Phwoah! This is it, the last post for 2009. Like most people you are probably tired of top ten lists – of the year and/or decade – so this isn’t one of those. This is just me giving thanks for all the wonderful, inspiring people who have made 2009 such a great year!
I have been incredibly happy to make creative contributions to three great New Zealand feature films this year. First was Under The Mountain by Jonathan King, which opened in NZ theatres about a week ago. Then came Home By Christmas by Gaylene Preston and tomorrow we’re print mastering Boy by Taika Waititi, which has just been accepted into both the Sundance & the Berlin Film Festivals.
Apart from their local cultural identity the greatest joy has been working on projects that are so personal to the filmmaker and it is readily apparent to me all three of these films are not ‘this years films’ – these three directors have been working on their films their entire lives, and it is an honor to help realise their visions.
Its also been great to work with the numerous composers, sound editors, foley team & mixers this year making each of these films. Nothing beats having history with the people you work with, so that you can easily share common reference points but also appreciate the differences that makes each person unique.
And admittedly it is the end of a decade, and somehow I seem to have personal significance with years ending in zero. In 1970 I started primary school….. and hated it! I was sold a lie; I visited primary school once when I was 4, but it was during playtime & no one said anything about going inside & doing work!
Twenty years later, having been through university & learned a lot about life, but not so much about my intended & then aborted degree… I went to Film School in 1990, which rapidly became a great, formative year!
In 2000, after mostly living in Auckland since Film School I made the move to Wellington, rented space for my own studio & started my own company, Substation. Coincidentally as 2000 ticked over I somehow managed to fall off a small verandah & spiral fracture the tibia in my leg, thereby learning the most valuable of all life’s lessons: I am not immortal!
So next was three years in central Wellington with my studio in Jessie St, eventually evicted when greedy developers bought the building & proceeded to turn my studio & second edit room into four tiny apartments…. Six years in Ropa Lane, Maupuia, again evicted when greedy developers bought the building… And rather than suffer the same fate again, by the time 2008 had ended I had finally bought an apartment & rented a much smaller studio space across the road from Park Road Post… And this scenario is the best setup yet!
This year I also was forced to shift my blog & websites from a friends server to ‘proper’ hosting at hostgator, and its been an excellent, entirely essential learning curve. As I learned via being evicted by capitalist mofos its important in the face of adversity to say FCK OFF! And set to turning the initial negative hassle into something far, far grander & more positive than they who instigated the hassles could ever imagine. And in hindsight the worst thing that could have happened in both instances is for the status quo to be maintained. Life is constant change and when major changes are forced on you, never fear the outcome – meet then head on & redefine the situation on your own terms… Inevitably you learn incredibly valuable skills in the process.
So what does 2010 hold? Well, one film is confirmed & a second is 90% there. But the gaps in work excite me as much as the large scale projects – and currently the year starts with a two month gap! 2009 has also been a solidly developmental year for me with my regards to my personal projects, and 2010 is going to see the outcome of these projects finally see the light of day. And that is hugely exciting; partly to experience the completion of projects but also developing & learning as the projects find their place in the world. 2009 has been a great year but 2010 for me is unprecedented. And while I would normally keep posting here throughout the holidays I simply need some time out to both relax & refuel. Finishing a film is exhausting…. & finishing the year is exhausting…. Doing both at the same time is exponentially tiring! I’m so looking forward to sleeping & spending time in the outdoors & also creatively focusing on the serious fun in store for 2010 – scheming, planning & dreaming.
Have a great holiday, thanks to everyone who has participated here. See you next year! And in order of my google analytics: Thanks, Dankë, Merci, Tack, Dziekuje, Grazie, Dank u, Obrigado, Efcharisto, Go raibh maith ‘ad, Arigato, Mange tak, Shukriya, Takk, Pöjö, Spasibo, Mersi, Kiitos, Hvala, M goi, Ghu long khu me-ah, Juspajaraña, Dankschen, Hvala…
