By: KATE SAUNDERS
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz
Category: Film School Online
Catherine Fitzgerald says if her work is really good, you won't notice it.
Such is the life of a movie producer, and Fitzgerald's work is pretty much invisible.
"A producer is like the glue ... if I do my job badly all the cracks will show. I bring together all the resources for a film and manage them," Fitzgerald says.
"We need money, we need people and time and technical facilities. And it's how to use them in a cost-effective way," she says of her role.
Fitzgerald was at the Arthouse Cinema yesterday to help promote her latest film, The Orator.
It is a contemporary dramatic feature about love and courage, directed by Tusi Tamasese and shot on the island of Upolu in Samoa.
At the centre of the film is Saili (Fa'Afiaula Sagote) a Samoan dwarf having to overcome his fears to fight for his wife and family. She says Sagote has a powerful presence in the film and was able to "find the stillness of the character".
More than half of the film's crew was from Samoa, and only one cast member was brought over from New Zealand.
"It was about bringing together the best of New Zealand independent cinema with local knowledge," she says.
The film, Tamasese's debut feature, has been submitted for the category of Best Foreign Language Film at next year's Oscars. That, Fitzgerald says, was humbling.
"When you look at the films from around the world also nominated, you realise you're in very illustrious circles.
"And it was done on a comparatively low budget."
But she says the biggest honour was the fact it was the leaders of the New Zealand film industry who put it forward for nomination. They included Oscar winners and nominees Sir Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Ngila Dickson, Grant Major and Keisha Castle-Hughes.
Fitzgerald established Blueskin Films in 2002 and has since produced a slate of international award-winning films and contributed creatively to the production of many more, including co-producing Vincent Ward's Rain of the Children. Part of her Taranaki visit will be dedicated to attending Ward's exhibition opening at the Govett-Brewster tonight.
Understandably, Fitzgerald watches a lot of films – they're her "base level of professional development".
"I've never seen a film that isn't interesting or useful to me. I always reflect on how and why it works," she said.
But she says the film industry isn't as glamorous as it seems. "It's a dream job – I'm incredibly privileged – but it's not a very lucrative one."
She says people always ask what her hopes for a film are.
"The answer's simple. That people enjoy it. That people anywhere can enjoy it, it's a universal story."
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/6123835/Film-producer-in-dream-job
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz
Category: Film School Online
Catherine Fitzgerald says if her work is really good, you won't notice it.
Such is the life of a movie producer, and Fitzgerald's work is pretty much invisible.
"A producer is like the glue ... if I do my job badly all the cracks will show. I bring together all the resources for a film and manage them," Fitzgerald says.
"We need money, we need people and time and technical facilities. And it's how to use them in a cost-effective way," she says of her role.
Fitzgerald was at the Arthouse Cinema yesterday to help promote her latest film, The Orator.
It is a contemporary dramatic feature about love and courage, directed by Tusi Tamasese and shot on the island of Upolu in Samoa.
At the centre of the film is Saili (Fa'Afiaula Sagote) a Samoan dwarf having to overcome his fears to fight for his wife and family. She says Sagote has a powerful presence in the film and was able to "find the stillness of the character".
More than half of the film's crew was from Samoa, and only one cast member was brought over from New Zealand.
"It was about bringing together the best of New Zealand independent cinema with local knowledge," she says.
The film, Tamasese's debut feature, has been submitted for the category of Best Foreign Language Film at next year's Oscars. That, Fitzgerald says, was humbling.
"When you look at the films from around the world also nominated, you realise you're in very illustrious circles.
"And it was done on a comparatively low budget."
But she says the biggest honour was the fact it was the leaders of the New Zealand film industry who put it forward for nomination. They included Oscar winners and nominees Sir Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Ngila Dickson, Grant Major and Keisha Castle-Hughes.
Fitzgerald established Blueskin Films in 2002 and has since produced a slate of international award-winning films and contributed creatively to the production of many more, including co-producing Vincent Ward's Rain of the Children. Part of her Taranaki visit will be dedicated to attending Ward's exhibition opening at the Govett-Brewster tonight.
Understandably, Fitzgerald watches a lot of films – they're her "base level of professional development".
"I've never seen a film that isn't interesting or useful to me. I always reflect on how and why it works," she said.
But she says the film industry isn't as glamorous as it seems. "It's a dream job – I'm incredibly privileged – but it's not a very lucrative one."
She says people always ask what her hopes for a film are.
"The answer's simple. That people enjoy it. That people anywhere can enjoy it, it's a universal story."
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/6123835/Film-producer-in-dream-job
