NZ Film History Timeline and Eras

How did NZ film form and what is it’s earliest incarnation? The first film shown in New Zealand was the screening of a motion picture on October 13, 1896 at the Opera House, Auckland and was part of a show presented by Charles Godfrey’s Vaudeville Company. The first film shown in New Zealand was the screening of a motion picture on October 13, 1896 at the Opera House, Auckland and was part of a show presented by Charles Godfrey’s Vaudeville Company. Prior to motion pictures being show on the silver-screen vaudeville was an en vogue form of entertainment prevalent on the stage from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each evening's bill of performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts. These included musicians, dancers, comedians, trained animals, magicians, female and male impersonators, acrobats, one-act plays or scenes from plays, athletes, lecturing celebrities, minstrels, and eventually short movies. Prior to motion pictures being show on the silver-screen vaudeville was an en vogue form of entertainment prevalent on the stage from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each evening's bill of performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts. These included musicians, dancers, comedians, trained animals, magicians, female and male impersonators, acrobats, one-act plays or scenes from plays, athletes, lecturing celebrities, minstrels, and eventually short movies.

Professors Hausmann and Gow introduced ‘Edison’s latest marvel, the Kinematograph’, with which they showed a programme of short films.Professors Hausmann and Gow introduced ‘Edison’s latest marvel, the Kinematograph’, with which they showed a programme of short films. o In the United States, in 1891, Thomas Edison patented a camera he called the Kinetograph, and the Kinetoscope, a machine that the viewer could look into to watch short moving pictures. The New Zealand Herald reported that the reproductions showed the marvellous ingenuity of the inventor. “Everything moved as though in life: in fact, it was life reproduced. So natural was it that the moving figures on the screen were cheered.” The New Zealand Herald reported that the reproductions showed the marvellous ingenuity of the inventor. “Everything moved as though in life: in fact, it was life reproduced. So natural was it that the moving figures on the screen were cheered.”

Thomas Edison (right) demonstrating the kinetograph (motion picture camera)

Who was the first film maker in New Zealand? New Zealand’s first filmmaker was Alfred Whitehouse, a travelling showman. Like so many showmen overseas, Whitehouse could see the potential in moving pictures for drawing audiences to his shows. New Zealand’s first filmmaker was Alfred Whitehouse, a travelling showman. Like so many showmen overseas, Whitehouse could see the potential in moving pictures for drawing audiences to his shows. o He wrote, “I have the first and only camera in New Zealand for taking animated pictures for the Kinematograph”. (1899) He made ten films between 1898 and mid The oldest surviving New Zealand film is Whitehouse's The Departure of the Second Contingent for the Boer War (1900) He made ten films between 1898 and mid The oldest surviving New Zealand film is Whitehouse's The Departure of the Second Contingent for the Boer War (1900) Whitehouse (and later Joseph Parry) primarily shot news-style footage capturing images of New Zealand that were in essence for an audience outside of New Zealand. Whitehouse (and later Joseph Parry) primarily shot news-style footage capturing images of New Zealand that were in essence for an audience outside of New Zealand.

What was the first feature film made in NZ? The first feature film however was Hinemoa in Based on a Maori legend of love and determination, its cast included many locals from the Rotorua area. It was written and produced by George Tarr. The first feature film however was Hinemoa in Based on a Maori legend of love and determination, its cast included many locals from the Rotorua area. It was written and produced by George Tarr. o Most film footage featuring Maori became a mainstay of early New Zealand film. Were there other Early Films made in NZ? Yes, other films include Raymond Longford's The Mutiny of the Bounty (1916) and Gustav Pauli's The Romance of Hine-Moa (1926). These films, however, were foreign produced films that romanticised the Maori culture for a largely European audience.

What do we call this era of film? Essentially we call film made prior to the 1920s/30s ‘Early Film’ and films made between the 1920s-1950s is the ‘Classical Era’. Essentially we call film made prior to the 1920s/30s ‘Early Film’ and films made between the 1920s-1950s is the ‘Classical Era’. What was making films during the ‘Classic Era’? Many films were made during the pre-war years, directors include Edwin Coubray (1900–1997), Rudall Hayward (1900–1974), and Jack Welsh. Many films were made during the pre-war years, directors include Edwin Coubray (1900–1997), Rudall Hayward (1900–1974), and Jack Welsh. Film titles include Winifred of Wanganui (1928), A Takapuna Scandal (1928), Daughter of Invercargill (1928), My Lady of the Cave (1922), Rewi's Last Stand (remade in 1940, 1925), The Te Kooti Trail (1927), The Bush Cinderella (1928), and On the Friendly Road (1936). Film titles include Winifred of Wanganui (1928), A Takapuna Scandal (1928), Daughter of Invercargill (1928), My Lady of the Cave (1922), Rewi's Last Stand (remade in 1940, 1925), The Te Kooti Trail (1927), The Bush Cinderella (1928), and On the Friendly Road (1936).

Was New Zealand alone in their endeavours? T he history of early New Zealand film is entwined with Australia's, with filmmakers such as Raymond Longford (1878–1959), Beaumont Smith (1881–1950), Harrington Reynolds (1852–1919), and Stella Southern involved in film production in both countries. T he history of early New Zealand film is entwined with Australia's, with filmmakers such as Raymond Longford (1878–1959), Beaumont Smith (1881–1950), Harrington Reynolds (1852–1919), and Stella Southern involved in film production in both countries. What other types of films were being made in the ‘Classical Era’? Coubray, Hayward, and Welsh made short films throughout the silent period, with community comedies often proving popular. Coubray, Hayward, and Welsh made short films throughout the silent period, with community comedies often proving popular. These comedy shorts were made in the late 1920s when times were hard, and they employed local sides and members of the community cast in stories that were then shown in neighborhood cinemas. These comedy shorts were made in the late 1920s when times were hard, and they employed local sides and members of the community cast in stories that were then shown in neighborhood cinemas.

What came after the ‘Classical Era’ end? Arguably it continued onto the 1950s, though you could call films in the 50s, ‘50s Era Films’ because producer/directors like John O’Shea produced innovative screen fictions with limited budgets and resources. Arguably it continued onto the 1950s, though you could call films in the 50s, ‘50s Era Films’ because producer/directors like John O’Shea produced innovative screen fictions with limited budgets and resources. o O’Shea produced three of the four feature films made in NZ between 1941 and 1972: Broken Barrier (1952, co-directed with Roger Mirams), Runaway (1964), and Don't Let It Get You (1966). When did sound come into the picture? Prior to sound, often an orchestra or at least a pianist would accompany a motion picture and play while the film was playing which acted as the movie’s score as the musicians would practice and play music that would fit the mood. Prior to sound, often an orchestra or at least a pianist would accompany a motion picture and play while the film was playing which acted as the movie’s score as the musicians would practice and play music that would fit the mood.

Broken Barrier Poster (1952)