The Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand (SDGNZ) creates a forum where directors and editors can define, defend and further their professional industry. Directors and editors have a responsibility to shape and influence the collective environment they work in. It is the Guild's role to help screen directors and editors work more effectively in the New Zealand Film and Television industry.

Through the promotion and advancement of New Zealand feature film and TV production, the SDGNZ strives to develop the professional incentives that are needed to encourage talented people to stretch their skills, exploit their gifts to the full and encourage others to follow.

For all expertise levels, from young trainees to seasoned directors and editors, the SDGNZ is dedicated to the artistic excellence, employment opportunity and economic wellbeing of its members.

Click here to find out about joining the Guild

SDGNZ regularly makes submissions on key industry issues.

TVNZ AMENDMENT BILL

SDGNZ held a forum to discuss the impact of the TVNZ Amendment Bill in April 2010.

Read our resources list here
Read the notes from the forum here

The latest copy of our publication Take magazine also has a number of articles that discuss the issues of public broadcasting. Contact us to purchase a copy.

Other NZ screen industry personnel belong to and are represented by the following guilds and associations:
Actors Equity
New Zealand Film and Video Technicians Guild
New Zealand Writers Guild
New Zealand Cinematographer's Society
Nga Aho Whakaari (Maori in Film, Video and Television)
SPADA (Screen Production and Development Association
WIFT (Women in Film and TV)
DOCNZ Trust
Film Auckland
Film New Zealand

Funders and free-to-air broadcasters:
Creative New Zealand
New Zealand Film Commission
New Zealand On Air
Te Mangai Paho

TVNZ (TV One and TV2)
TV3 (TV3 and C4)
Prime
Maori Television

Other useful links:
The Big Idea An online community of Kiwi creatives.

SDGNZ is a member of IAESDO, the International Affiliation of English-Speaking Directors’ Organisations, and is developing relationships with other national guilds and unions.

If you are an SDGNZ member and you want to work in other countries, please get in touch with the relevant national guild. See the websites below for more information:

ASDA Australia
BECTU UK (union for those working in broadcasting, film, theatre, entertainment, leisure, interactive media)
DGA USA
DGC Canada
Directors UK UK
SDGI Ireland

Click on this PDF to view the reciprocal agreements the SDGNZ share with IAESDO partners:

IAESDO Reciprocal Agreements

PRESIDENT

Peter Bell

Born and bred in Auckland, Peter entered the music industry after studying at the University of Otago. He worked in radio for two years then the music industry for a year before the desire to direct set in. Turning to his interest in television for inspiration, he completed a post-grad Diploma in Broadcasting at the University of Auckland.

Peter has directed across a wide range of genres and forms – from reality programs to drama, music programs to high-end documentaries.

He credits this wide range of creative output to a desire to learn about all elements of production. Peter has worked on a range of documentary series including Beyond the Darklands, Missing, Epitaph, Secret New Zealand, Taonga, The Zoo and Kid’s Hospital. He has directed the documentaries: Destiny in Motion (2006) Wrestling with the Angel: The life of Janet Frame (2004), What’s Your Verdict: Mark Lundy (2005), Do or Die: Lost in the bush (2002). I have also worked on music programmes Squeeze, Play it Strange and New Zealand Idol; oh and story lined on Shortland Street and directed a short film The Last Words (2006).

THE BOARD

Auckland board members:
George Andrews
Pietra Brettkelly
Bryn Evans
Janette Howe
Alex Lee
Mark McNeill

Wellington Board members:
Grant Campbell
John Reid Past President
Howard Taylor

Christchurch Board members:
Richard Bell

Editor Representative and Treasurer: Peter Roberts

For more information on our Executive, please click on the document below:

Executive Biographies

STAFF
Executive Director: Anna Cahill
TAKE Editor : Janette Howe
Accounts Manager: Caroline Harrow
Adminstrative Officer: Kate Stevenson

For all media enquiries, please contact Anna Cahill on 360 2102 or 0275 105 043.

Please see the 'Awards' page for media contacts for the Air New Zealand Screen Awards 2008.

OFFICE
195 Ponsonby Rd
Ponsonby
Auckland
New Zealand

Tel. +64 9 360 2102
Email. office@sdgnz.co.nz

Current office hours:
9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday.

The SDGNZ is a voluntary organisation totally dependent on the goodwill and support of its members, funders and sponsors. Please support our funders and sponsors:

The SDGNZ had its genesis in 1995 when 18 directors gathered together at the annual industry conference in Wellington to discuss directors' conditions of work and the need for an organisation to represent their interests independent of SPADA, which had evolved from the original concept of a guild that represented both Producers & Directors. That first meeting generated much excitement as directors, who tended to work in isolation, found many concerns in common.

Whether or not to become a union was discussed throughout this time, particularly in 2000 when the Labour Government passed the Employment Relations Act making collective bargaining possible. However, because the majority of SDGNZ members continued to see themselves as freelance operators there was never unified support for unionisation.