Developing Your Short or Feature Film Workshop with David White

Whether you’re new to filmmaking or have worked in the industry for a while and aspire to tell your stories on the screen, this workshop will guide you in your next steps.  

Fresh from the release of Far North, David White will be visiting Queenstown for this one-off workshop in September. Learn how to take your film idea through development, from a 1-pager to a dynamic and compelling script. David will draw on his experience, sharing and discussing how one of his projects went from the initial idea, was then developed into a short film, and subsequently reworked into a feature. He will also discuss the importance of collaboration and how to attract the right creative and producing partners to your project.  

Come along to progress your feature or short film project. The passion that drives you to create will be invigorated, and you will leave with new knowledge and ideas to further develop your stories. 

Testimony David White Workshop 2021 

“His advice and insights were so practical and specific and spoke to the way the industry operates beyond just what works on the page and how to transfer it to the screen. I feel better equipped to approach my work.” 

“Unique insight into the filmmaking process.” 

When & Where:
Saturday 16th September 2023
9:00am – 5:00pm – Workshop 

Puawai at Te Atamira 
Building 11, Dart House, Remarkables Park Town Centre 12 Hawthorne Drive, Frankton, Queenstown 9300

Wheelchair Access is available. If you require special assistance, please let us know. 

Cost: General Admission $25 (incl. GST) via Humanitix

What to Bring: Please bring a pen and paper. Snacks, tea and coffee will be provided. Please bring your own lunch.

David White - Director, Producers, Writer. 
David White has produced and directed a substantial body of documentary and drama work that has enjoyed considerable national and international success, among them Meat, Shihad: Beautiful Machine, I Kill, Little Criminals, The Cleanest Pig and This Town. His work has screened at over 50 film festivals including Sundance, AFI, SXSW, SilverDocs, Tribeca, MIFF, TRUE/FALSE, Clermont Ferrand and has been commissioned and screened on networks such as BBC, Paramount +, Sky, Sundance Now, TVNZ and PRIME TV.

He was the first New Zealander to be shortlisted for a Cinema Eye Honor (documentary) for his film I Kill. His documentary Little Criminals (2015) aired on PRIME TV to strong ratings and critical acclaim along with of Decades In Colour (2017 – PRIME TV) for Greenstone.

Meat(2017) Executive Produced by Phil Fairclough (Grizzly Man / Cave of Forgotten Dreams) opened to 4 star reviews and sell out audiences throughout NZ and was released on multiple NZME platforms. MEAT is sold by MPI Media Group and has sold globally.
David’s (writer/director/producer) debut comedy film This Town (in association with South Pacific Pictures) staring Robyn Malcolm, Rima Te Wiata, and himself as the main character was both number one at the NZ theatrical box office for 21days straight and was critically acclaimed. Sales by FILM SALES COMPANY in New York.
This Town was developed at the prestigious Venice Biennale College – Cinema of which only 12 teams are selected from a world wide call each year.

He has just a 6part True Crime mini series – Far North, which he created, wrote, directed and is an Executive Producer. Staring Robyn Malcolm and Temerua Morrison, it has already sold to New Zealand, Australia and North America. Rest of World Sales will be handled by All3Media. 
David is represented by Stacey Testro International and CAA. 

This workshop is presented by Script to Screen and supported by Film Otago Southland, Queenstown Lakes District Council Film Office, Central Lakes Art Support Scheme, Queenstown Lakes Council Creative Communities.