Member Spotlight: Sioux Ferguson-Macdonald

Behind every great production is a crew of talented, hardworking people and we love shining a light on them. In our Member Spotlight series, we chat with Guild members about their path in the industry, what drives them, and what they’ve learned on set.

Sioux Ferguson-Macdonald has worked in film and television since 1989, beginning in post-production and production before purchasing Film Crews in 1997, which she continues to manage today. Over nearly three decades, she has supported more than 7,000 crew and witnessed many launch successful international careers.

A long-standing advocate for screen workers, Sioux has served on the Screen Industry Guild for 28 years - 22 of those as Vice President. She played a key role in preventing the reversal of the “Hobbit Law” in 2017 and contributed to the Government’s Screen Industry Working Group, helping secure contractor rights under the ERA. She remains proud of the Guild’s evolution, its communication in challenging times, and the benefits it continues to provide members across the industry.

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

I kicked off my film and TV career back in 1989 as a wide-eyed 17-year-old, working as an in-house runner and facilities assistant at Flying Start Pictures (which later became Toybox). It was a crash course in everything from time management, post-production, client service, and how to look busy even when the kettle was boiling. It was the perfect place to learn how the engine room of the industry really works, and how every job, no matter how small, keeps the whole thing moving.

What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

After a decade working across New Zealand for major production companies, I took the plunge and bought Film Crew Services (Filmcrews) in 1997. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of helping thousands of crew members start or sustain their careers in our screen industry. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing someone you gave a shot to go on to build a thriving career, and knowing that, in some small way, you helped strengthen the backbone of the industry we all love.

How do you think the NZ screen industry could better support crew?

We’ve got a brilliant industry  but it’s also a fragile one. I worry that hiring habits can sometimes get a bit too familiar, with the same names being called again and again. That might feel safe in the short term, but it limits our growth and resilience. When fresh or lesser-known crew aren’t given opportunities, they can’t build sustainable careers, and when the next big production wave hits, we’re left short-handed. If we made more of an effort to spread the work around during the quieter times - to share the crumbs, not just the cake - we’d build a stronger, more balanced industry that can weather both boom and bust.

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

I think a lot of members don’t realise just how much behind-the-scenes advocacy the Guild does for them. The Blue Book, for instance… it’s more than just a handy reference; it’s the result of countless volunteer hours and tough negotiations that have shaped the conditions most of us work under every day. The Guild isn’t just a name on an email - it’s people putting in the mahi to protect and improve life on set for everyone.

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