Gaylene Preston

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Perfect Strangers
Director: Gaylene Preston, Cinematographer: Alun Bollinger Photo by Geoff Short

Alun Bollinger, Cinematographer and Gaylene Preston, Director on the set of Perfect Strangers
Photo by Geoff Short

2001 Laureate

Filmmaker

Gaylene Preston in a noted filmmaker, with a particular interest in making documentaries. As one of New Zealand's finest film makers Gaylene's films have a distinctive New Zealand flavour and a strong social message. She is a story teller whose films identify with ordinary people whose stories are not normally given space on the big screen.

After three years studying at Ilam School of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury Gaylene travelled to England in 1967. While there she worked with psychiatric patients using art and drama in therapy. Her first films, made abroad, grew out of this therapy work with institutionalised patients. Gaylene returned to New Zealand in 1977 and, like many other successful independent New Zealand film makers, began working for John O'Shea at Pacific Films where she was employed as Art Director. Her employment at Pacific Films lasted only six months before she was made redundant. The industry was in the doldrums.

Since her employment with Pacific Films Gaylene has worked independently. Together with producer Robin Laing Gaylene formed Preston Laing Productions and made a number of successful films. Together they have been strong advocates of equality within the industry and have been inspirational role models for many young women film makers.

Gaylene has served on the Executive of the Independent Producers and Directors Guild, the Board of the New Zealand Film Commission and The New Zealand Film Archive - in addition to raising a family and making films.

Gaylene's filmography includes short dramas, experimental films, feature films, telefeatures and mini series, commercials and documentaries. Films include: Perfect Strangers, War Stories, Bread and Roses, Ruby and Rata and Mr Wrong. Documentaries include: Lovely RITA, the TIME of our LIVES, Earthquake! Coffee, Tea or Me? Titless Wonders, Getting to Our Place, Home Tuwhare, War Stories, Kai Purakau, Lands of Our Fathers and Punitive Damage.

Gaylene has won numerous awards, both here and overseas.

The New Zealand Film Archive holds viewing copies of many of Gaylene's films as well as a collection of material that has been written about her. Anyone wanting access to this material should contact Archive staff.

For more information visit Gaylene's website, www.gaylenepreston.com.

I believe that the basic resonsibility of New Zealand film makers is to make films principally for the New Zealand audience. If we don't, no-one else will.