TBI Q&A: Jane Paul

The Travelling Film Show has been touring the country with historical footage for the past decade. Film Archive National Programmes Manager Jane Paul curates the shows and often records locals who may recall vital information about the films and the characters within.

“It's incredible to be able to see how people behaved in our country a long time ago.”

These compilation screenings of early film and television history take place in community halls, movie theatres and often feature home movie footage from the local district.

This month the Travelling Film Show is heading to Greymouth to screen films from the district as part of Westland's 150th Anniversary organised by the Grey District Council. The Show also now comes 'home' to Wellington every month to screen in the Film Archive cinema, while the tour around the country continues. Keep an eye out for local screenings in your town. 

During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?

Early morning

How would a good friend describe your aesthetic or style?

He never got back to me!

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?

Curation - being buried under a pile of viewing tapes and DVDs selecting films, thinking how they all fit together.
 
Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?

Everyone needs to do both. Often the 'big picture' evolves from the detail.

You've been touring New Zealand films around the country for the past decade. What are some highlights?

A very recent highlight was a screening of “The Marvellous Corricks Return” shown at the Christchurch Arts Centre last month. It was a programme of extraordinarily beautiful colour dramas and animation made over 100 years ago. The Corricks were a New Zealand/Australian family of film exhibitors and musicians who had seven daughters and one son. They were accomplished singers, instrumentalists and bell ringers (!) who toured the world showing films as part of their vaudeville show. We did a modern version with Christchurch group Free Theatre doing the vaudeville aspect. It was great!

Part of the pleasure in this job is showing people films they have no idea about. The Corrick show was like that. 100 years ago the Corricks were famous in New Zealand and around the world but had disappeared from modern memory until now. This programme will actually feature in the New Zealand International Film Festival this year so keep an eye out for details.

Another highlight this year were shows at the Tauranga Jazz Festival which were pretty special. I screened early silent films and a wonderful colour film of the 1967 Tauranga Orange Blossom Parade accompanied by the five-piece band the Paul Lewis Picture House Band. Usually our musical backing is pretty modest - a pianist, so the scale of this was impressive. There's nothing quite like watching silent films with live musical accompaniment.
 
How do people react to seeing footage of their communities and towns on the big screen from times gone by?

It's always amazing. People love it. There's usually this purr of conversation that goes on as people point out places and people they recognise on the big screen. Afterwards people often stay and continue talking about what they’ve seen. It’s incredibly valuable for us as we are able to collect more information on the films and their makers.

Are the screening programmes just for older people?

No, not at all. They are definitely community events and the audiences are made up of all ages. In saying that I do think films of a particular era attract those who have lived through those times. We showed Came a Hot Friday in Taranaki and huge numbers of people came partly because they remembered the film being made there in the 1980s.

But old film has a special fascination in itself as it is increasingly rare. It's incredible to be able to see how people behaved in our country a long time ago. I remember showing several hundred Eltham primary school children a film of Eltham in 1910. I thought they might be bored but they were completely spell bound and gave it their undivided attention.

If someone has some films of video they think may be of importance what should they do?

It's important to note that both film and video and digital video are important to save from degradation. We collect both amateur footage (home movie material) to professional industry content. We collect everything from music videos to last night's news, TV advertising, early film as well as VHS material.

I can't stress enough how important it is to preserve these precious taonga before they're forgotten or lost.

The Film Archive built up the bulk of its extensive collections during the 1990s when we made extensive trips around New Zealand with the BNZ Last Film Search collecting material from under people's beds, their attics and their garden sheds.  You can contact the Film Archive ( deposits@nzfa.org.nz ) if you think you may have something that needs saving and check our deposits page. 

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?

You have to do something you like doing so aim for that. Choose somewhere which is supportive and where you control the parameters of your work.

Which of your projects to date has given you the most satisfaction?

I think the series of shows we did in Wairoa showing the 'Osler Films' was really satisfying.

Jim Osler was a baker in Wairoa who made a whole lot of films between 1930 - 1950 on his 16mm camera. The Film Archive preserved the entire collection and I curated a number of programmes to screen back in Wairoa to the local community. They were charming amateur films of community happenings and events, as well as the bakery and his family life. The community groups loved them as did Osler’s relatives. We actually filmed their responses to watching their family history on the screen and conducted a series of individual interviews. These give a whole new historical context to the original material we have. These experiences really enrich the Film Archive collections and work.

Who or what has inspired you recently?

My kids have inspired me recently and always.

If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?

Oh, something history or art related.

What place is always with you, wherever you go?

The Makara shoreline whatever the wind is like.

What's the best way to listen to music, and why?

Through 40 year old speakers, a 30 year old amp, and NO stupid ear thingies. At the moment I'm listening to James Luther Dickinson.

What's the best stress relief advice you've ever been given?

Hold on to humour.
 
What’s your big idea for 2010?

Doing some varsity study and using the amateur film research I've done over the last decade.

Further information

Upcoming screenings in Greymouth

Upcoming screenings in Wellington