Film-maker's flashback to old school

When famous film-maker of the moment Gaylene Preston walked through the doors of her old school yesterday afternoon she spotted a cabinet full of sparkling trophies.
You can barely pick up a magazine or newspaper without reading about Preston and her feature film Home By Christmas at the moment, but her profile obviously wasn't as high back in the 60s when she was a student at the newly-built William Colenso College.
"You know I don't think a single one of these has my name on it," Preston told her cousin and city councillor Maxine Boag, who yesterday was the taxi driver for the film director/producer/writer.
Preston was excited about the film's sell-out Hawke's Bay premiere last night which 20 family members and old friends were to attend. Among them was her brother Ted who, in the movie about their parents' love story during the World War II, appears as a small boy.
"It's great to bring the film home," Preston said.
Yesterday afternoon it was William Colenso College's performing arts students who got a moment with Preston.
"I got a really good education here," Preston said. "It wasn't on the right side of the tracks but I was lucky that my parents let me come here because it gave me a go. I hope it's the same for you guys."
She also had some sage advice for the teens. "Finding the thing you love to do is the most important thing you do at school," she said. "If you find what you love to do, keep on doing it.
"I love to get up in the morning and make a film. It's not about the money for me, it's not about the fame. It's about doing something that I would be so sad if I couldn't do it.
"It's not about being something, it's about doing something."
Her fascination with the performing arts had started with a school production of Shakespeare's Macbeth, in which she played the first witch, and flourished when she left for Ilam School of Fine Arts.
Comparing her career choice to the television programme It's in the Bag, Preston said she had chosen "the bag" over the money.
"But it's a bag that's still giving me great gifts."
Money raised from last night's premiere would go towards a new performing arts centre for her old school.