EPISODE ONE REDUX

This capability-building initiative is the second iteration of the successful pilot programme of 2022-23. Geared towards emerging Pan-Asian practitioners who have the potential to develop and deliver a quality web series pilot for a local and/or international audience, Episode One Redux will once again provide tuition, development, and production funding for selected teams to accelerate their careers in the screen industry. 

“The inaugural initiative of 2022-23 was created to move the needle, and it has. But until the needle is where it needs to be, we can’t take our hand off the dial. Especially at a time when diversity and inclusion risk being sidelined as “nice to have” instead of being integral to a healthy functioning society. If you matter, your stories matter.”

– Shuchi Kothari, creator and convenor of Ep1R

OVERVIEW

Episode One Redux (Ep1R) is the second iteration of Episode One Web Series Development and Pilot Production programme of ‘22-’23. This capacity-building initiative aims to enhance the representation of Pan-Asian key creatives and their collaborators on screen and behind the camera in Aotearoa New Zealand. With funding and support from Irirangi Te Motu New Zealand On Air, RNZ, Faculty of Arts at the University of Auckland, Ep1R will enable four rigorously selected teams to develop, write, pitch a web-series and produce its pilot episode over the span of one year. The most unique and pedagogically sound facet of this scaffolded development initiative is that it includes production so that teams are part of an end-to-end “making” experience that mimics real-world challenges and triumphs. 

“NZ On Air is deeply committed to ensuring key creatives from all parts of our community are uplifted, to ensure stories are authentically told. Having seen the value of the first iteration of this capability initiative in developing Pan-Asian creatives we are pleased to be back supporting Episode One Redux..”

– Cameron Harland (Chief Executive, NZ On Air)

Episode One 2022, Celebration after the Table Read of all pilots. Photo credit: Mala Photography.

The first iteration concluded successfully in March 2023, exceeding all stakeholders’ expectations. As a result, two out of five teams received broadcast platform support and further development funding. Another pilot was optioned by a prolific production company to pitch overseas. Additionally, other Ep1 participants have since been involved in successful film and TV collaborations stemming from the pilot programme. 

EP1R aims to elevate the inaugural program and continue to enrich the media landscape with bold stories and bolder storytellers. Four selected teams will receive structured tuition, individual mentoring, up to $20,000 for series development expenses, and up to $95,000 for the production of their pilot episode.   Along with our returning sponsors (NZ On Air and Faculty of Arts UOA), this iteration has a new partner, New Zealand public service broadcaster, RNZ.

Episode One 2022, Industry Pitch and Screening Event. Photo credit: Dear White Photography.

“One of RNZ’s key goals is to reach 80% of New Zealanders, so we are always looking to reach out to audiences who haven't traditionally connected with RNZ, including Pan-Asian storytellers and communities. As New Zealand’s largest public media organisation we work to encourage all New Zealanders to tell their stories and in supporting the EP1R initiative we see the potential for new storytellers to emerge while giving existing storytellers opportunities to tell fresh stories. ”

– Tim Burnell (Commissioner/Team Lead, RNZ )

Episode One 2022, Asian 8 cast & crew. Photo courtesy of Asian 8 Phoenix.

WHAT:
Episode One Redux

WHO:
Two out of three key creatives
must be of Asian Heritage

WHEN:
March 2025 - April 2026

WHERE:
Auckland

~

IMPORTANT DATES:

Monday 26 August, 5 pm
Q&A Webinar #1 - All about Ep1R
(Shuchi Kothari)

Wednesday 28 August, 5pm
Q&A Webinar #2 - Building an Ep1R Team
(Alice Shearman & Shuchi Kothari)

Expression of Interest for Episode One Redux opens on Sunday 1 September 2024 and closes at 11:59PM on Sunday 15 September 2024

OBJECTIVES

  • Boost Pan-Asian capacity in the area of scripted content

  • Increase Pan-Asian representation on and behind the screen

  • Drive innovation in storytelling that breaks “mainstream” barriers

  • Emphasise and recognise craft, vision, and voice 

  • Improve industry literacy of Pan-Asian creatives

  • Encourage respectful collaboration within the industry by following best practice guidelines.

