4.25.2004
Back from New Zealand
A few days in LA before my departure to London this Thursday for the Collectormania 5 in Milton Keynes.
Had an intense but highly productive business time in New Zealand. Spent the first few days in Wellington with my Screen Writer, Riwia Brown (Once Were Warriors), working on the rough first draft of Bttf (Behind the Tattooed Face). My friend has not won numerous awards for nothing, the script is in excellent shape!
Then it was onto the intensive FBS (Film Business School) week hosted in beautiful Martinborough. It's the first time this school has been hosted in the Southern Hemisphere, its usual location is in Europe. How lucky I was to be selected for this amazing Producers week.
As requested, I've written an interview for the NZ OnFilm Magazine, posted in the Articles section, should you want to know more about my FBS experience. I then had a few days in Auckland to resolve my NZ taxes, yay! Caught up with some colleagues, my Agent and a few dear friends. I didn't have the time to drive home to the Bay of Islands, so I flew my Mum down to Auckland for the 3 days. How precious Mothers are! On my last night we went to see Once Were Warriors the Musical! Yes, it's been turned into a musical, and a very good one too. Wonderful to see so many beautiful Maori faces up on that stage, that's something that never existed in my youth.
I had to adjust to the heat on my return to LA, and always a blessing to be reunited with my beloved Husband! Just had a meeting with an extraordinary Writer/Director and Producer for an exciting film to be shot in Canada in September. Will tell you more when it becomes official.
This Monday I audition for a Maverick film, a comedy called Frost shooting in LA in May. It would be a real fun project to do, so keep your fingers crossed and I best go learn my lines!!
Had an intense but highly productive business time in New Zealand. Spent the first few days in Wellington with my Screen Writer, Riwia Brown (Once Were Warriors), working on the rough first draft of Bttf (Behind the Tattooed Face). My friend has not won numerous awards for nothing, the script is in excellent shape!
Then it was onto the intensive FBS (Film Business School) week hosted in beautiful Martinborough. It's the first time this school has been hosted in the Southern Hemisphere, its usual location is in Europe. How lucky I was to be selected for this amazing Producers week.
As requested, I've written an interview for the NZ OnFilm Magazine, posted in the Articles section, should you want to know more about my FBS experience. I then had a few days in Auckland to resolve my NZ taxes, yay! Caught up with some colleagues, my Agent and a few dear friends. I didn't have the time to drive home to the Bay of Islands, so I flew my Mum down to Auckland for the 3 days. How precious Mothers are! On my last night we went to see Once Were Warriors the Musical! Yes, it's been turned into a musical, and a very good one too. Wonderful to see so many beautiful Maori faces up on that stage, that's something that never existed in my youth.
I had to adjust to the heat on my return to LA, and always a blessing to be reunited with my beloved Husband! Just had a meeting with an extraordinary Writer/Director and Producer for an exciting film to be shot in Canada in September. Will tell you more when it becomes official.
This Monday I audition for a Maverick film, a comedy called Frost shooting in LA in May. It would be a real fun project to do, so keep your fingers crossed and I best go learn my lines!!
4.2.2004
April 2004
So my month of April has finally been determined. I'm on a plane this Saturday to New Zealand, or as it is now more commonly known, Middle Earth!
I've been accepted into a very high profile International Producers Summit. Why, you ask? Now I get to tell you about my pet project, the one that was responsible for keeping me cyber silent last year!
I committed to producing an epic feature film, based on a best selling Novel from the mid-70s, called, "Behind the Tattooed Face" by Heretaunga Pat Baker. A brief synopsis-
"A sweeping tale of action and suspense, Behind the Tattooed Face tells the story of a fictional tribe, the Ngati Whakaari, and its struggle for survival in a very tough society on the Bay of Plenty Coast, New Zealand, in the late 1700s, just before the arrival of Captain Cook. It is an epic tale of power, love and war!"
So over the course of last year, I met with the Author's Family and the Publisher who granted me the rights to adapt the novel to film. Once my Option and Purchase Agreements were locked down. I then pursued my favorite screenwriter, Ms Riwia Brown, who wrote the award winning script for "Once Were Warriors". She loved the book and wanted to write the script. I then composed a Development Finance Application which was successful and I was able to commission my screenwriter.
Riwia has been making great progress on the first draft, so my trip also gives me the time to sit down and work on it with her. It is a great opportunity for me to be accepted into the Summit with BTTF. I will learn how to package, budget, and pitch my movie, from some very high powered International film personnel.
Amongst the work, I will also have a couple of days with my Mum, get to see my closest friends, and check out my property, along with stocking up on New Zealand products! And do you believe it. I've just completed my USA taxes, and now I have to do my NZ taxes. Furthermore, when I return, I'll have to deal with my Australian taxes!! This jet setting lifestyle and our industry is not all glamour, believe me, it can often be very taxing!
Now I gotta tax out. By for now.
I've been accepted into a very high profile International Producers Summit. Why, you ask? Now I get to tell you about my pet project, the one that was responsible for keeping me cyber silent last year!
I committed to producing an epic feature film, based on a best selling Novel from the mid-70s, called, "Behind the Tattooed Face" by Heretaunga Pat Baker. A brief synopsis-
"A sweeping tale of action and suspense, Behind the Tattooed Face tells the story of a fictional tribe, the Ngati Whakaari, and its struggle for survival in a very tough society on the Bay of Plenty Coast, New Zealand, in the late 1700s, just before the arrival of Captain Cook. It is an epic tale of power, love and war!"
So over the course of last year, I met with the Author's Family and the Publisher who granted me the rights to adapt the novel to film. Once my Option and Purchase Agreements were locked down. I then pursued my favorite screenwriter, Ms Riwia Brown, who wrote the award winning script for "Once Were Warriors". She loved the book and wanted to write the script. I then composed a Development Finance Application which was successful and I was able to commission my screenwriter.
Riwia has been making great progress on the first draft, so my trip also gives me the time to sit down and work on it with her. It is a great opportunity for me to be accepted into the Summit with BTTF. I will learn how to package, budget, and pitch my movie, from some very high powered International film personnel.
Amongst the work, I will also have a couple of days with my Mum, get to see my closest friends, and check out my property, along with stocking up on New Zealand products! And do you believe it. I've just completed my USA taxes, and now I have to do my NZ taxes. Furthermore, when I return, I'll have to deal with my Australian taxes!! This jet setting lifestyle and our industry is not all glamour, believe me, it can often be very taxing!
Now I gotta tax out. By for now.
