Ltd
NZ Music Videos Trigger Theory - Better Days $5,000 Independent Film Company Of NZ
NZ Music Videos We Are Romans -
Draw The Lines
$5,000 We Are Romans
NZ Music Videos Young Sid - Made $5,000 Move The Crowd Ltd
Phase 5 Campaign Bang Bang Eche -
Fistful Of Dollars
$20,000 Underground Management US
Phase 5 Campaign Opshop - One Day $13,000 Opshop Music Touring Ltd.
Phase 5 Campaign Pitch Black - Album $4,500 The Dub Module
Phase 5 Campaign The Black Seeds -
Solid Ground
$12,000 Triple M Management














Genre

Programme

Total Amount Approved

No. Of Episodes

Length of Episodes (minutes)

Production Company

Channel

Music TV programme Decent Exposure $90,000 130 5 TVWorks Ltd C4
Music TV programme NZ Music Month $50,000 1 120 TVWorks Ltd C4
Music TV programme Official NZ Top 40 $110,000 48 60 TVWorks Ltd C4
Music TV programme NZOwn 09/10 $100,000 50 60 Juice TV.com Ltd Juice TV














Radio Programmes













Genre

Description

Total Amount Approved

No. Of Episodes

Length of Episodes (minutes)

Channel

NZ Music Programmes Radio Backyard Beats $40,000 48 5 MAI FM
Children That's The Story 2009-10 $45,760 52 60 Classic Hits
Children The Great
Big Kids' Show
$51,170 23 60 Big FM
Comedy P.R.
Rescue Series 2
$23,175 26 2 Solid Gold







Community Radio













Funding Type


Description

Total Amount Approved




Special Interest Radio Station
Print Disabled Radio $105,000









New Media













Project


Total Amount Approved


Production Company

Main Platform

RESERVOIR HILL (Additional)

$10,000
KHF Media Ltd Website
SOUNZ - Resound Project
$44,397
Sounz Website














Archive














Project


Total Amount Approved


Production Company


Sound Archives Special Project Cataloguing
$41,750
Sound Archives Nga Taonga Korero

 

 

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