Behind the Scenes
Curated by NZ On Screen team 68 items
A collection which goes behind the scenes on New Zealand movies, TV shows, music videos and commercials.
Overview
NZ On Screen's Behind the Scenes Collection explores the mahi, the magic and the mishaps behind Kiwi screen productions — from epic explorations of Aotearoa history (The Governor, Utu) to more off the wall titles (Bad Taste, Wellington Paranormal). Included are interviews, documentaries and on-set footage. Animation, adverts, and television get a look in, but movies take centre stage. Two local screen talents have penned backgrounders: crewmember turned director Toa Fraser pays tribute to Kiwi film crews; and production designer Rob Gillies looks back on how the New Zealand screen industry grew bigger, and learned to run.
Profiles
Television
Shorts
Collection Gallery
Paul Leach behind a Panaflex camera, alongside director Ian Mune; from the set of the 1984 film Came a Hot Friday.
Kindly supplied by Onfilm.
Some of the Moriori crew on Rēkohu. From left, an unknown design crew member, designer Mark White, wardrobe person Lorraine Blewitt (in cap), & researcher Julienne Stretton. Front row: writer/ producer Bill Saunders, camera assistant Alan Hough & Christchurch crew member Doug Hamilton. Behind them on the right is director Wayne Tourell. Back row from left: sound recordist Rod Wilson (in hat), cameraman Graham Smith (standing) and Craig Dixon (in hat).
Photo probably taken by Kay Darby
A crew shot taken on TV series Children of Fire Mountain. Producer Roger Le Mesurier sits holding the camera slate. Standing behind him is cameraman Michael O'Connor. To the right of O'Connor in dark shirts are assistant director Gillian Harris (standing) and makeup woman Jean Thomas. Standing at far left in dark shirt is Murray Newey, next to costume designer Enid Eiriksson. Behind the unidentified woman wearing the hat is grip Geoff Jamieson (bearded); to his right (semi-obscured) is director Peter Sharp.
Supplied by Michael O'Connor
A behind the scenes photo taken in the Waitakeres in 1974, for The Woman at the Store. On horseback are actors Ilona Rodgers (obscured), Ian Mune and Jeremy Stephens.
Stills Collection, Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision. Courtesy of Ian Mune
John Clarke with a crew member, on the Hudson and Halls kitchen set.
©TVNZ. Supplied by Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision — TVNZ Collection
The team behind Peter Jackson's first feature Bad Taste took on many roles. On the roof, actor Mike Minnett; inside the car, actor Terry Potter. Holding clapperboard, late actor Pete O'Herne. Jackson is behind the camera.
Kindly provided by Onfilm
Behind the scenes on Scarfies: (left) cinematographer Stephen Downes and (holding the camera) director Rob Sarkies.
Kindly provided by Rob Sarkies
Behind the scenes on 1985 movie Mr Wrong, in Pāuatahanui. From left to right: director Gaylene Preston (seated), assistant grip Alistair Allan, camera operator Alun Bollinger, first assistant director John Samuels, continuity person Margot Shellgrove, and cinematographer Thomas Burstyn.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post
Debra East applies the finishing touches to Jed Brophy's face for his role as zombie Void in Braindead.
Photographer: Ross Giblin. Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
Behind the scenes on a key film in the New Zealand film renassance: Sleeping Dogs (1977). Camera operator Paul Leach is at left.
Allan Burne models a plasticine head of baby Selwyn from Braindead as a preliminary to casting it in foam.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
Cinematographer Alun Bollinger and writer/director Gaylene Preston during the filming of 2003 movie Perfect Strangers.
Photo appears courtesy of the NZ Film Commission
Filming Bad Taste, in the hills above Pukerua Bay. From left to right, actor/sound recordist Dean Lawrie, director and camera operator Peter Jackson, and Pete O'Herne, who played Barry.
Kindly provided by Onfilm.
Director Peter Jackson watches on as wardrobe assistant Zana Feuchs fits actor Danny Mulheron into a costume for movie Meet the Feebles.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
Behind the scenes on Meet the Feebles (1990). A puppet duck is discussed by Peter Jackson (left) and puppet designer Cameron Chittock (right).
Photographer: Don Roy. Kindly provided by The Post
Merata Mita working on the second unit of Geoff Murphy's The Magnificent Seven (1998), the pilot for an American TV series of the same name.
Cinematographer Graeme Cowley and clapper loader Justin Topzand, on the set of Merata Mita’s 1988 feature Mauri.
Kindly supplied by Graeme Cowley
Corin Redgrave as Governor George Grey (left) and Martyn Sanderson as General Sir Duncan Cameron, during on location filming for the fifth episode of The Governor, 'The Lame Seagull'.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
Some of the buildings created for The Governor, likely in the hills above the Hutt Valley.
Kindly provided by The Dominion Post.
Director Vincent Ward (right) and focus puller Rick Allender on location at a North Taranaki farm while filming Vigil.
Kindly provided by Onfilm.
Early stages during the building of a navy vessel used in the storm scene of Roger Donaldson's 1987 movie No Way Out. The finished set, built in Winstone Quarry in Auckland, was mounted on hydraulics so that it could move from side to side.
Photo taken and supplied by Kai Hawkins
The navy destroyer constructed for the storm scene of Roger Donaldson's 1987 movie No Way Out. Water was poured down from dump buckets from the left to simulate ocean waves. The scene was shot at night in Auckland's Winstone Quarry.
Photo taken and supplied by Kai Hawkins
A behind the scenes shot of the Taranaki set for Vigil, taken in August 1983. Production design by Kai Hawkins. Press on the photo to see full panorama.
Photo taken and supplied by Kai Hawkins
This behind the scenes shot reveals some of the in-camera trickery used on TV series Children of Fire Mountain. The mountain in the centre is a painting. It was mounted on glass, directly in front of the camera, to create the illusion that it is part of the real life location (Lake Wainamu). Clowning around (from left) are gaffer Ian Beale, clapper loader David Caldwell, and cinematographer Michael O'Connor. Designer Grant Major is in the light shirt in the background.
Supplied by Brian Walden
Kindly provided by Onfilm
Ginette McDonald in the make-up chair, before playing Shirley in Close to Home.
Photo courtesy of Michael McDonald
All in a day’s work: Brian Walden on location, while working for state television in the mid 1970s.
Photo supplied by Brian Walden
A behind the scenes shot taken near Dunedin, for 1985 TV series Hanlon. Cameraman Michael O'Connor is hanging off the car, while actor Bill Ewens is behind the wheel. In the back seat are soundman Neil Newcombe and director Wayne Tourell (half obscured).
Photographer: Graham Wallace. Kindly provided by Wayne Tourell