Production Executive

Established to encourage New Zealand film making by an Act of Parliament in 1978, the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) provides loans and equity financing to New Zealand film-makers to assist in the development and production of feature and short films. It is based in Wellington and has a dedicated staff of 19.

 As outlined in meetings with the film industry late last year the NZFC is in the process of re-structuring its staffing to meet the increasing volume of development and financing applications we receive, to manage the Escalator scheme and to provide a better service to the industry as a whole.

This position is offered in the first instance on a fixed 12 month contract.   It is based in Wellington with regular out of town travel.   The position demands a high level of commitment to the role and to the New Zealand film industry.  It is envisaged the successful applicant will have a passion for cinema, good organisational skills and a demonstrated commitment to working as a team.

We are looking for an experienced production person to act as the point person for all films in which the NZFC is an investor, both through the Escalator low budget scheme and the mainstream financing route. The Production Executive will report to the CEO and will work closely with the Development Team and the Head of Sales and Marketing. The successful applicant will also have the opportunity to participate in Early Development Fund meetings.

This position focuses on:

• Reviewing applications for production finance and assessing the viability of the supplied budget
• Liaison with producers of both NZFC financed films and Escalator films from green-light to delivery
• Providing regular feedback to NZFC senior staff  on the progress of films in pre-production, production and post-production in order to identify potential problems and manage solutions as required
• Reviewing DPRs and cost reports
• Viewing rushes and cuts, in consultation with the Head of Development and the Head of Sales and Marketing
• Preparation of policy documents and papers to the NZFC Board as required
• Attendance at Early Development Fund Meetings

 To be successful in this role you will have:

• At least 5 years’ experience of film production in NZ, at line producer and/or producer level
• Empathy with filmmakers and excellent communication skills