The 2008 season of Artsville starts on TV ONE, Sunday 16 November at 10pm, bringing New Zealand art and artists to the screen with a series of vivid documentaries from some of New Zealand's best and independent producers, directors and writers.

The season premiere, Barefoot Cinema, explores the career and life of renowned Kiwi cinematographer Alun Bollinger. Bollinger has worked in the NZ film industry for 30 years on films including River Queen, Perfect Strangers, The Frighteners, Heavenly Creatures, Vigil and Goodbye Pork Pie.The 2008 season of Artsville starts on TV ONE, Sunday 16 November at 10pm, bringing New Zealand art and artists to the screen with a series of vivid documentaries from some of New Zealand's best and independent producers, directors and writers.

The season premiere, Barefoot Cinema, explores the career and life of renowned Kiwi cinematographer Alun Bollinger. Bollinger has worked in the NZ film industry for 30 years on films including River Queen, Perfect Strangers, The Frighteners, Heavenly Creatures, Vigil and Goodbye Pork Pie.Within the film industry Bollinger is a legend, and yet to most he remains anonymous. While Bollinger lives simply on the South Island's West Coast, he is internationally respected for the skills that have taken him to the very top of his discipline.

Originally conceived as a recent history of New Zealand film through the eyes of the man affectionately known as 'AlBol', Barefoot Cinema is as much a tale of one man's enduring love for his wife, as it is a profile of Bollinger and his contribution to the history of New Zealand filmmaking.

Something of a Renaissance man, Bollinger draws his identity from a world much wider than the film industry: he is a family man, house designer, builder, and bee-keeper.

The New Zealand Film Archive records 106 entries under the name Alun Bollinger. His feature credits span 29 years, from Sleeping Dogs (Grip, 1978) to River Queen (Director of Photography, 2005). He is a recipient of the New Zealand Laureate Award - the highest achievement in New Zealand Art Awards.

Active in the politics of the film industry, Bollinger is also a pioneer of New Zealand film and a staunch advocate of New Zealand film crews' international reputation as skilled and innovative craftsmen.

Barefoot Cinema: The Life and Art of Cinematographer Alun Bollinger

Director: Gerard Smyth
Year: 2008
Running time: 74 mins
New Zealand
Producers: Gerard Smyth, Alice Shannon
Commissioned by TVNZ
Photography: Jake Bryant, Wayne Vinten, John Chrisstoffels
Editor: Gaylene Barnes
Research: Nadia Maxwell, Helen Smyth
Sound: Tim Brott, Hammond Peek, Brian Shennan, Benoit Hardonniere
DigiBeta

The Artsville Season

Celebrate New Zealand creativity with TV ONE on Sunday evenings (after Sunday Theatre) and see how New Zealanders are making their mark at home and around the world.

The season includes Black On Red, which follows a small company of Royal New Zealand dancers travelling to the Shanghai International Arts Festival, Ian Athfield: Architect Of Dreams, Terry Stringer: A Profile, The Silence Is Over: Taonga Puoro, Toki Does New York, Disabled People Can't Dance, Dean Buchanan: A Profile, Christine Hellyar: A Profile, Christine Hellyar: A Profile and Liquid Stone.

*Please note: On Sunday 7 December, Artsville will not play due to the Attitude Awards Special.

Related story

TBI QnA: Filmmaker Gerard Smyth

16/11/08

ADVERTISEMENT