New Zealand on Film

Text: Bob Harvey

Photographs: Tony Bridge

New Zealand is becoming an ever more popular location for filmmakers from around the globe. White Cloud, Silver Screen showcases the country that millions came to know as Middle Earth. All of the places featured have a connection with a local or international film. Among Tony Bridge’s memorable photographs are the spectacular South Island locations seen in The Lord of the Rings, beautiful Karekare Beach from The Piano, the breathtaking scenery of Central Otago from In My Father’s Den, the beguiling Whanganui River that haunts River Queen and the wild West Coast of Perfect Strangers. Of particular interest are images of Taranaki from The Last Samurai, photographs of Whangara from Whale Rider and locations used in the major new international film The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The book also features familiar urban locations, including Christchurch (Heavenly Creatures), Dunedin (Scarfies) and other centres. In an enlightening introduction, Bob Harvey describes how New Zealand has been portrayed on film since the first pioneering efforts before World War One, right up to the major international film productions of today.

White Cloud, Silver Screen is both a wonderful reminder of the films that have delighted the world over many years and a souvenir of one of the most beautiful countries on earth.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bob Harvey is the author of several successful books, including Untamed Coast and Rolling Thunder, both of which were finalists in the Montana Book Awards, and Westies (2004). He spent 30 years in advertising and produced television documentaries with Roger Donaldson and Sir Edmund Hillary. In 1992 he stood for the mayoralty of Waitakere City, a position he has held since and in which he has actively promoted Waitakere as a city friendly to film and television production. An advocate for local films for many years, he is a member of the New Zealand Film Commission.

ABOUT THE PHOTGRAPHER
Tony Bridge is a Fellow of the Photographic Society of New Zealand and has exhibited throughout the country. He was born in the Maniototo in Central Otago but has spent most of his life in Canterbury. After graduating from Canterbury University with a degree in foreign languages, he gained a professional photography qualification from Christchurch Polytechnic. He now teaches photography and graphic design, and lives in Christchurch with his wife Barbara, their children Sophie and Alex and three pampered cats. An avid filmgoer, he is fascinated by the unique character of the New Zealand landscape and the way it has been depicted on film.

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Reviews

‘The Best of New Zealand Books: A good idea this, to create a book of essentially landscape photos around the theme of the locales used as settings for New Zealand movies. The result is White Cloud, Silver Screen with outstanding photographs by Tony Bridge and a delightful introductory essay by Waitakere mayor and longtime film buff Bob Harvey.’ North and South

‘The landscape’s emphatic presence in our film industry has been beautifully commemorated in a sumptuous new book White Cloud, Silver Screen. Tony Bridge has captured our land’s many moods and textures.’ NZ Life & Leisure

‘This is the most enjoyable book I have perused for a long time and one which I will continue to pick up and read again and again.’ Wanganui Chronicle

‘The quality of Tony Bridge’s photography and the book’s printing is nothing short of magnificent. Even without the strong linking thread of the subject matter and Bob Harvey’s informative writing, this would be an engrossing collection of NZ landscapes, but taken together the whole project conspires to produce a most memorable package. Buy this book, for it is sure to bring you years of pleasure.’ The Education Weekly

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SPECIFICATIONS
Size: 250 x 280 mm
Format: Cased and jacketed
Extent: 160 pages
112 colour photographs
Weight: 1.3 kilos
Published: September 2005
ISBN: 978-0-908988-47-1