Charlie Faulks: From Concept to Completion

How does a 19-year-old Screen Arts student get almost half a million dollars to make an animated zombie series set on a rural New Zealand farm?

That’s the story behind Bloke of the Apocalypse, and it’s the starting point for an intimate 90-minute masterclass with animator and filmmaker Charlie Faulks.

Charlie began developing Bloke of the Apocalypse while studying Screen Arts, making the first episodes independently before the project grew into a professionally funded animated series.

In this masterclass, Charlie will take you behind the scenes of that journey, from the first spark of an idea through to developing the project, making those early episodes, finding collaborators, pitching, funding, animation, production and getting the finished work in front of an audience.

Along the way, he’ll share the practical realities of making ambitious screen work, including what he learned from starting out with limited resources, developing a distinctive creative voice, building a team, navigating the funding process and turning an idea into something that can actually be made.

There’ll be video excerpts and behind-the-scenes material from Bloke of the Apocalypse, as well as plenty of time for questions and conversation.

This is not a theoretical masterclass. It’s a chance to hear directly from a young New Zealand filmmaker who has taken an original idea from student project to professional production.

Who is it for?

Secondary students, aspiring filmmakers and animators, emerging creatives, writers, artists and storytellers, or anyone curious about how a screen idea moves from concept to completion.
No previous filmmaking or animation experience is required.
The masterclass is deliberately small, with a maximum of 15 participants, so there will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and have a genuine conversation with Charlie.

Tickets

Adults: $35
Secondary students: $15

This masterclass has been subsidised with grateful thanks to the Masterton District Creative Communities Scheme, helping make this professional development opportunity more accessible to the Wairarapa community.

Saturday 31 October 2026
1:00pm–2:30pm
Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History, Masterton

Places are strictly limited to 15.

Part of Halloween Weekend with The Story Studio, Aratoi and Regent 3 Cinemas.

Contact the host of Charlie Faulks Masterclass: From Concept to Completion