ScreenTalk: Waka Attewell

Cinematographer Warrick ‘Waka’ Attewell is something of a legend in the Kiwi film industry.

From the landmark 70s TV series Tangata Whenua he has gone on to climb mountains with Sir Ed, shoot commercials, shorts and features and direct the Ian Mune doco In the Shadow of King Lear.

These days he is also known as a commentator on screen matters, who often says the things others are too scared to say.  

This ScreenTalk interview includes highlights from the three decades Attewell has been in the game.

Attewell talks about:

• The cinematographer’s role, in taking viewers into a different world

• The watershed experience of being caught between cultures, while helping make landmark series Tangata Whenua

• Working with the late Barry Barclay on Tangata Whenua, and Barclay’s second feature Te Rua (on which Attewell shared cinematography duties with the late Rory O’Shea)

• Conquering frozen cameras for hit doco All the Way Up There, which chronicles a disabled climber’s dream of topping Mount Ruapehu

• The challenge of capturing Central Otago on film, while shooting road movie Starlight Hotel – whose look The LA Times compared to screen classic Days of Heaven

NZ On Screen: Direction and Interview – Ian Pryor.  Camera and Editing – Alex Backhouse