The Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand (SPADA) represents the interests of producers and production companies on all issues affecting the commercial and creative aspects of independent screen production in New Zealand.
News & Events

NZ Casting Guidelines
The following Casting Guidelines have been prepared by New Zealand Casting Directors, with input and endorsement from NZ Actors Agents. These guidelines outline reasonable expectations in the casting process in the context of the New Zealand screen industry. SPADA endorses these Guidelines, intends to work with them, and recommends them to SPADA members.
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SPADA’s Focus for 2010
With the SPIF Review scheduled for mid-2010 one of SPADA’s key issues was the lobbying for regaining the one-year tax write off.  As announced before Christmas SPADA has now achieved this goal. 

1. Training and development on business skills for producers including the Screen Production Incentive Fund (SPIF), co-productions, distribution and finance.

2. Evaluating and considering the recommendations of the review of the New Zealand Film Commission and supporting as appropriate.

3. Advocating for industry representation on industry boards.

4. Review of SPIF; input into improvements and retention of SPIF, including lowering of thresholds.

5. Lobbying for bi-partisan support for the industry and SPADA positions in political parties election platforms for 2011.

6. Continue making submissions on terms of trade to government agencies and broadcasters.

7. Promote the value of co-productions.

8. Assist with the fight against piracy of intellectual property in New Zealand and promotion of the need for effective measures to combat internet piracy.  Protecting intellectual property for the independent industry.

9. Continue to lobby for the maintenance of and increase in, commissioning and spending on local programming.

10. Lobbying for maintenance of (and if possible increases) to funding for screen funding agencies and the role and value of the New Zealand screen industry.

Media Releases
New Zealand’s Talent and Expertise Resonates Internationally
James Cameron’s Avatar is turning out to be the biggest film in the history of cinema and the concept visual effects by Weta Digital will be even more renowned throughout the filmmaking world as a result, says SPADA, the Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand.
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Industry Raises Serious Concerns with Cabinet Paper on Revised Section 92A
(23 December 2009)
The Screen Directors Guild and the Screen Production and Development Association welcomes the Government’s move to help protect New Zealand’s film and television sector through the revision to Section 92a of the Copyright Act, but has serious concerns over the proposed legislation.
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SPADA Industry Award Winners Announced
(13 November 2009)
Winners of three prestigious SPADA (Screen Production & Development Association) Industry Awards were announced at the SPADA conference in Wellington at the TVNZ sponsored dinner hosted by the Minister for Broadcasting, Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman on Friday 13 November.
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New Screen Industry Collaborations to Spark in the Capital
(10 November 2009)
Key issues affecting the future of New Zealand ’s screen industry will be examined in the capital this week at the SPADA (Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand) conference held in Wellington on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 November.
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Mad Men to inspire NZ Screen IndustryGet Ahead at this year’s SPADA Conference
(13 October 2009)
Matthew Weiner, series creator and executive producer of this year’s Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Drama Mad Men, is the keynote speaker for this year’s SPADA (Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand) conference held at Wellington ’s InterContinental Hotel on 12 and 13 November.  Mad Men, set in the world of advertising on New York ’s Madison Avenue, is a multi-layered 1960s period drama.
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Setting the Record Straight
(30/01/09)
There has been a spate of comments recently regarding New Zealand television programmes on Australian TV networks.  SPADA believes, for the benefit of both industries, it is important to make the following points to ensure factual accuracy:
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New Zealand Programmes Enjoying Sucess on Australian Screens
(22/01/09)
The New Zealand screen producers’ body, SPADA, says that it’s a positive development that more New Zealand television programmes are enjoying success on Australian screens.“In this difficult economic environment New Zealanders and Australians should be celebrating their successes, and working together to strengthen each other’s industries,” says SPADA CEO Penelope Borland. MORE

Submissions
Submission on MED's Digital Futures Planning for Digital Television and New Uses
(30 September 2009)
As outlined in SPADA’s submission on the Draft New Zealand Digital Content Strategy (January 2007), its primary focus, throughout the digital switchover process, continues to be content creation and ensuring New Zealand audiences have access to the widest range of high quality local content through a variety of production and distribution opportunities. MORE

Submission on the Law Commission Issues Paper: Law of Privacy - Invasion of Privacy; Penalties and Remedies
(15/06/09)
SPADA is of the general opinion that New Zealand ’s media law and jurisprudence functions reasonably well, and in regard to privacy, SPADA has yet to see any cases that involve notable miscarriages of justice. By and large, privacy cases that are dealt with through the BSA, or in the few cases that have reached the Courts, are done so fairly and skillfully. MORE

Submission on the New Zealand Screen Production Incentive Fund Tax Amendments in the Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Bill
(15/01/09)
...we recommend that the Screen Production Incentive Fund proposal included in Clause 69 of the Bill be amended to maintain the current treatment afforded to qualifying New Zealand productions.  That is, to continue to permit a deduction for the film expenditure for such productions in the year of completion with no change to the current law.  The current proposal would spread that deduction over 24 months.
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Submission on the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations with the United States of America
(08/12/08)
 The Screen Production and Development Association of New Zealand (SPADA) welcomes the opportunity to make this submission on the Trans-pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement Negotiations (P4) with the United States of America .
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SPADA's Feedback in Response to NZFC's Seminar Paper (03 Oct 08) on the Screen Production Incentive Fund (SPIF) and NZFC Co-Investment
(07/10/08)
We thank the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) for conducting the SPIF industry seminars.  The industry appreciates the on-going opportunity to provide input into the development of the SPIF criteria and guidelines, and the NZFC’s co-investment policy.  SPADA believes this collaborative approach creates a positive environment, which we hope will result in the effective use of the SPIF, and the creation of more New Zealand films, in conjunction with the NZFC’s wider funding base. MORE

SPADA's Digital Stratgey 2.0
(13/05/08)
SPADA’s primary focus continues to be that outlined in its January 2007 submission on the Draft New Zealand Digital Content Strategy: content creation and ensuring New Zealand audiences have access to the widest range of high quality local content through a variety of production and distribution opportunities. MORE

Digital Broadcasting: Review of Regulation
(09/04/08)
In SPADA's submission on the digital broadcasting review it supported the Diversity Scenario: The strength of plural, effective broadcasting and telecommunications markets in the ‘diversity’ scenario supports a strong presence for local content that meets the needs of diverse social and cultural groups”. MORE

Broadcasting & New Digital Media: Future of Content Regulation
(04/04/08)
SPADA also welcomed the opportunity to respond to the Broadcasting and Digita Media: Future of Content Regulation Discussion Paper issued by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage in late January 2008. MORE


Last updated Friday, 5 February 2010
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