"Exposure" By Laura-Jane Hall

This summer break I had an opportunity out of the blue to help a student film-maker. Working with limited equipment she had put together a nice little short dealing with issues of forgiveness and the inability to move on after a tragedy. A few issues with sound/voice bt a fun little production to be part of.

"Off Track" - a short film by Nic Brookland

Great to finally see this lovely film that I had a chance to be part of. Quite touching at times. I don't come in until midway through as a slightly burly engineer who resents having his things stolen. Blink and you might miss me...

"Sleeping Dream" - the final cut

'A Musical Short Film with a comedic twist.' - Was great to finally see this project come together. My role was minor, but was great fun playing.

Paul Lawrence - 2014 Tropfest NZ Finalist

An interesting film by director Matt Gibson about a boy who wins the lottery and then goes missing. My role was that of a police officer recounting the bloodstained scene of the named character's disappearance.

What a surprise it was to learn that the film had made the finals for one of the biggest festivals in the southern hemisphere! It's now also screened several times on television as well.  

The underground station - a show-reel piece

Throughout 2013, and continuing to this date, I attend acting classes at the Howick Little Theater. It is there that I work to both gain confidence and the skills I need to approach auditions and work in these films when given the chance.

My fellow students are a fantastic resource to practice with. Classmate Donna Botha worked on this short showreel piece one evening before class...

Hello John Mico Gaerlan Shortfilm

Four insane patients and a doctor in a darkened room. Work together or no one makes it out.

It was great to meet so many talented actors on this project and Mico put together a frightening end product which screened in the city during the AUT end of year presentations. I was lucky enough to be cast as the Doctor and thoroughly enjoyed playing such an integral supporting role alongside 'John'.

The Bigger Things - a short film

Food in a Minute - TV Commercial

This was my first fully paid job. It was a simple matter of sitting around looking natural, followed by sampling the food and commenting. My line was "Mmmm, you can really taste the flavor" but they didn't go with it. Instead I just eat the food. At least I made the cut, but don't blink!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoTkVVRlaPk

Food in a Minute - Wattie's Bean Sensations 30" TVC

YOUTUBE.COM

Cecily - a monologue

Several week of my acting class was spent on developing a monologue. Although not completely happy with the end product, i present mine for your kind viewing...

Puppetry of the Dreamless

With some of the crew and cast from the Gene Pool film, and a few additional eager beavers, we undertook the creation of a film in 48 hours.

Wonderful bunch of people! Hoping to get to work with all of them again in 2014!

Distance - a short film by Morgan Owen

A Mother and Daughter discuss a deceased relative and the tragic event that had made her so bitter throughout her living years. I played the part of Harry, a stern but loving father of a young girl in the 1800's.

Chemistry 2013 - shortfilm

Another effort on the part of a friend an me to put a short-film together in a day. The outcome felt more like a teaser/trailer than an actual short, but it was fun setting up all the scientific equipment and then playing around with all the lighting and camera angles.

Although Adrian got to have all the screen time, I was able to provide the dialogue; that of a bitter man who is tired of all the wickedness that people get away with..

It's My Life 2012 - shortfilm

Winner of the 2012 Onewhero Film Competition

In New Zealand, it's often who you know that gets you the roles. The easiest way to get parts is to write the script and cast yourself in a role. With the advent of the first annual Onewhero Film competition which I had fortuitously spotted in the Franklin times, I had a creative purpose and a goal.

Written and Shot in a mere 5 hours, the film was a zero budget offering and made use of things I already had. It screened at The Onewhero theater for 6 evenings on the big screen. On the Saturday night, to a packed house, it received the Audience Choice award as well as Best film award.

It was to be the start of my short-film making efforts...

Dangerous People - A short film

I auditioned for the first time in years for a short film being made by AUT Film student Stuart Drake. His ambitious action film involved hit-men, drugs and violence. I was hooked from the start. For the first time I was offered a film role with an extended dialogue; something I was busting to get my teeth into.

The experience was relaxed and I met some cool people, a few of which I still see on film sets today.

The end product couldn't be screened online as the director had decided to include some copyrighted music, but I was able to snip a section where I was on screen...