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WakaAttewell

  • Cinematographer
Waka_Attewell_Key_Profile.jpg

Cinematographer Waka Attewell has been shooting images of New Zealand for over 30 years. He began his career at John O' Shea's Pacific Films and later established his own production company Valhalla Films, where he has filmed and directed a run of commercials, films and documentaries.

Screenography

Grant Sheehan: Light, Ghosts & Dreams
2023 Additional Camera Operator Film
Hillary: Ocean to Sky
2019 Original Sound Recordist, Original Camera Film
Mo Te Iwi: Carving for the People
2019 Cinematographer Film
Undertow
2019 Producer, Cinematographer, Concept Director Film
Walk a Mile
2019 Cinematographer Short film

Biography

Warrick Attewell — or Waka, as he has long been known in the film industry — is a freelance cameraman and director of photography who has worked with many of the major directors in New Zealand cinema. He has won awards both for his cinematography (The Whole of the Moon) and direction (Our Future Generation). These days he is also an opinionated commentator on screen matters, for a range of local publications.

Awards

2017 Rialto Channel New Zealand Film Awards (The Moas)
Nominated for Best Cinematography (with Alun Bollinger): for The Great Maiden's Blush

1999 Oberhausen International Short Film Festival (Germany)
Honourable Mention - Children's Short Film Competition: for The Murder House

“His ability to home in on the emotional dimensions of a film ... and to devise the appropriate lighting and camera style, often at a tangent to strict naturalism, lends his work distinction and enduring quality.”

— Author Duncan Petrie, in his 2007 book Shot in New Zealand: The Art and Craft of the Kiwi Cinematographer

Related images

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Waka Attewell shooting a television commercial at Meads Wall, Mt Ruapehu.
Kindly supplied by Waka Attewell.
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From left to right: Director John Laing, production designer Ralph Davies, producer Don Reynolds and cinematographer Waka Attewell celebrate the final day of shooting Dangerous Orphans, after filming a dramatic car over cliff scene at Titahi Bay.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
The-Lie-of-the-Land-Gallery-4.jpg
Director Grahame McLean and Director of Photography Waka Attewell during the back to back shoot of Should I Be Good? and The Lie of the Land.
Photo: Guy Robinson.
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Waka Attewell (pointing) and director Grahame McLean (far right) on location during the back to back shoot of Should I Be Good? and The Lie of the Land.
Photo: Guy Robinson.
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Director of Photography Waka Attewell and at his right director Grahame McLean during the back to back shoot of Should I Be Good? and The Lie of the Land.
Photo: Guy Robinson.
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Behind the scenes on landmark TV series Tangata Whenua: chief cameraman Keith Hawke is at the centre of the frame, assisted by Waka Attewell (in white shirt). Director Barry Barclay is standing on the right, behind the second camera.
Kindly supplied by Rick Spurway.