How did you get involved in the project?Â
My partner got a work promotion and I thought to myself, I should probably film this.
What attracted you to it?Â
Initially it wasn’t for anything more than just documenting moments in our life as they happened over the course of 6 years, and then in the last year it took a more considered turn as we formed a team to pull my footage into a documentary.
What scene sequence are you most proud of and why?Â
Having hosted many TV shows over the last 20 years, it was a return to a distant job I once had getting behind the camera. In that time I’ve worked with the best DOPS in New Zealand, so mimicking their best techniques I got a real thrill out of seeing some of my more artistic endeavours get selected by the editors in the final cut.
Did you introduce any new techniques using any interesting tools?Â
I finished filming on a Canon R5C, which when stripped back looks like a stills camera. This was enormously invaluable to me to be able to shoot without getting in anyone’s way or draw attention to myself.
I also really enjoyed the last year of filming where we shot a lot of pick ups and additional sequences. During that time I got to play with a variety of Primes and better considered sequence shots that weren’t as rushed as the ‘in the moment’ verite from the early shoots.
What camera did you use and why?Â
I started on a Sony 1080p HDV, moved to a Sony 4k Handycam, finishing on a Canon R5C
What was the most challenging aspect and how did you overcome it?Â
The times I couldn’t shoot because I was part of what was going on. I’d also often have to get my poor exhausted partner to relive her stressful day on camera when that was the last thing she felt like doing. It made me me feel like the worst boyfriend in the world, but something compelled me to capture it.
What was the biggest learning curve?Â
The trade off in camera abilities against the importance of being able to tuck a camera in a bag to have with me at all times. There were painful moments when the early used cameras forced me to choose between exposure and focus, while following people around backlit rooms with large windows, a nightmare.
