Drama and comedy with strong local flavours have received $15.5 million in support from NZ On Air in the first application round of the new NZ Media Fund.
The NZ Media Fund invests in public media for many audiences on a range of platforms.
Scripted content supported in this round includes diverse new stories and returning series for mainstream television and online audiences. They range from modern war, criminal justice, pure fantasy to popular comedy content.
“We received 16 applications for scripted production funding in this round, including many projects with excellent potential for the future. Our challenge in the new funding model is to achieve a balance between maintaining content on screen that is holding an audience, while looking out for great, fresh ideas, and reaching new audiences on different platforms,” said Jane Wrightson , Chief Executive of NZ On Air.
The three objectives of the fund are to support quality content, for diverse audiences that is discoverable – that is, content audiences can find and enjoy.
“What’s encouraging in this round is being able to support some relatively new creative teams to bring their idea to screens. We have also supported 12 further projects for development, feeding the steady pipeline of new ideas,” said Ms Wrightson.
Details of the Scripted projects funded in the July round are available below:
July 2017
New content:
In Dark Places, 1 x 90 mins, The 10,000 Company for TVNZ 1, up to $2,944,175
A Rautaki Māori telefeature based on the true story of a wrongful conviction for rape and murder.
War Stories, 1 x 84 mins, Making Movies for TVNZ 1, up to $2,690,000
An international co-production telefeature based on an extraordinary 1997 interview conducted by NZ journalist Peter Arnett with Osama bin Laden, and the events that followed.
AFK: This World And The Next, 10 x 10 mins, Epically Casual Ltd for TVNZ On Demand, up to $276,420
Series 2 of a previously self-funded successful fantasy webseries based on gaming, for a younger audience.
Daffodils, 1 x 90 mins, Libertine Pictures for TVNZ 1, up to $200,000
A feature-length musical based on the successful stage show celebrating a couple’s love and marriage amid re-imaginings of loved New Zealand songs (with the NZFC).
Returning content:
Westside 4, 8 x 44 mins South Pacific Pictures for Three, up to $6,543,500
The continuation of the popular back story of Ted and Rita West, their son Wolf and soon-to-be wife Cheryl.
Jono And Ben, 26 x 44 mins, Mediaworks for Three, up to $1,717,042
A seventh season of the entertainment comedy series that has been the launching pad for many young comedy careers.
7 Days, 32 x 32 mins, Mediaworks for Three, up to $1,056,000
The one-liners will be rolling again for the ninth season of Friday night’s appointment viewing comedy panel show.
The Watercooler 2, 6 x 6min, Breakdown Productions for WatchMe, up to $120,000
A second series of this original approach to telling outrageous ‘this-happened-to-me’ stories.