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MichaelO'Connor

  • Cinematographer
Michael-OConnor-Key-Profile.jpg

A cameraman with over 50 years experience, Michael O’Connor joined the NZ Broadcasting Corporation as a trainee straight from high school. O'Connor went on to shoot some of New Zealand's most iconic dramas, from Under the Mountain to 1980s cop show Mortimer's Patch. His documentary work includes popular series Heartland and Epitaph, and directing Dalvanius, about singer Dalvanius Prime.

Screenography

Media7 - Series Seven, Episode 13
2011 Field Cinematographer Television
Ngaio Marsh - Crime Queen
2011 Cinematographer Television
The China Cup
2009 Cinematographer Film

Biography

Mike O'Connor was a teenager when a legendary film sparked an eureka moment. Epic Lawrence of Arabia mesmerised him when he saw it on big screen 70mm at Wellington's Embassy Theatre. "I was hugely affected by its scope" says O'Connor, "the story, the characters, the script, the setting, the soundtrack — and, of course, its amazing cinematography." That was the moment he decided he had to learn the craft of cinematography.

Awards

2006 Air New Zealand Screen Awards
Nominated for Best Camera - Documentary - TV: for Black Grace - From Cannon's Creek to Jacob's Pillow

1988 Guild of Film and Television Arts (GOFTA) Awards
Award for Excellence in Allied Crafts: for Erebus: The Aftermath

“The one thing I always enjoyed about documentary work was being with people and in places I normally wouldn't be.”

— Michael O'Connor

Related images

Grasscutter_Gallery1.jpg
Some of the cast and crew on 1988 TV movie The Grasscutter. Director Ian Mune is smiling behind the clapper board. Actor Marshall Napier stands behind Mune, in white shirt and dark jacket. Wearing the dark swanndri on Mune's left is director of photography Matt Bowkett. On Mune's right, producer Tom Finlayson kneels in the striped shirt.
Photo supplied by Brian Walden
The-Mackenzie-Affair-gallery-image-2.jpg
Filming with roughly 600 merino sheep and the Southern Alps, for 1977 TV series The Mackenzie Affair. Director of photography Max Quinn is at left of frame, with hand in the air. First Assistant Director Mike Smith stands nearby in red shirt. Between them is UK director Joan Craft, while cameraman Michael O'Connor is on top of the crane on the right.
Photo supplied by Brian Walden
The_MacKenzie_Affair_gallery1.jpg
A behind the scenes shot from 1977 TV series The Mackenzie Affair: Michael O’Connor films a fight scene, while one of the show’s animal co-stars looks on.
Photo supplied by Michael O'Connor
Hanlon-gallery-image-4.jpg
A behind the scenes shot taken near Dunedin, for 1985 TV series Hanlon. Cameraman Michael O'Connor is hanging off the car, while actor Bill Ewens is behind the wheel. In the back seat are soundman Neil Newcombe and director Wayne Tourell (half obscured).
Photographer: Graham Wallace. Kindly provided by Wayne Tourell
Hanlon-gallery-image-3.jpg
A shot taken during filming of the Emmy-nominated Minnie Dean episode of Hanlon. Atop the crane is camera operator Michael O'Connor. The scene was shot on the Weka Pass Railway in North Canterbury.
Photograph by Graham Wallace. Kindly provided by Wayne Tourell
Hunters_gold_gallery5.jpg
Michael O'Connor prepares to roll camera during the making of  TV series Hunter's Gold.
Photograph by Dale Gardiner
Children-of-Fire-Mountain-1.jpg
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