  • Scaffold Pan-Asian ambitions of successful outputs and outcomes

Episode One 2022, Boom Shankar cast & crew. Photo courtesy of Clean Slate Productions.

  • Navigate the burden of representation with confidence and responsibility

  • Enable Pan-Asian screen creatives to self-determine their “Asianness”

  • Provide a culturally safe environment with professional and pastoral oversight

  • Discover new audiences

  • Develop and produce a pilot episode with a high potential for series production and distribution

KEY DATES

Expression of Interest for Episode One Redux opens on Sunday 1 September and closes at 11:59PM on Sunday 15 September 2024.

Up to 16 shortlisted applicants will be notified on Tuesday 1 October and invited to submit a full proposal due by 5 PM on Friday 22 November. 

From this pool of promising applicants, up to 8 will be further shortlisted for an interview by a panel of industry experts. 

Final 4 teams will be announced in January 2025. 

2024

Monday 26 August, 5pm – Q&A Webinar #1 - All about Ep1R (Shuchi Kothari)

Wednesday 28 August, 5pm – Q&A Webinar #2 - Building an Ep1R Team (Alice Shearman & Shuchi Kothari)

Sunday 1 September – Expression of Interest Opens

Sunday 15 September – Expression of Interest Closes

Tuesday 1 October – Up to 16 Shortlisted applicants invited to submit full proposal

UPDATED Wednesday 16 October, 7 pm – Q&A Webinar #3 – Legal Advice  (for shortlisted teams)

Friday 22 November – Full proposal submission deadline

Mid-December – Up to 8 Shortlisted applicants notified for interview

2025

January 2025 – Interviews begin

February 2025 – Finalists notified & contracted

March to July 2025 – Development classes, lecturers, workshops for series and pilot screenplay (draft 1)

Subject to change

Fri 7 & Sat 8 March 2025
Fri 14 & Sat 15 March 2025
Fri 21 March 2025
Fri 28 March 2025
Fri 4 April 2025
Fri 11 April 2025

July to August 2025 –  Finesse Screenplay Pre-pre production

2026

August to February 2026 – Pilot Production & Post 

March 2026 – Completed Pilot due with revised Pitch Deck 

April 2026 – Pilot Pitch & Screening

Episode One 2022, Table Reading Event. Photo credit: Mala Photography.

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

The structured development aspect of the programme is March- July 2025. The syllabus is designed to include various progressive modules that enable participants to work collectively and individually to produce a series bible, episodic breakdown, pitch deck (shorter bible + lookbook), and a pilot screenplay. 

The development modules will also draw upon industry experts to address topics such as premise, characters, structure, scene design, representation, writers’ room, casting, coverage, creative collaboration, budgeting, contracts, IP, marketing, internationalisation, audience engagement etc. A mixture of workshops and lectures, the course expects a high level of peer engagement and out-of-class work from all teams. In between structured classes the course might include ad-hoc guest lectures to accommodate international speakers. 

Also as part of the development process, writers and directors will be matched with respective mentors for individual mentoring sessions.  Producers will receive guidance from appointed Executive Producers.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Participants must be aged 18+ by 1 September 2024

  • Lead applicant (writer, director or producer) must be a current permanent resident or citizen of Aotearoa New Zealand 

  • Other key creatives in the team must be residents, permanent residents, citizens of New Zealand

  • The director must be of any Asian background. Of the other two key creative roles (writer and producer), one has to be of any Asian background. 

  • Projects that have already received platform support are ineligible to apply 

  • No person may be attached to more than two projects submitted to Ep1R

  • All official participants of Episode One (‘22-’23) are ineligible to apply. 

  • Teams must be available to attend all sessions across the four month (up to 10 days) development course. 

RESOURCES

There are various resources online that you can access. Here are some to get you started.

