Cinematographer Alun Bollinger and writer/director Gaylene Preston during the filming of 2003 movie Perfect Strangers.

Photo appears courtesy of the NZ Film Commission

Director Vincent Ward (right) and focus puller Rick Allender on location at a North Taranaki farm while filming Vigil.

Kindly provided by Onfilm.

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.

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

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.

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 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

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

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

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