KevinRiley
- Cinematographer
Kevin Riley worked his way up from gaffer to cameraman to cinematographer, after beginning his working career as an electrician. Along the way he set up Auckland equipment company Cinestuff, founded the New Zealand Cinematographer's Society, and has provided a wide range of images from muscle-clad heroes (Hercules) to the highly competitive world of pub quizzes (Nothing Trivial).
Screenography
Biography
Kevin Riley, who runs rental company CineStuff with his wife Rita, played a key part in setting up the New Zealand Cinematographer's Society. But his long screen career wasn't a straightforward progression.
Unconvinced his longtime interest in photography could be turned into a career, Kevin Riley left school to become an electrician. Increasingly unenthused by the task of crawling under people's houses, he got a job in the early 80s as a sparkie at TVNZ, handling studio maintenance. Sent to help out when a generator broke down on a location shoot, Riley noticed lighting crew standing around drinking coffee while waiting between shots. It was clearly time for a transfer to the lighting department.
Awards
2011 Aotearoa Film and Television Awards
Best Cinematography - Drama/Comedy Programme: for Legend of the Seeker
“Cinematographers occupy a privileged position on every production. To be entrusted with the technical interpretation of any creative endeavour requires that we listen first, before all else.”