Youtube Videos:

How to write a logline

Interview with Nida Manzoor of We Are Lady Parts 

Interview with the creators of Gentrified: Marvin Lemus and Linda Yvette Chávez

Interview with the creators of acclaimed web series High Maintenance

50 Television screenplays to download for free 

NZWG+SPADA: Best Practice Guide for Screenwriters and Producers Working Together

Series Bible for Stranger Things (original title: ‘Montauk’)

Episode One Redux FAQ - UPDATED

PEOPLE

  • For the purpose of this application, the lead applicant is simply the contact-person on behalf of the team. It may be the producer, writer, or director.

  • No. But if selected to participate in the programme, you will need a company to contract with NZ On Air.

  • Each person may attach themselves to a maximum of TWO projects. But choose wisely since it is likely only one of your projects is selected to avoid undue duplication of personnel.

  • No, each team submits one project. Individuals within a team may attach themselves to one other project but see above.

  • In consideration of PASC’s kaupapa to support Pan-Asian practitioners and projects, the director must be of any Asian heritage. Of the other two key creative roles (writer, and producer) one must be of any Asian heritage.

  • Yes. All three key creatives must attend the entirety of the course to be eligible for production funding. If a junior producer is co-producing the web series with a senior producer, the junior producer may represent the senior producer during the course.

  • Yes. You may consider co-writers or co-producers should your project require such a collaboration but give specific reasons for a joint role.

  • Only a demonstrable history of successfully co-directing with each other would be taken into consideration. Otherwise, we do not recommend co-director partnerships.

  • No. Do not scramble to fill key roles without considering your relationship with each other.

  • Yes. The EOI should be sent by one of the team members, but they should mention the team in the application form. In short, if your team is already in place, you are encouraged to apply as a team.

  • No. Just explain clearly how you came together and express a realistic view of what your strengths and challenges may be as a team.

  • If you have no prior credits, no benchmarked work, and still believe you deserve a place in the programme, you might be better off joining a team as a junior key creative if you can convince the team of your abilities.  

  • A producer can be a cast member if they have the capacity to handle both roles. However, we recommend considering bringing on a co-producer to support.

  • Producers involved in the previous Episode One are not allowed to be part of the core team, including in a co-producing capacity. 

  • Yes, the Pan-Asian director can be a co-producer. However, we recommend keeping roles separate to manage workload effectively.

    If you must, include your rationale in your EOI as to why you've made such an arrangement.

  • Yes, it is possible for both the director and producer to co-write. However, it’s advisable to designate specific roles to ensure clarity and efficient collaboration. It is also encouraged to include your rationale in your EOI as to why you've made such an arrangement.

  • Teams outside of Auckland are still eligible to apply. However, please note we are unfortunately not in a position to offer travel subsidies for teams to travel to Auckland. We recommend considering allocating a line from your $20,000 development budget towards this or consider applying for funding from other sources towards this cost. 

  • This initiative is for 'emerging' level practitioners.  This is defined by

    NZFC Talent Eligibility Criteria Definition.

PROJECT

  • No, this is an initiative for scripted narrative web series content only.

  • PASC’s kaupapa has always been to support Pan-Asian screen practitioners. As long as the story is compelling, honest, engaging, and demonstrates a clear pathway to its audience, it matters little whether it is Asian-centred. 

  • Yes but please consider capability, budget, and audience.

  • It can be set anywhere as long as it is shot and produced in New Zealand.

  • Either is fine but, if it is adapted, we require a clear chain of title with the EOI.

  • Yes, we do not recommend episodes longer than 15 minutes. We are looking for a realistic approach to the pilot budget (up to $95,000).

  • Yes, as long as the screenplay that is workshopped and critiqued during the development course is written in English. Do consider casting, audience, and distribution strategy while thinking about language.

  • You may. But bear in mind the tight non-negotiable window for production. Your pilots are due on 31 March 2026. If you need a lot more money than what Ep1R offers, assessors will have to be convinced of your ability to raise additional funds and deliver on time. $95,000 is a generous amount, so cut your coat to suit your cloth.

