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ClaudeWickstead

  • Sound
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Claude Wickstead's sound recording career spanned nearly 40 years. He began working at the Government Film Studios in 1938, before joining the National Film Unit in 1945. Wickstead — who was a prisoner of war in Germany during WWll  — worked on many films, including the long-running Weekly Review and Pictorial Parade. He went on to head the NFU's sound department for 32 years. Wickstead died on 7 September 2002.

Screenography

Toogood Tales
1994 Subject Television
War Years
1983 Original Filmmaker Film
This is New Zealand
1970 Sound Director Short film
The Glacier Climbers
1964 Sound Short film

Biography

Claude Wickstead was in his early 20s when he began working at the Government Film Studios in Wellington, in October 1938. Sound engineer Free Grant taught Wickstead how to record sound on film. As a sound technician and recordist, his duties included recording sound directly to film, and mixing music and effects from discs while recording the words of the commentator.

“All set for a take? OK, she’s away!”

— Claude Wickstead at work, in 1947 film Exhibition Loop