Fruitbowl - Fresh Ideas from Hawke's Bay

An assistant director for the movie Siege, Jessica Taylor was conferred with her Diploma in Screen Production recently.

Jess enjoyed the practical focus of the diploma programme, the professional expertise and experience of lecturers and getting to know fellow students.

EIT has got some of the best cameras and equipment anywhere in the country Jess told us, so she was happy to study in her home town.

Siege is the movie about police killer Jan Molenaar’s three-day stand-off with the Armed Offenders Squad.

One of Jess’s roles was playing the part of a policewoman who worked in the background in a scene depicting the Napier police station.

As Jess excelled at practical tasks such as mobilising equipment needed for filming, she worked as an assistant director, based at a caravan on the former Napier Hospital site. 

“It was busy and long hours but I absolutely loved it.  I met the crew and cast who were supportive and it was nice to see what everybody does on a film set. – Jess told us.