Draft 2 PhD Introduction - ResearchSpace@Auckland

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The Navigator represented a new peak of achievement for Ward. Despite the gaps
caused by production problems, the film displayed a scope, richness of texture, and
imaginative power that confirmed his status as an auteur on the international scene. Its
very ambition and density, however, also exposed weaknesses such as his tendency to
over-complicate or over-crowd a film. One of the practical consequences of the project
– being forced to look for overseas funding – may be seen as an inevitable step in the
career of an international artist, but it would also have some disorienting effects on his
next projects.