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New Zealand Writers' Foundation

Stephen Cleary and Joan Scheckel Blend their Expertise into New Zealand Films

Over 800 writers, producers, directors and other creatives recently attended the Stephen Cleary/Joan Scheckel Masterclass! Series in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. 

UK based Cleary, founder and director of Arista (a private film development agency) Joan Scheckel (US based writing and directing coach) held a series of one-day workshops and public seminars on the art and craft of writing screenplays.

Their three-city tour was a partnership between the New Zealand Writers Foundation, New Zealand Film Commission, the Masterclass! Team of The British Council and Fulbright New Zealand, along with Montana Wines. Masterclass! Regularly brings to New Zealand teams of UK and USA-based leading practitioners in the arts to lend their expertise to local practitioners.

Scheckel stayed on in New Zealand to facilitate two further workshops. The first was a three-day hui coordinated by Nga Aho Whakaari that brought together Maori filmmakers from all over the country to work with Joan at the Hoani Waititi Marae in West Auckland.

Scheckel then facilitated a 10-day, intensive film workshop. Six upcoming New Zealand films and their creators were selected, and several other creative teams later added to the workshop, to work with Scheckel - focusing primarily on character and story.

Although still in her early 30s, Joan Scheckel has already made an international name for herself with her innovative approach to the creative process. Since 1995, she has been working with independent filmmakers and other creative artists in her native Los Angeles as well as in Australia and Germany and has so far participated in the development of nearly
50 independent films. 

Her workshops attract hundreds of participants, many of whom describe the experience as 'life-changing' or 'illuminating'. Her skill lies in encouraging creative artists and performers to identify and explore the deeper meanings behind their work and to be able to communicate that intention more effectively to their collaborators. She has already played an important role in the development of projects by three of our most talented film directors - Alison Maclean, Niki Caro and Gaylene Preston.

It will be over a year until New Zealand audiences get to judge for themselves the impact of Joan's expertise on these works in progress.

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