Challenges

I wonder if we could see into our future, would we make the life choices we make? Often life turns out different to how we envisaged it.

When I left school I really was not sure what I wanted to do, and by chance I ended up working for the local newspaper as a cadet reporter. I can’t say I was all that good but I was only fifteen.

From there I worked in various different jobs such as advertising, nursing, hairdressing and owning a café. All of these jobs brought a new and exciting challenge.

Ten years ago my biggest challenge came along. My daughter had graduated with an Honours degree in Film and Television, and my son-in-law a degree in Media studies. Both of them were keen to make films but trying to find work in that area was proving difficult.

Out of frustration they decided to set up their own film company plus, on top of holding down full time jobs. This was no mean feat, especially when their son arrived almost six years ago.

I found myself getting more and more involved from helping find wardrobe, locations, sponsors and doing make-up as well as special effect make-up. It was so much fun – tiring, but it really stirred my creative juices and I really felt on a high on the days I worked on set.

I have to say filmmaking is hard though. There are so many things you have to consider from equipment to finding the right actors, auditions, finding that perfect location, building sets etc. The hardest thing has to be finding crew that will work for next to nothing. Everyone needs money so finding enough funds to feed your cast and crew for what could be several weekends and giving them petrol vouchers is no mean feat.

Applying for production funding can be a nightmare. Unless you have a well-known director or producer on board you might as well forget it.

Our biggest project to date been a full length feature film we made in 2010. ‘Journey of a Story’ was filmed over about eight months and mostly weekends. We had a massive cast and huge amount of volunteers who fortunately believed in what we were trying to achieve and supported us. Local businesses also came on board and without this support the film would never have been made.

My husband and I travelled many kilometres scouting for the right locations and when we found the ‘perfect’ spot we were so elated. Often we would do this while caring for our grandson, who was a baby at the time. Thankfully he was an easy baby to look after!

Finding period clothing for wardrobe was a challenge but one I thoroughly enjoyed. I think I searched most of the Op shops in Auckland. Our garage was completely taken over with props and wardrobe and my husband had to keep his car outside for many months in order for us to store everything.

As Executive Producer I wore many hats and it was so much fun. My poor husband works in retail so often he would come home on a Saturday or Sunday night and I would still be out filming. He was wonderfully supportive and I could not have done this without him.

We had a blast making ‘Journey’. Some weekends we were out almost all night filming. One night we got the tide time wrong so we wasted many hours in the cold but everyone just relaxed and we still had lots of fun. Trying to film actors in the water was quite a challenge too.

I have been involved in the making of short films as well but ‘Journey of a Story’ has certainly been my biggest challenge and one I am immensely proud of. The film had its premiere on ANZAC Day 2012 and screened all over New Zealand. This event was something I will remember forever. Getting all glammed up and walking the red carpet was just wonderful. My daughter from Australia came over and also I had school friends come up from the South Island to attend.

I don’t think we should stop looking for challenges just because we might be getting a bit older. Aging doesn’t necessarily mean we are ‘passed it’ and we can’t achieve our dreams. Trying new things helps keep us young and our minds active. Don’t just think about it, give it a go. If it doesn’t work out move on to the next challenge. You will find your niche and your reward.

By Kay Rayner. Read more here