Teenager prepares to write, direct fourth feature

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 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 due 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,’’ she said.

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

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 were making content.

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

Goldthorp’s next film and her third feature, Fleur’s Secret, differs 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.’’

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