Draft 2 PhD Introduction - ResearchSpace@Auckland

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influence of Expressionism clearly visible in the scenes set in Hell – in the use of
Stimmung and the subjectivity of the mise-en-scène – resulted in the creation of
powerful and unforgettable images. The film was justifiably nominated for two
Academy Awards in 1999, one for Eugenio Zannetti’s production design, and one for
the visual effects, which was won by Joel Hynek and Nick Brooks, who supervised the
visual effects team. That the film won an Oscar cemented Ward’s reputation as a
director of international standing, but making the film in the context of the Hollywood
studio system proved to be a frustrating experience which he no longer (at present)
wishes to repeat. Hollywood, for its part, was disappointed with the box-office results.
The director’s journey from New Zealand to Australia and then to Hollywood could be
seen as paralleling the physical and spiritual journeys made by the characters in his
films; but although his films have come a long way in terms of the size of their budgets,
their technical sophistication and the size of their audiences, they have retained a
consistency of themes and concerns. While working within the context of the small
film industry in New Zealand had its limitations in terms of funding and technical
resources, it gave Ward greater freedom. Working in the Hollywood studio system was
clearly a mixed experience for Ward. His venture into international co-production and
his dealings with Miramax also proved frustrating.
In the last few years since the release of What Dreams May Come he has made a living
by directing large-budget commercials such as the one he made recently for an Asian
airline, shot in Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand and New Zealand. Before that he was
hired by Steven Spielberg to direct a promotional film for General Motors. He admits
that it has not been easy to resist the temptations of Hollywood: “It’s very hard to break
out of Hollywood”. 973 But the alternatives available for a filmmaker like Ward are far
from clear, particularly if he wants to make films with more than a small budget.
Current Project
Shortly after the release of his last film, Ward stated categorically that he was not
prepared to return to New Zealand to make films:
I couldn’t work here. I’ve never got over the experience of The Navigator. The
New Zealand Film Commission does a great job but I feel it’s under-appreciated
973 Ward quoted in Butcher, "What Films May Come," 88.