The Cannes conferences live on June 25

00:0001:00

Kua rite mātou | Aotearoa New Zealand – Open for Business

This inspiring and information-rich panel discussion features writer/director Niki Caro (Mulan, The Zookeeper’s Wife, North Country), Weta Digital’s Executive VFX Producer David Conley, and Michael Urban, co-founder of The Rebel Fleet, which creates secure, customisable workflows from on set to post production. Moderator: Anna Thomas

Explore the opportunities and emerging digital trends in New Zealand right now, as our filmmakers profile recent work.

Webinar Speakers

Niki Caro

Director

Writer and director, Niki Caro, is one of the most successful filmmakers to emerge from New Zealand in recent years. After completing a BFA at Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland and a Postgraduate Diploma in Film from Swinburne in Melbourne, Caro directed a number of highly acclaimed short films. SURE TO RISE screened in Competition in Cannes in 1994; and FOOTAGE at the Venice Film Festival in 1996. Her first feature film MEMORY AND DESIRE was selected for Critics Week at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998. In her first foray into American television, Caro helmed the movie pilot for Netflix’ ANNE WITH AN ‘E’, a bold and inspired new vision of the ‘Anne of Green Gables’ story, now into its third season. Most recently Niki Caro has directed the live action version of Disney’s MULAN. MULAN will be released worldwide in July 2020.

David Conley

Executive VFX Producer @Weta Digital

As Executive VFX Producer of Weta Digital, David Conley oversees Weta’s global VFX film production. He contributes to the long term business components of the company, as well as oversees the development and execution of Weta’s company vision and future strategy. His key responsibilities include managing client development, strategic partnerships, and the key aspects of film production. He has guided Weta through a company transition that saw the expansion and growth of its film operations and company's portfolio of work bringing in many high-profile films including Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Alita: Battle Angel. Prior to joining the team, David worked as a VFX Producer on a number of innovative and influential film projects including Cloverfield, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and Life of Pi among others.

Michael Urban

Co-Founder @The Rebel Fleet

Starting out as a videographer in the early 2000's Michael moved onto New Zealand's most loved drama series Shortland Street, to join the lighting team in 2005. Here he was introduced the technology side of a multi-camera studio shoot and dived into the process. After 3 years Michael took these skills into the live sport realm, working at the technical end of the live broadcast truck, around NZ and overseas with the highlight being the London Olympics 2012. By that time Michael had already started some film work as the DIT role was coming to life with the advent of Digital Cinema. In 2015 Michael co-founded The Rebel Fleet in Auckland. In 5 short years, The Rebel Fleet has grown from strength to strength providing video assist, DIT and Dailies equipment and workflows on a range of local and international productions including Disneys 'Mulan', Warner Brothers 'The Meg', Starz 'Ash vs Evil Dead' S02 and S03, STX Entertainments 'Adrift' and many more.

01:0002:00