Teenage filmmaker is dreaming big

A 19-year-old Auckland student’s love of film is helping her realise her dreams of becoming a successful filmmaker.

Rose Goldthorp, who idolises Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, is already busy with preproduction on her fourth feature film.

While her first two features were 45 minutes in length and shot when she was 15 and 16 respectively, she is now aiming for her third and fourth films to be a full 90 minutes each.

However, Goldthorp, who boards in Albany, believes her age has thus far been a stumbling block in getting commercial finance for her projects.

‘‘My poor, poor mother gives me a small budget (for each film), but she complains a lot. I’d like to receive full funding, but nobody is going to give millions to a kid.

‘‘So hopefully they’ll give me money when I’m in my twenties,’’ she said.

And although she’s had to make do with micro budgets, she’s luckily had various professionals offering their services for free.

‘‘I always tell them I can provide them with networking opportunities and a (film) credit, but not money,’’ she said.

Goldthorp grew up in a farmhouse in France and said she was isolated from technology for most of her childhood.

‘‘We did have a 2500-book library, so basically I did nothing but read, and then I took to writing short scripts,’’ said Goldthorp.

It wasn’t until she watched the original 1937 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs film on DVD – an experience she vividly remembers – that she knew what she wanted to do with her life.

‘‘I would like to make money as a writer and director, and make my own films.’’

It was only 10 years later, Goldthorp started making her own films.

However, Goldthorp is realistic about her chances of making a full-time living as a filmmaker, and therefore she’s studying towards a bachelor degree in communication studies at Auckland University.

‘‘I wanted to have a back-up plan. I didn’t study film as I’m not bookish smart. The film degree is very hard, and I was scared that I might not make it to the next round,’’ she said.

The New Zealand Film Commission’s head of talent development Dale Corlett said the digital revolution had made filmmaking a lot more accessible, and a lot of young people are making content.

Corlett confirmed that Goldthorp is ‘‘one of very few’’ New Zealanders to have made so many feature films at her age.

Crowdfunding websites like Boosted, a New Zealand-based arts crowdfunding platform, and international site Kickstarter are working really well for young people to get backing for their projects, Corlett said, but Goldthorp is well aware of the struggle to fund her dreams.

‘‘Money is the eternal suffering, I am very lucky to have got anything done without it,’’ Goldthorp said.

‘‘I'd like to receive full funding, but nobody is going to give millions to a kid’’

‘‘My last two films I have done as a minor, so people have very kindly lent me locations for free, but, people think films cost a lot, but when you tell them the actual cost, they’re horrified.’’

Goldthorp’s next film and her third feature, Fleur’s Secret, is different from her previous work not only in approach but also genre.

‘‘This one is supposed to be serious because you can only write so much comedy.

‘‘It’s a drama. I wanted to address some issues, and I thought a large one to address is alcoholism.

‘‘This one is hopefully going to be my calling card, we’ve got a lot of experienced people on it, and they are hoping to make it look really good.’’

Goldthorp is scouting for two farmhouses, with views out to sheds or fields, in rural west Auckland locations for filming in December-January.

For more information about Rose’s film projects or to get in contact with her visit www.darkrose.co.nz

LAWRENCE SMITH/STUFF At 19 years old, Rose Goldthorp is currently working on her third feature film, which addresses the issue of alcoholism.

SUPPLIED Rose Goldthorp on the set of one of her earlier feature films, which were both comedies.