Full-time Staff
The Film School’s staff are not only experienced in their skill areas, but also significantly involved with the wider screen production industry.
Sashi Meanger – Executive Director
Sashi Meanger has more than twenty years’ experience in the education sector bringing a wealth of management and academic knowledge to his position as Executive Director. He has extensive experience in the arts, culture and communications having held positions such as the Dean of Arts at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Executive Director of the Pacific Islands Education Resource Centre and Head of the Communications Department at Wellington Polytechnic (now Massey University Wellington). He is the founding Executive Member of the New Zealand Communication Association Inc. and has held various positions in office for the Association. Sashi was formally the MBA Director, lecturer and course co‐ordinator at Victoria University’s School of Management, and is also the founder and director of The Guava Tree; an upmarket Wellington‐based retail store.
John Reid – Head tutor
John Reid is the Head Tutor and manages the delivery of the curriculum. This includes teaching and overseeing the visiting industry tutor programme. John is a director with substantial film and television experience, having directed and co-written four feature films and directed over 120 hours of television drama. In addition he has worked extensively in national and international film and television commercial production and was the first New Zealander to win a Venice Silver Lion. He has extensive hands-on knowledge of the feature film industry, is a past president of the Screen Directors Guild and was involved in the formation of the New Zealand Film Commission where he subsequently served as a board member.
Alison Langdon – Programme Co-ordinator
Alison Langdon is the Programme Co-ordinator responsible for co-ordinating the visiting tutor programme. Her background is in television, where she was involved in recruiting and training for TVNZ Avalon's former television assistant training scheme, as well as supervising the floor management section. She spent several years as a documentary and corporate video producer, and is a graduate of Whitireia Polytechnic's Writing Course. She has experience as an assistant director and in production and location management.
Mark Jackson – Technician
Mark Jackson is the Technician responsible for managing the technical aspects of The Film School. Mark studied 3D animation in Maya and video post production at Natcoll, Wellington and subsequently tutored at Natcoll in both Maya and video post production. He is a graduate of The Film School and his interests are in 35mm photography and in film.
Emma Keesing – Receptionist/Administrator
Emma Keesing is the Receptionist/Administrator responsible for the operational support of the school. Emma attended Victoria University of Wellington and earned a Bachelor of Commerce & Administration majoring in Marketing, supplemented by Media Studies and with a particular focus on Cultural Production.
Trust Board
The Film School is governed by a charitable trust, made up of industry practitioners and their advisors. Current trustees are:
Jane Kominik – Cultural public sector specialist
Frank Stark – Chief Executive, Film Archive
Michelle Turner – Producer
Naomi Wallwork – Crew 10 graduate, now Head of Business Affairs at the New Zealand Film Commission
Adrian Hebron – Gaffer, Film School visiting tutor
Michael Hacking – Director/editor
Aileen Davidson – Cultural administrator
Todrick Taylor – Accountant
Visiting Tutors
Much of the course is delivered by visiting industry tutors in specialist fields. The Film School is very appreciative of these industry practitioners for their support and enthusiasm in passing on their skills and expertise to students.
The Film School has collaborative relationships with the
New Zealand Film Commission,
NZ On Air,
The New Zealand Film Archive, the
Screen Directors Guild, the
Screen Producers and Directors Association, the
Technicians Guild, the
NZ Writers Guild,
WIFT (Women in Film and Television) and
Toi Whakaari as well as the various facilities and production companies located in Wellington. These help to expand the human resources and expertise available to the School and its students.