2017 Upcoming Video Projects
Paul Davidson in Gantry deconstruction GoPro timelapse – January 2017, while shooting the film ‘A Test of Faith’.
Paul Davidson films Graham Stewart and Carmen Schill, stained glass restorers in Loburn, Canterbury, while shooting the film ‘A Test of Faith’ (2017).
The film will document the seismic strengthening of Saint Mary of the Angels, Boulcott Street, Wellington.
2016 Video Projects
HELEN’S STORY – cancer courage family whanau
It’s her mid-thirties, life is good for Helen Ngahuia Thomas. She marries her childhood sweetheart Quentin, before long – new baby Potiki arrives. Then Helen finds she has cancer – of a very bad kind.
Veteran filmmaker Paul Davidson says “I was humbled that Helen and her family trusted us with their very personal stories of courage and compassion.” Ten years earlier Paul made “Giving It All Away”, the story of philanthropist Sir Roy McKenzie, who inspired and funded the hospice movement in New Zealand. Now he and co-director Barbara Gibb were on a much more personal mission, because Paul is Helen’s uncle and godfather. “It is challenging working with people so close to you”, Paul says, “but this special relationship between subject and filmmaker has brought a level of intimacy and honesty to our film.”
“The movie was beautiful – very intense and personal. It gives a fantastic insight into the lived experience of a patient and her family, and the complexities of families.”
Jo Hendrickson Clinical Nurse Specialist (Palliative Care)
Helen passed away in March 2013. The film was screened in March 2016 at a fund-raising premiere for Te Omanga Hospice, and previewed at the 2016 Hospice NZ Palliative Care Conference in Auckland.
‘Helen’s story’ screened as part of the Maori Television Matariki Documentary Series on 24 July 2017.
Directed by Paul Davidson & Barbara Gibb
Produced by Paul Davidson
High De nition PAL 16:9 widescreen DOLBY
Film Running Time: 72 mins
SOFTBALL is a major participant sport in New Zealand, and the national softball teams have enjoyed remarkable success in international competition. The Hutt Valley is where it all began, and the Valley became – and remains – both a nursery and a powerhouse of national teams – the Black Sox men and White Sox women – have been Hutt Valley players, and the famous names of the past are repeated in the children and grandchildren of the pioneers. The Hutt Valley Softball Association was formed in 1945 and began organizing so cial competitions in the rapidly growing baby-boomer Valley. Fierce rivalries developed, and before long the top pitchers, catchers and batters were creating their own fan clubs and local legends.
Paul Davidson and Mark Sorenson at the historic Hutt Recreation Grounds, Lower Hutt, during filming of “Batter Up!”, the celebration of Hutt Valley Softball Association’s 70 years, 2016.
Seventy years after it all started, this exciting documentary tells their story. It celebrates the pioneers, captures the softball excellence that was nurtured and still flourishes in the Valley, and celebrate all that is good about the game – from family fun to international success.
The film was screened at the HVSA PREMIERE 23rd October 2016.
Produced for The Hutt Valley Softball Association
Written and Directed by Paul Davidson
Research and Design by Barbara Gibb
Presented by Mark Sorenson MNZM
Film Running Time: 40 minutes.
Companion Disk Set available of Archival Interviews
– 9 hours. Exempt from Classi cation.