WHO, ME. in Auckland for NZ Comedy Fest…just this week!

Update on comedy gig:  tickets for Friday and Saturday are on offer.

WHO, ME. in Auckland for NZ Comedy Fest…just this week!

‘WHO, ME.’ Is on at the NZ Comedy Festival (Auckland) this week at The Basement on Greys Ave at 8:30pm from Tuesday 7th to Saturday the 11th.

WHO, ME is about Rob Lloyd’s obsession with the TV show Dr Who and The Doctor is put on trial to see whether he has enhanced or ruined his life.

The link to the NZ Comedy Festival page is here.

Rob has offered 7 FREE doubles passes for Opening Night on Tuesday May 7th and 5 FREE double passes for Wednesday May 8th.   Email me at press@sffanz.org.nz with the day you are interested in.

Please circulate round your networks.

The Ideas Clinic

Think you don’t have a fresh project idea for 2013?  Think again.

This short, sharp creative workout uses dynamic brainstorming techniques to help you generate new ideas, test them out and start expanding the ONE that excites you the most. Participants generate ideas, explore which ideas engage other people and decide which idea to pursue further.

Who’s it for? Creatives, planners, writers. Anyone who needs
a creative boost or new project ideas for 2013.

What do I bring? Pen and paper.
Do I have to share my work? No, but you’ll get more out of it if you do.
Is there a coffee break? Yes!

When: Saturday, 23 February 2013, 9:30am – 1:30pm
Where: St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Auckland
Cost: General Registration $80 (incl. GST)

For more information contact: kathryn@kathryn-burnett.com

Book here.

KICK START: WRITING WORKSHOP

Keen to get your 2013 writing project started?
This stimulating one day workshop gets your next writing project on the page. Using brainstorming and writing techniques this workshop helps you get your project out of your head and onto the page.

Participants will explore their story, create plot, get down a basic structure and develop characters. Come armed with your idea and prepare to start writing. Be warned – this isn’t about writing theory – there will be brain sweat!

Who’s it for? Any writer (new or advanced) who is serious about getting their project up and running. But if you’re after a “basics of writing” class this probably isn’t for you.

What should I bring? Pen and paper.
Is there morning tea? Yes! Morning and afternoon tea are provided.
Plus: This workshop offers a two for one discount. Book this
workshop AND The Ideas Clinic workshop on the previous
day and get $20.00 cash back.

When: Sunday, 24th February 2013, 9.30am – 4.30pm
Where: St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby, Auckland
Cost: General Registration $175 (incl. GST).  Student/Industry Guild Discounted tickets $155 (incl. GST).

Book here.

Interview with Elspeth Cooper, plus giveaway

On Helen Lowe’s blog there is an interview with Elspeth Cooper, author of Songs of the Earth and Trinity Rising and finalist in the 2012 Gemmell Morningstar Award.  There is a giveaway of Elspeth’s books.

The interview is here.

FFANZ Race in 2013

Nominations are now open for the 2013 Fan Fund of Australia and New Zealand (FFANZ). FFANZ in 2013 will send one New Zealand science fiction fan from New Zealand to the 2013 Australian Natcon, Conflux 9 in Canberra from 25-28 April.

Prospective candidates will have until February 10th 2013 to file the documents required to have one’s name placed in nomination and added to the ballot.

The ballots will be published and distributed in late February, and voting will run from February 28th – March 12.

Candidates should file the following documents:

• A brief letter stating one’s intent to run for FFANZ 2013.
• A nominator and a seconder, preferably a nominator from New Zealand and a seconder from Australia.
• A 100 word or less platform statement specifying the candidate’s reasons for  running and qualifications for becoming the 2013 FFANZ delegate.

The duties of the winning candidate will be as follows:

• Travel to Australia and attend Conflux 9,  the 52nd Australian Natcon, in Canberra from 25-28 April.
• Visit and get to know as many Australian Science Fiction fans as time will permit.
• Become the New Zealand FFANZ administrator until a replacement administrator is found, normally this happens when the administrator role is handed over to the succeeding Aussie-bound delegate (in 2015 if a race is run  every year).
• Raise funds and maintain an account to be used by the next NZ delegate(s) in 2015.
• Promote connections between Australian and New Zealand fandom by a  trip report or other means.

