JohnEarnshaw
- Cinematographer
English cameraman John Earnshaw moved downunder in 1975, just as the local screen industry was hotting up. A director of photography on hundreds of commercials, he shot two feature-length projects: cult movie Angel Mine, one of the earliest entries in the Kiwi movie renaissance, and TV movie A Woman of Good Character. He passed away on 3 March 2014, leaving behind him a passion project involving a mysterious Boeing aircraft.
Biography
John Earnshaw's life was defined by a love of cameras and aeroplanes, a combination he was well aware could resuit in dangeorus situations.
Though he spent almost four decades in New Zealand, Earnshaw was born in the UK in 1939. As a teen he spent time in India, where his father was an aircraft engineer. John learnt to fly Tiger Moths and gliders, and was a keen photographer. After a stint in the merchant navy (one of several parallels with fellow emigre Steve Locker-Lampson), he joined a commercials company in London. Colleagues soon invited him to be a camera assistant on their next movie.
Screenography
“As a first time feature film maker, I was in awe of John Earnshaw's good humour and supportive professionalism. With his stories of famous directors I admired, and his love of witty word play, he made me feel at ease as a novice director and encouraged me to follow my vision, which he captured beautifully.”