Are we there yet?
While this hasn't necessarily been the worst of Winters, or even the longest, I'm over it.
The lambs are leaping at Ambury Park (corny alert), and wild flowers are starting to appear around town. So let's call it early and get on with the bloomin' thing.
Inspired by the twitterati, here's some newness to get you all in the mood, with help from Sophie G.
Capture away.
As we approach the end of the New Zealand Film Festival in Auckland, Geoff Lealand (who many Public Address regulars will be very familiar with) has kindly offered to introduce his website "Cinemas of New Zealand", and has provided some background and a few photos of his favourite cinemas from around the country.
Over to Geoff.
I developed my Cinemas of New Zealand site because there didn’t seem to be any site recording or celebrating the myriad of small, independent cinemas around New Zealand. Many of these cinemas are thriving (especially those in wealthy suburbs or resort towns), some are looking a little fragile (those facing expensive digital upgrades or problems with distribution), and several have closed since I began this project (the closing of the Crooked Mile Talking Pictures in Hokitika was the saddest closure). I estimate that I will have close to 100 cinemas on the site once I have been able to visit every one, and these continue to serve a vital role in community life, and in the broader cultural life of New Zealand.
The site is about art house and independent cinemas in New Zealand but it is also about the nature of film-going in New Zealand, the role of
distribution, and where New Zealand films fit into the mix--and architecture. It has always puzzled me how film scholarship pays so little attention to social aspects of film-going and this site is a start towards addressing this neglect.
New cinemas are springing up around New Zealand, which challenges the prevailing belief that going to the cinema is no longer an important social ritual in New Zealand—or that we are now just content to watch films on small mobile devices. Older patrons have returned to the cinema; it is estimated that 30% of the New Zealand box office now comes from the art house sector. Cinemas run by film-loving managers or owners stand in strong contrast to bland multiplex boxes.
So, cinemasofnz.info is dedicated to these cinemas and those who run
them—and to those who continue to find pleasure in watching larger-than-life, great movies in the darkened auditoriums of some quite remarkable cinemas.
From an October 2010 press release from the New Zealand Transport Agency, concerning progress on the Victoria Park Tunnel Project:
"A transparent noise wall will be erected early next year alongside the motorway through St Marys Bay ensuring that the iconic, pohutukawa-clad cliffline remains an important feature of Auckland's landscape. It is the first time the technology has been used in New Zealand ... The noise barrier will comprise around 500 acrylic 'soundstop' sheets chosen for their high transparency and resistance to weathering and ageing ... the overall effect of the installed panels will be to create a night-time science fiction landscape of eerie stillness and magical visual effects as the traffic glides past and the pohutukawa tower above. If you thought Silo Park looked trippy at night, wait until you experience the St Marys Bay walkway."
Actually, I made those last two sentences up, but the new walkway behind the acrylic noise wall is a visual treat at night. Here's some photos taken by Sophie, Jackson and myself during some cold June evenings, as we walked from Pt Erin to Jacob's Ladder. We used tripods, long exposures and three differerent types of camera: digital SLR, film SLR and a 16 megapixel digital compact. As technology progresses, it becomes harder to tell which image has come from which camera ...
Jonathan Ganley
Last night Lawrence Arabia played the Town Hall with his full ensemble, including three violinists, a grand piano and at one stage the resident organist, as part of 'The Sparrow' album release tour. To say it was an adoring crowd would seem a little of an understatement. With the floor area filled with intimate little tables, complete with requisite candle light, this seemed to be about everyone living out their LA dreams, including the band members.
For the record, the music was great, as you would expect, and others will no doubt right more about that.
Taking photos became a bit mesmerizing to be honest. Here is my pick from the rather embarrassingly large bunch.
Capture away.
Last night was the Orcon Great Blend (#OGB). Sorry if you missed it. It was grand. Thanks to Russell and all the contributors for a great night out.
Here's a few photos, including a before shot in Elliot lane with the indefatigable Luke Hurley. Hearing 'I'm in love with the Mona Lisa' on the way to the Civic for a show brought back a number of long lost 80s memories.
One definite highlight of the evening was the very talented young performer Loui the Zu, who is making waves, and making music, which you can listen to and download from his Soundcloud profile.
The Cut Collective were also excellent, and I was very glad to get one of the limited edition takeaway boxes. More on that later perhaps.
Looking forward to the next one already.
Capture away.
