Story development for Filmmakers
Shuchi Kothari has taught screenwriting at the University of Auckland since 1998. She is regularly invited by screen guilds, national funding bodies and production companies to design and deliver workshops, moderate panels and lead conversations about screenwriting and story development.
As an expert story and script consultant, Shuchi works across genres including drama, comedy, animation and horror, guiding writers and producers through different stages of their projects. Over the years, she has mentored more than a hundred writers and directors, many of whom now shape the industry in their own right.
“Shuchi is a powerhouse storyteller, educator and creative leader, who reminded us that great stories go beyond events-they hinge on consequences that truly matter. Her kōrero left our room buzzing with ideas, tools, and inspiration to carry forward into our stories.” (Ngā Aho Whakaari, New Zealand).
Pan-Asian Screen Collective
Shuchi’s sustained advocacy for improved outcomes for minority filmmakers—on and behind the screen— became formalised in 2018.
Along with filmmaker Roseanne Liang, producer Selina Joe and journalist Gilbert Wong, Shuchi co-founded the Pan-Asian Screen Collective (PASC), a not-for-profit organisation committed to improving representation and work opportunities for Pan-Asian creatives in Aotearoa.
Through PASC and independently, Shuchi creates and convenes professional development programmes that strengthen skills, confidence and collaboration among emerging and mid-career filmmakers.
Recent Initiatives DESIGNED FOR PASC
Episode One (2022–23)
Shuchi created a year-long web-series development and pilot production programme for Pan-Asian key creatives in Aotearoa.
Participants worked with local and international mentors to take their projects from concept to pilot, building both creative and producing skills within a supportive professional framework.
Episode One Redux (2025–26)
This second iteration of Episode One expanded the original model into advanced development and production funding.
It brought together emerging Pan-Asian writers, directors and producers for sustained mentorship, practical workshops and the creation of new pilot episodes. The four finished pilot episodes had their public screening in May 2026.
Short Cuts Development Lab
Shuchi designs and convenes this annual flagship lab focused on short-film story and production readiness for Pan-Asian writers, directors and producers. 2026 was its 5th edition with production funding for two projects.
Over three days, participants refine scripts, hone pitches and deepen craft through peer exchange and one-to-one mentorship with established practitioners.
Writer’s Room: Seat at the Table
To ameliorate the lack of Pan Asian voices in series television, Shuchi designed this programme to train writers and improve their access to writers’ rooms.
Participants undertook a four-day crash course in which new storyliners learnt breaking and developing episodes through mock writers’ rooms led by experienced showrunners.
Recent workshops/Mentoring for other organisations
Ngā Aho Shorts Development Lab (2025)
A collaborative initiative supporting Māori writers, directors and producers to develop and strengthen short-film projects.
The lab offered a culturally grounded space for creative experimentation, script refinement and connection between established mentors and emerging voices.
day one Hāpai te Haeata (previously The outlook for someday)
A long-running New Zealand Youth Film initiative providing first time or new filmmakers a guided opportunity to flex their screen storytelling muscle, Day One Hāpai te Haeata (previously Outlook for Someday) has given the confidence to young filmmakers to scale up their ambitions in future projects.
Over the years, Shuchi has mentored several filmmakers and their films through their initiatives.
Niu Waves: Feature Film (PISA – Pacific Islanders in Screen Arts, 2025)
Created to support selected Pacific Island feature-writers in Aotearoa, PISA’s five-month course (Oct 2025-Feb 2026), provides development funding and through workshops and mentoring activates participants to explore, refine, and discover the core of their feature film stories to get ready for the next stage of development.
Shuchi co-designed this programme with PISA ED Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa.
NIU Waves: Series Development (PISA – Pacific Islanders in Screen Arts, 2024)
Niu Waves 2024 took three teams of Pacific Island Writers in Aotearoa, through an extended television series development process. Each team received both development funding and intensive ongoing support to develop their idea into a complete treatment, pilot script or proposal.
Show me Shorts Film Lab 2026 (Since 2010)
Based in Auckland, Show Me Shorts Short Film Lab is an excellent mentoring program established by Gina Dellabarca and Mark Prebble. Designed to tautoko emerging screenwriters who have produced previous work but have yet to receive major production funding for their short films, the lab successfully pairs mentors with writers to help develop their screenplays.
Since the programme's inaugural year in 2010, Shuchi has been regularly invited to mentor and give feedback to lab’s selected (now established) filmmakers over the years.
Shuchi has curated screenings such as Being Seen, a multi-ethnic film programme delivered in four Auckland locations for the Ministry of Ethnic Communities, and been a long-standing mentor for Show Me Shorts Development Lab, Script to Screen’s Film Up Programme, and NZFC’s Fresh Shorts film development and funding programme.
For 3 years she facilitated a year-long incubator for upcoming women directors for DEGANZ (Directors and Editor’s Guild New Zealand). She also co-facilitated a four day Writer’s Retreat for women writer/directors of the aboriginal portmanteau film Red for ScreenWest, Australia & BSAG, New Zealand.
Shuchi has served as an assessor for the New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand on Air, New Zealand Writer’s Guild, and as a jury member for Qantas Screen Awards, AFTA awards, New Zealand Screen and Television Awards, and Show Me Shorts Film Festival.
Selected conversations
Big Screen Symposium 2026: Shuchi Kothari moderates Adaptability with Dianne Taylor & Briar Grace Smith
Ira Sachs Talks to Shuchi Kothari in a Special Auckland Writer’s Room - 2008
NZIFF TALKS 2017: Francis Lee on GOD'S OWN COUNTRY with Shuchi Kothari
Big Screen Symposium 2012 - Scriptwriting with Ben Lewin
Big Screen Symposium 2017: Big Screen Symposium 2017: Directing with David Michôd
Big Screen Symposium 2024: Lulu Wang In Conversation with Shuchi Kothari
Apart from her extensive work as producer, writer and storyliner, Shuchi has years of experience in designing and delivering development and capacity-building programmes for filmmakers. For workshops, training programmes, speaking engagements or panel moderation, please contact her.