The History - Act IV
The History - Act Four
Dominic Sheehan takes us through the start of the 2000s. Dominic is a writer, novelist, lawyer.
Act Four: 2001-2005 By Dominic Sheehan (abridged)
2001 was the Year of the Foundation... The purpose of the Foundation would be to improve development opportunities for local screenwriters. Exec. Dir. Susy Pointon and I approached the New Zealand Film Commission with the idea. They had also been grappling with the issue of writer development, and thus the New Zealand Writers Foundation was born.
The additional core funding provided by the Commission enabled the Guild/Foundation to move to Ponsonby Rd and for the first time the Guild was an actual tenant! And staff got paid! The Foundation’s first year was an ambitious one – workshops, seminars, and the inaugural New Zealand Screenwriters Laboratory in February 2002. We were also continuing to run the Guild. In 2001, the negotiation of the Model Contracts continued - the contracts would finally be released into the wild later that year and remain a stunning achievement…
With all these high-profile seminars and the advent of free contracts, the Guild’s membership swelled to around 550. Our immediate goal was to put minimum agreements back front and centre. An example agreement was drafted and christened the IMA – Industry Minimums Agreement. The Guild was faced with a very different bargaining environment. Instead of negotiating with TVNZ, we were faced with a myriad of companies and independents, and the Employment Relations Act did not cover contractors – meaning we could not use this agreement to compel any employer to the bargaining table. Despite this, we approached SPADA. While we knew they would not welcome being tied to minimum rates and conditions, we hoped they would see sense in negotiating this agreement with us. They didn’t, and the IMA remains MIA.
Meanwhile, at the Foundation, negotiations got underway for a second Laboratory, which eventually took place in December 2003… 2003 also saw an increase in our involvement in the CTU. Surviving in an unfriendly industrial environment has meant we’ve needed to become diplomats while still performing the work of a union – not an easy balancing act.
In early 2004 we completed another major review of writing rates. We were dismayed to see that rates had actually stayed the same or decreased slightly right across the board. And producers think there’s no reason for a minimum agreement! What other profession actually pays less than it did in 1998? However, on a brighter note, 2004 was also the year that three of our members won Oscars. In early 2005… The Guild turns the big 3-oh. Time to look back and forward.
ONLINE - Comedy Panel, Thurs 18 June 2026
So You Think You're Funny? An online live comedy panel event exploring the nature of New Zealand comedy onscreen. Is it just enough to be funny? Is there a will to fund New Zealand comedy on screen. What legacy have our emerging comedians been left with?
This panel brings together outstanding comedy screenwriters: Oscar Kightley, Pax Assadi and Janaye Henry.
WRITERS CREDITS - Update Your Credits
We are making the longest credit reel in NZ screen history!
It is going to name all those who have a writer credit on projects in Aotearoa between 1976-2026. This is to show the work that has actually been done by screenwriters in New Zealand.
We need your input.
Jump into the survey to check your own credits, make sure we are not leaving anyone out. The results will be shared with all at the Gala dinner in October.
Thanks to AWGACS for supporting the project.
Want to look like a writer? Buy a T-Shirt!
The History - Act Four
Dominic Sheehan takes us through the start of the 2000s. Dominic is a writer, novelist, lawyer.
Act Four: 2001-2005 By Dominic Sheehan (abridged)
2001 was the Year of the Foundation... The purpose of the Foundation would be to improve development opportunities for local screenwriters. Exec. Dir. Susy Pointon and I approached the New Zealand Film Commission with the idea. They had also been grappling with the issue of writer development, and thus the New Zealand Writers Foundation was born.
Already an NZWG member? Sign in here
The History - Act Four
Dominic Sheehan takes us through the start of the 2000s. Dominic is a writer, novelist, lawyer.
Act Four: 2001-2005 By Dominic Sheehan (abridged)
2001 was the Year of the Foundation... The purpose of the Foundation would be to improve development opportunities for local screenwriters. Exec. Dir. Susy Pointon and I approached the New Zealand Film Commission with the idea. They had also been grappling with the issue of writer development, and thus the New Zealand Writers Foundation was born.
The additional core funding provided by the Commission enabled the Guild/Foundation to move to Ponsonby Rd and for the first time the Guild was an actual tenant! And staff got paid! The Foundation’s first year was an ambitious one – workshops, seminars, and the inaugural New Zealand Screenwriters Laboratory in February 2002. We were also continuing to run the Guild. In 2001, the negotiation of the Model Contracts continued - the contracts would finally be released into the wild later that year and remain a stunning achievement…
With all these high-profile seminars and the advent of free contracts, the Guild’s membership swelled to around 550. Our immediate goal was to put minimum agreements back front and centre. An example agreement was drafted and christened the IMA – Industry Minimums Agreement. The Guild was faced with a very different bargaining environment. Instead of negotiating with TVNZ, we were faced with a myriad of companies and independents, and the Employment Relations Act did not cover contractors – meaning we could not use this agreement to compel any employer to the bargaining table. Despite this, we approached SPADA. While we knew they would not welcome being tied to minimum rates and conditions, we hoped they would see sense in negotiating this agreement with us. They didn’t, and the IMA remains MIA.
Meanwhile, at the Foundation, negotiations got underway for a second Laboratory, which eventually took place in December 2003… 2003 also saw an increase in our involvement in the CTU. Surviving in an unfriendly industrial environment has meant we’ve needed to become diplomats while still performing the work of a union – not an easy balancing act.
In early 2004 we completed another major review of writing rates. We were dismayed to see that rates had actually stayed the same or decreased slightly right across the board. And producers think there’s no reason for a minimum agreement! What other profession actually pays less than it did in 1998? However, on a brighter note, 2004 was also the year that three of our members won Oscars. In early 2005… The Guild turns the big 3-oh. Time to look back and forward.
ONLINE - Comedy Panel, Thurs 18 June 2026
So You Think You're Funny? An online live comedy panel event exploring the nature of New Zealand comedy onscreen. Is it just enough to be funny? Is there a will to fund New Zealand comedy on screen. What legacy have our emerging comedians been left with?
This panel brings together outstanding comedy screenwriters: Oscar Kightley, Pax Assadi and Janaye Henry.
WRITERS CREDITS - Update Your Credits
We are making the longest credit reel in NZ screen history!
It is going to name all those who have a writer credit on projects in Aotearoa between 1976-2026. This is to show the work that has actually been done by screenwriters in New Zealand.
We need your input.
Jump into the survey to check your own credits, make sure we are not leaving anyone out. The results will be shared with all at the Gala dinner in October.
Thanks to AWGACS for supporting the project.
Want to look like a writer? Buy a T-Shirt!
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