  • We will organise an industry screening to ensure maximum exposure for the teams. You will not be able to  screen your pilot to the public until after the PASC screening at which point the pilot will be published  on the PASC and RNZ websites.

  • No, you don’t have to proceed as a team if the process of development and making the pilot didn’t feel like a good fit. But hopefully you would continue together if the process was enjoyable and fruitful. You might still consider expanding the writers’ room or bring on one more director for the series. In either case come to a clear agreement about contingencies as a team, before jumping into the application.

  • No. But PASC will use excerpts for promotion and teaching.  

    All funders: PASC, NZ On Air, RNZ and Faculty of Arts-University of Auckland  must be credited on screen.  Details of which will be discussed later.

  • No, it does not matter if you have already written a draft of the pilot.

    You're not required to submit this as part of the EOI or full application. Should you be selected, you'll have opportunities throughout the programme to further develop your script.

  • Intellectual Property (IP): This is a broad term covering a variety of rights associated with creations of ideas, this can include copyright, trademarks, patent.

    Copyright: This specifically relates to the rights of creators over their literary and artistic works, including music, films, and written texts.

  • No, you do not need to supply a formal contract at this stage of the application. 

    But we highly recommend having this discussion before applying and outline your chain of titles in an email format that clearly outlines the expectations. 

  • Yes, you can continue working as a team and pursue the project independently or with other opportunities if you are not selected for Ep1 Redux.

    However, it is important that you have a discussion beforehand about the chain of title so there's a clear direction of how you can move forward. 

PROGRAMME

  • Unless we have to accommodate time zones for an international speaker, all seminars and workshops are offline- kanohi ki te kanohi- in Tamāki Makaurau, Auckland.

  • Both. Four day-long sessions will be scheduled on Fridays and four day-long sessions will be on Saturdays. Please consider your availability before applying. The syllabus will be published in January 2025, two months before the start of the programme.

  • If selected, the full team is required to attend full-day workshops on the following dates: 

    Fri 7 & Sat 8 March 2025
    Fri 14 & Sat 15 March 2025
    Fri 21 March 2025
    Fri 28 March 2025
    Fri 4 April 2025
    Fri 11 April 2025

  • At this stage, we are not allowing participants to join the seminar over Zoom due to the workshop being all-day long. 

WEBINAR Q&A SESSION - BUILDING A TEAM FOR EP1R

Alice Shearman, Executive Director of the New Zealand Writers Guild and Shuchi Kothari, initiative designer of Episode One Redux explain everything there is to know about forming your team.

The webinar provides insight into how to form a strong team, conversations to be had before you form a team, and setting expectations.

For further information or specific questions you may write to: episodeone@pasc.co.nz

Programme Designer + Convenor

Shuchi Kothari is an critically acclaimed writer and producer whose films (Kāinga, Firaaq, Apron Strings, Shit One Carries, Coffee & Allah) have screened globally in film festivals including Venice, Cannes, Toronto and Telluride and on online platforms such as Mubi, Netflix and Amazon. Her creative work often focuses on issues of inclusion, exclusion, cultural hegemony, and personal resistance.

In 2018, Shuchi co-founded the Pan-Asian Screen Collective (PASC) to advocate for increased Pan-Asian representation on and behind the screen in Aotearoa New Zealand.

She is responsible for some of PASC’s flagship programmes such as Short Cuts, Episode One, Seat at the Table, and Episode One Redux. Shuchi heads the Screen Production programme at the University of Auckland where she teaches screenwriting and creative producing. Her long-standing work as filmmaker, mentor, script consultant and industry champion earned her WIFT-NZ’s “Outstanding Contribution in the Screen Industry” award of 2022.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Episode One: Web Series Development & Pilot Programme Redux is created and convened by Dr. Shuchi Kothari, funded by Irirangi Te Motu New Zealand On Air and RNZ and hosted by Faculty of Arts, University of Auckland.