Mathew Harte

A Cold Beer -Winner of the 2008 Kodak New Zealand Filmschools Competition

Posted on Tue 07/07/09

The South Seas short film A Cold Beer has won the 2008 Kodak New Zealand Filmschools Competition.

Mathew was the focus puller in this winning short film.

The film, co-directed by 2007 South Seas Film & Television School graduates David Coyle and Reuben King, is based on the true story of a Kiwi soldier who orders a beer at his local pub before leaving to serve overseas in WWII. He asks the barman to hold onto his unopened bottle of beer until he returns from the front. But he never returns – his young life cut tragically short. In his memory, the bottle of beer remains unopened behind the bar.“It is a moving and very poignant film, made by some of our best graduates from 2007,” says Adam Fresco, Course Director at South Seas Film & Television School. “The young film-makers have taken a true story and developed it into a film that speaks to the younger generation and helps them to remember the sacrifices of the past.”

Filmed over three days at Easter, the 12-minute film was praised by the judges for its accomplished lighting and excellent cinematography.

“This is an excellent start to the careers of these young film makers,” says Adam Fresco. “They have competed in a tough field with entries from all over the country and excelled themselves as a shining example of New Zealand film-making talent.”

Production

Cast

Bruce Allpress
Toby Sharpe
Todd Mohi
Mark Harrison
Serena Cotton
John Clarke
Angela Vaughan

With Midge Perez, Chris Loader, Darryl Kirman, Gary Dunn, Minel Tcaciuc, Angus Brown, Dugg Culhane, Jason Bainbridge, Joshua Tuaiti, Julie Fisher, Michael Kingston, Zane Eramiha

Crew

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Gerben Cath, Adam Fresco, Darryn Inder
DIRECTORS / SCREENPLAY: David Coyle & Reuben King
PRODUCERS: Julie Fisher & Midge Perez
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Reece Baker
CAMERA OPERATOR: Sjaak te Brake
FOCUS PULLER: Mathew Harte
LOADER: David Steel
VIDEO SPLIT: Marie Hooper
GRIPS: Lance Daley, Tom Sorrell
SOUND RECORDIST: Jeremy Lawry
SOUND ASSIST: Mark Cowell
LIGHTING GAFFER: James Whangapirita
LIGHTING ASSISTANTS: Lance Daley, Zohra Trinder
1st Assistant Director: Jeila Tahana-Reese
CONTINUITY: Alana Cotton
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Natalie Frigault
PRODUCTION RUNNERS: Kereama Wright, Alexander Glucina, Paora Ratahi
LOCATION SCOUTS: Johnny Leung, Mariya Nakova
ART DIRECTOR: Enni Tuomisalo
PROPS MANAGER: George McClelland
WARDROBE: Yasmin Du Pont
ART ASSISTANTS: Bronwen Parry, Crystel Tottenham, Hazel Williams
UNIT SUPERVISORS: Benjamin Carter, Lani Walker, Matt Fill-Wilson, Paora Ratahi
EDITOR: Todd Mohi
POST SOUND: Tim Ellis
POST ASSISTANT: Santo Giuliano
ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED BY: Todd Mohi

The film is available on South Seas’ Youtube channel: http://nz.youtube.com/user/southseasfilmschool

Please see The Big Idea site for the full article.