How to Make a Documentary in New Zealand. Part Two.

A chat with Film Maker and industry legend Gaylene Preston on her latest – for now – film My Year With Helen.

When did you conceive of the idea for your film? What made you know the film was something people would be interested in seeing?

I thought about making a film from behind the shoulder of Helen Clark around 2005, but I didn’t actually approach her until April 2015. I used Premium Pathways to test the concept and I still wasn't sure if it was possible to make the kind of intimate look at global leadership behind closed doors, that this film needed.... Made a sizzle reel....attracted interest.....remained worried about audience response until a fortnight ago when I heard them cheering during the film, at the State Theatre in Sydney. Making a movie is never relaxing...

Or was it a case of making something you wanted to see yourself, and then trusting that others would share your enthusiasm.

Yes.

How long did you give yourself to tell the story? Or did you set out without a clear end in sight?

The race for Secretary General was open ended but assumed to be done by January 2017. That means it took two years to deliver MY YEAR WITH HELEN.

How did you go about securing funding?

With the usual difficulty!

A Sizzle reel is essential. With a very well made website that attracted interest from investors, PayPal contributors and donators through the Arts Foundation (not Boosted) and a match funding arrangement with the NZFC, we secured a small licence fee from TV3, a grant from NZOn Air, and we are still seeking our full budget!

Was it a lengthy process, or were you able to start work on your film as quickly as you wanted to?

Because of the NZFC innovative match funding arrangement, we were able to make the film while still raising the money. It’s scary, because you have to agree to deliver the film for the money you actually have on the table which in our case, was half our budget, but this figure expanded as we secured private investors and that financing was dollar for dollar matched. I was the first producer to try this approach, and it has worked out alright. You have to get your head around having a flexible budget.

On the other hand we have a film. The world’s full of very good projects looking for the last $200k before they can get started. Thank you, Catherine MADIGAN!

Were you working with a crew of professionals? Or was it a matter of roping in friends and family to help? Did already having contacts in the industry help? Would it have been possible to make your film if you weren’t able to call in help from friends in the industry?

Fortunately my friends and family are professionals, unfortunately this means I always must pay them for the work they do. I have a non-negotiable rule. Don’t ask people to work for nothing. That means in reality, they are paying you. I’m the only one who could work for nothing on my projects because I get the glory and the satisfaction. Unfortunately, I need to eat, so I even have to pay myself... Sadly.

So I’ll be walking that long lonesome road again looking for the funding.

Here’s the equation: fun+ding$=art.

How was the process of shooting and then editing? What unexpected challenges did you find on the way?

Helen wouldn’t wear a radio mike unless she was in a room on her own. This imposed a big stylistic obstruction.

I found I was bolder than our cinematographers, so I became the constant second camera. Sometimes the lone camera. Tiring. Stressful. Ultimately rewarding.

Did your film turn out as you hoped/expected/wanted?

Far, far better. Thank you Paul Sutorius!

Are there things you would do differently now?

Not really. Observational documentary making is always going to present its own challenges. Going into the bowels of the UN where no man has gone before was sheer madness.

Where to now for your film? And where to next for you?

AUCKLAND, WELLINGTON, CHRISTCHURCH, NELSON, MELBOURNE, DUNEDIN, NEW YORK. Cinemas near you.

As for me?

I’m thinking about this small amnesiac grumpy country considering how to be citizens again having turned ourselves into customers. That film is called THE COUNTRY THAT LOST A MIRACLE.

And also I’m really interested to find out what the carbon footprint is, of a common garden variety non-nuclear tipped missile.

We can’t wait ...

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