We went to Hamilton recently to film this profile on Tai Aroha, a residential therapeutic programme run by Ara Poutama Aotearoa – The Department of Corrections.
Read more...PIXIE - The Voice of Blue Smoke

The life and times of Pixie Williams, the singer of New Zealand's first pressed record and the #1 hit 'Blue Smoke'.
Read more...Tapu te Ranga Marae Documentary is screening at Doc Edge

We are so happy to announce that our documentary Tapu te Ranga Marae is premiering online and for free at the Doc Edge Festival from June 12th - July 5th 2020.
Read more...125-Year Suffrage Anniversary: Aren't, Can't, Don't Documentary

When I first heard the pitch, I was apprehensive, how do you make a story about women who don't vote or can't vote interesting. After some long discussions, I got on board with the project and we both dived in headfirst.
Read more...Trip on the Whanganui Awa

The next day, I was in my car driving up to Wanganui. I have always wanted to see what it was like at the top of the Whanganui Awa and this was an opportunity to do just that.
Read more...48Hours 2018

Ruth and I took on the challenge of running the 48Hours competition nationally again this year.
Read more...Takes a Village - Maori Television

Early in 2018, we were hired by AWA films to production manage and line produce an 8-episode comedy television series to be screened on Maori Television called Takes a Village.
Read more...Colonial Combat

Working for Wellington production company - AWA Films, Ruth and I were hired as production managers on the web-series Colonial Combat.
Read more...48HOURS 2017

48Hours is a petri dish for film-making talent in New Zealand, from the train-wrecks to the champions, this creative competition puts our film-makers to the test.
Read more...Behind the Scenes with Kaboose Media

Last month, I took a trip to Whangarei, Kerikeri and Kaitaia working for Wellington video production company Kaboose Media to take some photographs for the Immigration New Zealand LINKZ magazine.
Read more...Bringing Back the Birds and Bush

Manawa Karioi is a 25 year old restoration project in Island Bay run entirely by passionate volunteers.
Read more...Beyond the Battalion
Beyond the Battalion is a story about a little known documentary called Sons of Tumataenga to be screened on Māori Television on Anzac Day
Read more...The Story of Judgment Tavern

Mentoring Film Students

I was brought on board to mentor the students through the documentary process from pre-production, production, post production through to completion.
Read more...Working with Child Cancer Foundation

At a recent fundraising event where the video was premiered the fundraising income doubled previous years totals, it broke a national fundraising record making a spectacular $165,000. I truly believe we would not have made half of that if we had not made the video.
Read more...Rock, Paper, Scissors

The original inspiration for Judgment Tavern came from an image in Director Dean Hewison's head. It was an image of a young girl carrying her father's living head searching for his body. We interviewed Nova about the experience of acting in Judgment Tavern and what it was like working with her dad.
Do you need a video made, but don't know what steps to take?

We find that we often ask clients and collaborators the same set of questions when we sit down to talk a project through. We’ve made a handy list for you to start thinking about.
Read more...Artist Residency in Lochmara

I arrived by boat with one week to make some new photography work. I had some advice from a colleague not hold onto your original idea and to be open to reacting to the environment.
Read more...Vaka in Wellington

I caught up with the Vaka and it's crew when they arrived in Mana Marina. Here are some of the photo's I took during their stop-over in Wellington.
Read more...The Music of Judgment Tavern

The score was composed by Tane Upjohn-Beatson, and this video is about how Tane worked to provide the emotional punch that the film depends on.
Read more...
Judgment Tavern - The VFX

There was some complex camera moves and blending of shots that kept them on their toes when it came to compositing.
Read more...The Ochre Project

Taking an Astro Photography Workshop

I woke up at 6.00am on Saturday to get to the airport on time; rushed around like a maniac double-checking my camera and camping gear and made a mad dash for the airport.
Read more...Congratulations to Abby Damen!

Useful Media is a proud sponsor of the 48 hour film competition and is partnering with Kelly Dare for the Wellington best actress award, a $500.00 prize.
Read more...Photo Shoot at Gun City

The brief was to showcase a new product which was Weatherby Firearms with cool graphics on them.
Read more...Using the Serene

We had a visit from David Paul from Camera Works, who lent our D.O.P Kirk Pflaum a Flowline Serene.
Read more...VFX for Candy Rose Music Video

Director, Dan Lynch's vision was to create a music video that was like a short film, in which a man who is hopeless with real women tries to live out his fantasy relationship with a doll.
Read more...Timelapse of the Crew - Candy Rose

Candy Rose Music Video for Wellington Band Supermodel was shot in a disused studio in the heart of Naenae in Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Read more...