Member Spotlight: Sally Cunningham

Our Member Spotlight series continues as we celebrate more of the people who bring our productions to life. Each story offers a glimpse into a member’s career, what keeps them inspired, and what they’ve learned along the way.

With two decades in the screen industry, Sally Cunningham’s heart has always been in the relationships she’s built along the way. She believes our industry thrives when people look after people, and passionate about strengthening those connections and supporting a resilient future for crew.

What was your very first job on set and what did you learn from it?

My first job after film school was a weird comedy show from America that came here to film some farm skits. I remember driving them out to Pencarrow Lighthouse in Wellington and watching the main character try to climb electric fences and herd sheep without a dog. I never saw it screen anywhere. To this day, I have no idea if it actually made it into a show of any kind.

 What’s one lesson the screen industry has taught you?

I could credit this lesson to the film industry or my Mum, but I’m not afraid of change. The film industry teaches you resilience and adaptability. You never really know what’s going to happen, so you don’t dwell on things when they don’t work out, or when you suddenly have to come up with an entirely new plan. It also teaches you to be financially literate.

 What changes would you like to see in the next five years?

I’m looking forward to when the Screen Guild has a standard contract that’s the basic working standard for film workers. When SPADA comes to the table as an engager organisation under SIWA, it will be a giant step forward for the NZ industry.

In the next five years, I would like to see funding levels reviewed against the realistic cost of production. More and more Producers and Line Producers are under enormous pressure trying to stay on budget and deliver the desired content. Sometimes these goals are more aspirational than realistic, putting Producers and Line Producers in a difficult position between crew being underpaid and investors expecting the bottom line to hold. Funding really needs to start addressing these discrepancies.

 What’s one thing you wish every crew member knew about the Guild?

I would like more people to know that the Screen Guild is not only about representing crew. Yes, that’s our main focus, but we’re also about fostering great relationships and communication throughout the industry so it continues to thrive and grow.

An industry where we all respect each other and the work we’re trying to achieve is an industry that becomes an attractive prospect for both domestic and international productions. We need to stamp out the ‘us vs them’ mentality once and for all.

 Favourite filming location in NZ?

Any time I get to film in or near my hometown in Central Otago is the best.

  A film or show that inspired you to get into this industry?

Jurassic Park was the first film where I found myself thinking, “I must do this.” Then I found out Sam Neill was a kiwi and thought, “Hold on just a minute,  kiwis can be IN the movies? Sign me up!”

  If you weren’t in film, what would you be doing instead?

If I wasn’t in film, I’d be doing something else in the arts. If I couldn’t work in the arts at all, I’d probably be in the medical field, maybe a paramedic or an orthopaedic surgeon. I once broke my ankle gripping on a job, and it made me think that putting bones back together must be a great job.