Send required documents to;

janlb@orcon.net.nz for New Zealand fans

celestialcobbler@hotmail.com for Australian fans

More information about being a fan fund delegate can be found at http://ffanz.sf.org.nz/qanda.htm or http://ozfanfunds.com/

NZ Rocket Day

See rockets launched!  Rocket-talk to like minded people!  See rockets-in-creation!

3rd February at Taupiri from midday.

http://www.nzrocketry.org.nz/index.php?page=rocket-day

Directions http://www.nzrocketry.org.nz/index.php?page=taupiri-launch-site

From Auckland, take the motorway south and continue on past Meremere and the Rangiriri Tavern until you reach the turnoff at Tahuna Rd and go left. Continue a fairly long way down Tahuna Rd, making a right turn at Rutherford Rd and continue along Rutherford Rd, turning left into Kneebone Rd. About 1km down Kneebone and you are there at Mission Control! Travel time is about 1hr from Auckland, and 40 minutes from Hamilton.

Not from Auckland? Take the Gordonton turnoff from SH1 at Taupiri. Hang a left turn at Orini Rd and go down to Rutherford. Left on Rutherford and right on Kneebone and your are there at the launch site a little ways down the road!

Dr. Grordbort’s Exceptional Exhibition

Presented by Sir Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger of Weta Workshop, Dr. Grordbort’s Exceptional Exhibition is coming home to New Zealand for a special, limited showing!

Opens 27 Nov at 7PM and runs through to the end of January 2013 at 48-52 Cuba Street, Wellington

Touring the world, most recently in China and Europe, and heading off in February for a multi-year tour of Dubai and the United States, this exhibition has never been seen in its entirety in New Zealand. The exhibition brings together a huge collection of over 160 pieces of artwork and sculpture from Greg Broadmore’s alternate science fiction/fantasy universe.

Do. Not. Miss. It!

Virtual event: ‘A newly discovered species of Little People’

Coinciding with the celebrations centred around the much anticipated World Premiere of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit film, you are invited to attend a free public lecture on Homo floresiensis – a new human species discovered in 2003 on the Indonesian Island of Flores.  This new species is commonly referred to as the “Hobbit” – since it stood just over 1 m tall, had large feet and was capable of undertaking quite complex activities.

Two of the principal archaeologists involved in this remarkable discovery: Professor Mike Morwood (University of Wollongong, Australia) and Thomas Sutikna (Pusat Arkeologi Nasional, Indonesia) – will talk about the Hobbit’s discovery as well as ongoing excavations that seek to better understand this new and unique species of human.

This event is generously sponsored and supported by Victoria University of Wellington, Te Papa, Wellington City Council, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, and the NZ-Indonesian Friendship Council.

Details: 3 pm Saturday, 1 December, free public presentation & exhibition, Soundings Theatre, Te Papa.

Thanks to Professor David Bibby, Dean of Science, Victoria University of Wellington, this event will now be live streamed here.

Bookings are essential.  RSVP by emailing rsvp@vuw.ac.nz with ‘Little People’ in the subject line or call 04 472 1000.

Give a Can. See a Movie. Do a Good Thing.

Want to see The Avengers, Ice Age 3, Spiderman, or another movie?

Event:   Wattie’s Cans Film Festival

When:   Wednesday 7th November 2012

Where:  Hoyts, Event, Reading, and Independent cinemas across the country.

On Wednesday 7th November Kiwis around the country can visit their local participating movie theatres and swap a can for a movie ticket. Wattie’s then matches the number of cans donated with one of their own cans and all cans go to The Salvation Army Christmas Appeal.

The Festival broke the milestone one-millionth can collected last year with 45,380 cans donated. This year, the Wattie’s Cans Film Festival hopes to collect even more donations. But New Zealand will need to get behind the Festival to make it happen, and ensure those Kiwis who need a helping hand are looked after by The Salvation Army.

What better way to help out? For the price of a can of food people can see a movie and feel good about it.

