On the eve of the 91st Academy Awards, Sarah Pollok talks to the quietly achieving New Zealanders who have been winning big on the international stage and doing us proud.
JOHN CAVILL, cinematographer
John Cavill may have started as a studio cameraman for the then-New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation back
in 1985, but it was working on the blockbuster film Hercules: The Legendary Journeys when he discovered his true passion; long-form drama and feature films. Trading in his studio job to give freelancing a shot, Cavill went on to work on big titles such as Xena: Warrior Princess, The Lord of the Rings and Spartacus. The hard work paid off in 2018 when his telefeature, Scars of Nanking (2017) won a silver award from the NZ Cinematographers Society and an Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography. Since the win, it's been business as usual for the film technician, who says while it's nice to be recognisedy, life hasn't changed too much. In classic Kiwi style, Cavill says while he's happy to have an Emmy, it's been business as usual. "I've certainly had a busy past year, but I'm not sure that can be attributed to winning an Emmy," he says, instead crediting longstanding relationships in the industry as a key part of getting good work.
JAMIE SELKIRK, film editor, producer
Much like Cavill, Jamie Selkirk found his feet at the NZBC in the late 1960s, working as a studio camera cabler. Although Selkirk's transition to editing was a little more extreme, with a car accident pushing him to choose a less physically demanding position. It was as an editor that Selkirk partnered with Peter Jackson in 1987 to produce their debut feature film Bad Taste. The two film-makers clicked and the partnership continues years later, with Selkirk editing almost every feature Jackson has directed since, including the co-production of The Lord of the Rings. The last instalment of the trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), winning him an Academy Award in 2004 for Best Film Editing as well as an Eddie from the American Cinema Editors Society.
After winning the most sought-after award in the film industry and finishing up editing his latest film, King Kong, Selkirk felt it was time to "give back" to the industry. Returning to Wellington, he collaborated with Victoria University to set up Miramar Creative, an organisation that is gearing up the next generation of Kiwi film-makers. A little over a year on, Selkirk says he's constantly blown away by the students coming through the studios and masterclasses. "These kids have so much talent, they just need an opportunity."
