Derek Morton
Director, Editor
A shot of the village set created for unfinished film The Magic Hammer. Derek Morton is behind the camera. The set was pre-fabricated in Geoff Murphy's garage in Wellington, then transported to the site in Makara on the roof of his Morris Minor.
Kindly supplied by Geoff Murphy.
Shots from the making of unfinished musical The Magic Hammer. Geoff Murphy is pushing the dolly (mobile camera platform), while Derek Morton is behind the camera, which is enclosed in homemade, soundproof housing and mounted on a beer crate.
Kindly supplied by Geoff Murphy.
Bruno Lawrence as Burglar Bill, Derek Morton and publisher Chris Wheeler as the Chief of Police. Although this behind the scenes photo appears to be from 1974 TV series Percy the Policeman, it was actually taken years earlier (probably the late 1960s) during an early Percy practice shoot, which involved Morton, Geoff Murphy, and cameraman Allun Bollinger.
Photo likely taken by Helen Whiteford
Derek Morton and Geoff Murphy, shortly before setting up a car crash stunt on Wild Horses. The film was released in 1984.
Photo taken by Jocelyn Carlin
Left to right: Derek Morton, Geoff Murphy and (seated) cameraman Alun Bollinger, during the making of short film The Box (1969?).
Photo believed to have been taken by Helen Whiteford
The three witches from Geoff Murphy and Derek Morton's unfinished film The Magic Hammer: Cackle (played by Christine Olsen), Lop (Mary Wootton), and Zap (Catherine Slavof). Photo believed to have been taken by Barry Clothier.
Kindly supplied by Mary Wootton (née Wheeler)
David Potter and (holding camera) Derek Morton on the Makara set of The Magic Hammer. Photo taken by Gary Girvan.
Kindly supplied by Derek Morton
Cast and crew on the 1965 Palliser Bay shoot for teleplay Down by the Cool Sea. Back row, left to right: film director Romano Pianti, actor Barry Hill, overall director/producer Douglas Drury, sound recordist Ian McIntyre, cameraman Cyril Townsend, and scriptwriter Maurice Shadbolt (holding pipe). Front row: actor Sandy Chadwick, production secretary Angela Nicoll, actor Glenis Levestam, and location manager Derek Morton.
Photo supplied by Derek Morton
Actors Barry Hill and Glenis Levestam at Palliser Bay, shooting a scene for 1966 teleplay Down by the Cool Sea. This was likely the first time New Zealand television went on location to shoot drama. Derek Morton is at the right of frame, holding a battery-powered light.
Photo supplied by the late Douglas Drury
Setting up a shot at Palliser Bay in late 1965, during probably the earliest location shoot for a New Zealand television drama: teleplay Down by the Cool Sea. Derek Morton is standing on the left of the camera, with so-called 'Film Director' Romano Pianti (arms obscuring his face) on the other side of the rock. Note actor Barry Hill, lying on the sand at the left of frame.
Photo supplied by the late Douglas Drury
A shot from one of the earliest location shoots on a New Zealand television drama: actors Barry Hill and Glenis Levestam and location manager Derek Morton at Palliser Bay, while filming teleplay Down by the Cool Sea. The slate Morton is holding reads 5 December 1965.
Photo supplied by the late Douglas Drury