Hoyts Cinemas, EVENT Cinemas, and Reading Cinemas are generously offering their theatres for the night, along with independent cinemas nationwide, at approximately 40 locations.

A list of movies, times, and cinemas is here.

Sir Julius Vogel awards

Nominations for the Sir Julius Vogel awards will be open in January. The awards recognise excellence and achievement in science fiction, fantasy or horror works created by a New Zealander and first published or released in the 2012 calendar year.

Anyone can make a nomination and it is free!  See the website for the categories and get busy reading NZ authors and watching NZ movies. We have a listing service to advise our members of New Zealand works, which may be eligible for nomination, here.

If you would like to advise us of a work we have not listed, please contact listings@sffanz.sf.org.nz

Nominations open on 1 January 2013 and close on 31 March 2013 at 8pm.

For more information about the SJV Awards, please go to the SFFANZ website.

You can find full details about the nomination procedures and rules, including eligibility criteria here.

Hobbit Stamps

NZ Post is releasing a limited range of stamps and commemorative coins to celebrate the release of the Hobbit.

Pre-order yours now here so as not to miss out.

Beginner’s Guide To Screenwriting

Busting to write for the big screen?  Beginner’s Guide is an intensive two day workshop that demystifies the basics of screenwriting and gets your idea up and running.

Tutor Kathryn Burnett takes participants through the how and why of writing for film including premise, plot, story structure, formatting, dialogue, character and the visual grammar of screenplays.    NB: This is the last workshop of the year!

Kathryn is a screenwriter, playwright, lecturer and script consultant who has worked in the film and television industry for over 17 years.  She has designed this course specifically for beginners and industry professionals looking to up skill.

When: November 3 & 4^th 2012

Where: St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby, Auckland

Cost: $245.00 (gst incl) – bookings absolutely essential.  Numbers limited.

Bookings or further info contact: kathryn@kathryn-burnett.com

http://www.kathryn-burnett.com/

Concatenation now available

The autumnal edition of the ‘Science Fact and Fiction Concatenation‘ is now up with news of SF across the world and especially Europe.  See here.

There are a few odds and ends of interest to NZ SF/Fantasy book readers, not least that many of the forthcoming season’s books from British publishers will also soon be distributed in NZ.

Of particular likely interest to NZ fans is one from an NZ author, David Hair, here.  Also up in the autumnal edition is a stand-alone conrep of NZ’s natcon, unCNventional.

Winners of LIANZA Children’ Book Awards

Congratulations to the winners!

LIANZA Junior Fiction Award – Esther Glen Medal

The Travelling Restaurant by Barbara Else, (GECKO Press).

LIANZA Young Adult Fiction Award

Pyre of Queens by David Hair, (Penguin NZ)

LIANZA Illustration Award – Russell Clark Award

Rāhui  by Chris Szekely and Malcolm Ross, (Huia).

LIANZA Non Fiction Award – Elsie Locke Medal

Nice Day for a War by Chris Slane and Matt Elliott, illustrated by Chris Slane (HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd).

Te Kura Pounamu (te reo Māori)

Ngā Taniwha i te-Whanga-nui-a-Tara by Moira Wairama and Bruce Potter, (Penguin NZ).

Librarians’ Choice Award

Rāhui  by Chris Szekely and Malcolm Ross, (Huia).

Te Rōpū Whakahau Award Winners

Te Tohu Taurapa for te wahanga  pikitia (picture book)

Ngā Taniwha i te Whanga-nui-a-Tara by Moira Wairama and Bruce Potter, (Penguin NZ).

Te Tohu Ngā Kete e toru for te wahanga pukapuka paki (fiction)

Te Poiwhana by Te Kauhoe Wano and Andrew Burdan, (Huia).

Te Tohu Pounamu

Kei Wareware tātou translated by Katerina Mataira, written by Feana Tu’akoi and illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt (Scholastic).

Te Tohu Hoani Te Whatuhoro Jury  for te wahanga pukapuka pono (non- fiction)

Not awarded due to lack of entries.

Charlaine Harris in New Zealand

Charlaine Harris, bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse series, will be visiting New Zealand from August 5 – 7.

