MA scriptwriting students

These are brief paragraphs about themselves written by each member of this year's class and emailed to the IIML at the start of the year. The intention is that they can read about each other before they meet face to face. We also hope these informal snapshots will make interesting reading in future years.

Eva Brunel

Kia Ora! My name is Eva, I'm 21 years old, and have recently graduated from Otago with a degree in Film. I grew up in Wellington, where I developed an eagerness for performing from a young age. I've always been interested in filmmaking, specifically in writing, directing, and editing, and I'm truly excited to learn more about myself as a writer throughout this course. I aim to highlight the seemingly mundane moments in everyday life through my writing, paying attention to conversation, quietness, and friendship. In my free time, I enjoy a range of (probably too many) hobbies, such as knitting, music, coffee, reading, and sewing. I've wanted to pursue film since I was small, so I'm thrilled to start at the IIML and see where it can take me.

Megan Connolly

What’s up, I’m Megan (or Mog) and I'm a comedian, improviser and recovering journalist. I grew up in Australia and moved to Aotearoa over a decade ago and just never… moved back?

For the past few years I have been creating and performing comedy and improv shows across Poneke. Mainly sketch comedy and improvised long-form stories about all sorts of things; gay bogan boys, tipsy honeymoon nights, mean horse-girls... Just last year I toured around Aotearoa and to Adelaide Fringe Festival and Melbourne Comedy Festival, which was pretty awesome. I love being a fool.

Excited to get stuck in and fool around with you all this year!

Victoria Lewis

Kia ora, I'm Victoria (Vic, more commonly). I officially graduated from VUW in Law, Politics, and IR last year after six years of indecision and a semester off to travel. While I've spent some time clerking with a KC and working in trade certification, I rejected pretty much everything from my degree the moment I finished it. My professional background is really in hospitality - I've spent the better part of my adult life bartending, and the past year running a venue up here in Auckland.

I grew up dreaming of writing novels, but fell in love with film & TV when I flatted with a couple of film bros during my undergrad. While my comfort zone is in slice-of-life comedy, I'm hoping to spend my time this year forcing myself to be uncomfortable. I'm looking forward to meeting & working with all of you!

Chantal Euringer

Hiya, my name is Chantal, and I'm psyched to be joining this group of merry scribes. A little about me: I'm from NYC, and I've been a musician for most of my life, fortunate enough to be doing music for film/TV. I went to film school when I was a teenager and again as a mom because my fishbowl brain forgot everything. Film & TV are my first love, my obsession, my education, and my escapism. Few things excite me more or make me happier. My favorite genre is comedy/satire with a large dose of niche cult films. I'm a Pisces, but I don’t believe in astrology anymore. Looking forward to meeting you all.

Alex Cherian

Kia ora koutou, my name is Alex (she/they), but my friends call me Goose. I've been a lover of movies and writing for as long as I can remember. I have acted, written, and directed for a few little projects over the years, and I currently run a queer filmmaker's collective called The New New, where we highlight outsider perspectives and lesser heard voices from the LGBTQ+ community. 
I recently completed a BA in Film and Creative Writing, so this MA seemed the perfect next step. The collective workshop experience is my favourite way to create, and when I'm not doing film work I'm usually asking my friends what they think of my latest poem.

Iris Mackenzie

Hi, my name is Iris Mackenzie and I am 21 years old. I have just finished my Bachelors degree, Majoring in English and Minoring in Art History. I have been living in Wellington for a year but have previously lived in Auckland and Dunedin. My favourite things to do are
listening to music with my friends and having conversations where everyone is laughing. One of my favourite singers to listen to is Amy Winehouse because I love her lyrics. I think she would be a great person to have a funny conversation with. I'm really looking forward to
meeting all of you!

Leroy Nurkka

Born and raised in Rotorua, I left for university straight out of high school and have been a proud Wellingtonian since. These days you can find me recovering physically and spiritually from a handful of hospitality jobs, recovering economically from unemployment, and sometimes sitting down to write a play. As a playwright, I aim to use surrealism and phenomenology to explore the past and present worlds. And, on my ever-spinning compass of influences, you'll find Joni Mitchell and David Lynch standing side-by-side, holding hands.
I'm excited to meet everyone when class begins.

Hazel Perigo-Blackburn

Kia Ora everyone! I'm Hazel and am very excited to meet you all. Born and raised here in Pōneke, I am a recent graduate in Film and English Literature Studies. I've always loved writing but have often struggled at finishing projects, I'm looking forward to being challenged to write more and to work with other creators such as yourselves! A few things about me… my cat is maybe my favourite thing on this earth, but I'm also a lover of collecting books, making pinterest boards, watching 90s tv shows & ouroboros symbolism.

Ngā mihi nui!

Sonja Cooke

Hi, I'm Sonja. I grew up in Minnesota, United States, but was born in Liberia, Africa. I graduated with my undergrad with an individualized degree, but my focus was on film/writing. Film studies is where my love for screenwriting was planted and blossomed. I had always been a writer of the horror/thriller genre but something about this art form stuck with me. I'm super excited to start this program and to learn more as a writer as well as gain more hands-on experience in the field. I've participated in two screenwriting workshops before, so it'll be interesting to do one full-time and longer than a semester.

Crosby Allen-Jennings  (He/him)

Kia ora! I am a writer/director of (so far) short films, with a special interest in queer stories and horror.

I have been practicing my craft since graduating in 2022. I have produced three short films, written one short and five features, and written/directed another two shorts.

I need honest, trustworthy critics for my scripts. I also need help to think of a c*nty pseudonym.

My ambition in the IIML is to write a low-budget dystopian horror that could be the first film in a franchise.

I would like to fund the creation of this film within 10 years.