2008 Episode 1: Barefoot Cinema
Sunday at 10pm
Within the film industry Cinematographer Alun Bollinger is
something of a legend and yet to most of us he remains
anonymous.
Bollinger is a veritable icon, with a film career spanning 29
years. He is a recipient of the New Zealand Laureate Award - the
highest achievement in New Zealand art.
Barefoot Cinema started as a seemingly obvious task; a potted
and recent history of New Zealand film through the eyes of the man
universally known as 'AlBol.' But any such tale had to be much more
than this. Says the man from the remote South Island's West Coast;
"There is much more to life than film making."
'Barefoot Cinema' is as much a tale of enduring love. Says Helen
'HelBol' Bollinger, Alun's wife of 37 years, "I always picked it
would be an adventure with AlBol."
And an adventure it has been. They married after knowing each other
for three days. They were great grandparents whilst still in their
fifties.
While managing family commitments, AlBol has forged a career in
filmmaking, impressing the likes of Peter Jackson, Geoff Murphy and
Gaylene Preston.
"[Alun is] quiet simply the finest cinematographer the country has
ever produced," says Jackson.
Not known for following film crew fashion, AlBol turns up on film
sets barefoot. Here he is regarded as a leader of New Zealand
crews, who are known worldwide for their innovations and for their
skills as team players.
During the course of the documentary, Peter Jackson reveals his
most important footage; and Geoff Murphy finds the original Good
Bye Pork Pie yellow mini and remembers the days when the road was
the teacher.
Vincent Ward speaks for the first time of the difficulties on the
set of 'River Queen'. Long time friend Gaylene Preston details a 30
year association and adds, "I have never known a time when AlBol
wanted to go to work."
Actor Sam Neill says, "I've known him forever, since the Acme
Sausage Company days. He wasn't wearing any shoes then either. I
not only know him very well, and like him very much, but also much
of the history of New Zealand cinema is his history too. He is a
living treasure."
Bollinger is something of a renaissance man. He draws his identity
from a world wider than the film industry. He is a family man,
house designer, builder, bee keeper. His mode of transport is a
retired ambulance.
AlBol is also active in the politics of the industry, as president
of the New Zealand Film and Video Technicians Guild. He has
pioneered and today leads those who give New Zealand film crews an
international reputation as skilled and innovative craftsmen.
"I like being a minimalist. I suppose it's because I've been bought
up in the shoe string school of film-making."