You can meet Charlaine, hear her talk about her latest book, Deadlocked, find out what the success of True Blood has meant for her and get your books signed.

Sunday August 5 – WELLINGTON

The Dominion Post Write Stuff Event
Charlaine will talk about her books followed by an audience Q&A session. The event will conclude with a book signing (all of Charlaine’s books will be available for purchase at the event thanks to Whitcoulls Lambton Quay).

Time: 3.30pm (doors open 3pm)
Location: Ballroom, Amora Hotel Wellington
Tickets: $20 for Dominion Post subscribers / $25 for non-subscribers (including a glass of wine/beer)
See dompost.co.nz/writestuff for ticket information.

Monday August 6 – AUCKLAND

A Night with Your Maker
Come out of your coffins for a night and join popular Sookie Stackhouse series author Charlaine Harris while she shares her favourite moments from hit HBO series True Blood, gives fanatics a chance to take part in a Q&A and be treated to a sneak preview of episode seven before it airs on Prime. Following the preview Charlaine will be happy to sign any of her books and all her titles will be on sale if you’re missing any from your collection. So join us fangbangers for a glass of ‘A Neg’ and a chance to meet the original ‘maker’.

Time: 6.15pm sharp
Location: Rialto Cinemas, Newmarket
Tickets: Entry is free, but tickets are required, they will be available on a first-come first-served basis from Dymocks Newmarket here.

NZ International Film Festival

Auckland  July 19th – August 5th

Wellington  July 27th – August 12

See here for details of what’s on offer, such as Joss Wheadon’s The Cabin in Woods.

Derek Landy 2012 Down-Under Tour

Derek Landy is author of the Skulduggery Pleasant series – which includes Skulduggery Pleasant (known as Sceptre of the Ancients in the US), Playing with Fire, The Faceless Ones, Dark Days, and Mortal Coil.  He will be visiting New Zealand as part of his 2012 Down Under Tour.

Dates are;

Wellington
Thursday 9th:
The Children’s Bookshop, Kilbirnie- Public Signing – 4:30 PM
Whitcoulls, Queensgate – Public Signing – 7 PM

Christchurch
Friday 10th:
The Children’s Bookshop, Blenheim Rd – Public Signing – 4:30 PM

Auckland
Saturday 11th:
Appearing on Breakfast TV at 8:20 AM
Whitcoulls, Albany Mall – Public Signing – 10 AM
Paperplus Botany Town Centre – Public Signing – 1 PM

For the public signings, all you have to do is turn up and Derek will sign as much as possible in the time he has.

Update to The Arrival by Shaun Tan

The email address to reply to is: secretary@sffanz.org.nz

Jan

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Anyone else interested?

We need 7 more to get the discount.

What drives so many people to leave behind everything they know to journey alone to a land where the future is unknown? Fleeing an oppressive force and leaving behind his wife and child, a man travels vast oceans in search of a better life. He encounters indecipherable languages, peculiar customs, curious animals and dazzling architecture. Baffled and bewildered, he endeavours to find a home, a job and the security he needs to reunite his family.
 
Adapted from the graphic novel by 2011 Academy Award winner Shaun Tan, The Arrival features no English language. Instead it brings Shaun’s wordless worlds to life with a highly physical cast, puppetry, music, and shadow play.  Suitable for 12 years and above, The Arrival, sends hearts and imaginations to a land of flying ships, strange birds and travelling balloons.

SFFANZ have organized discounted tickets to one of  New Zealand theatre’s most stunning and innovative works, returning to Auckland for three shows only!

Tickets are for the best seats in the house – $40.00 for adults, $20.00 for students/seniors.

The Arrival is on at the Aotea Centre on; Fri 13 Jul 7.30pm, Sat 14 Jul 7.30pm, Sun 15 Jul 4pm.

To take advantage of this price we need a minimum of 10 people.  Please email me by next Thursday 4pm if you wish to attend, state which performance(s) you can attend.

Like Shaun’s graphic novel the show is entirely visual. There is a rich sound scape but no English language. It is a very unique theatre experience and very accessible if people are not used to going to the theatre.

Jan Butterworth

Secretary/Press Officer

SFFANZ