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Flight of Fancy

1987 Short film
  • Documentary

This whimsical documentary follows Kiwi artist Michael Smither as he sets out to learn to fly. Smither exudes curiosity, laughter and joy as he develops a series of flying suits, aided by cartoonist Burton Silver and Caroline Girdlestone (who went on to wrangle animals for movies Babe and Black Sheep). Flight of Fancy is lyrical and full of surprises. Made by director Tony Hiles, it was shot on location at Farewell Spit and Wharariki Beach. The music is by Warratahs violinist Nik Brown. Hiles explored flying once more in his 1995 movie Jack Brown Genius. Writer Mary-Jane Duffy explores Flight of Fancy here

Key Cast & Crew

Profile picture of Tony Hiles
Tony Hiles
Director
IP
Ian Paul
Camera
MS
Michael Smither
Subject
Profile picture of Burton Silver
Burton Silver
Subject (Ground Crew)
NB
Nik Brown
Composer

Related images

Fracture-Gallery.jpg
An original picture of Michael Smither and the flying bike.
Kindly provided by Tony Hiles.
Flight-of-Fancy-gallery-2.jpg
On the set of Flight of Fancy.
Kindly provided by Tony Hiles.
Flight-of-Fancy-gallery-3.jpg
Shooting Flight of Fancy.
Kindly provided by Tony Hiles.
Flight-of-Fancy-gallery-4.jpg
Shooting Flight of Fancy.
Kindly provided by Tony Hiles.
Flight-of-fancy-gallery-5.jpg
Shooting Flight of Fancy.
Kindly provided by Tony Hiles.
Flight-of-Fancy-Gallery-1.jpg
Michael Smither being rigged for flight.
Kindly supplied by the Dominion Post