EIT screen production students are to learn film skills from acclaimed film director and producer team Chris Graham and Neil Stitchbury.

Chris is best known for his debut film Sione’s Wedding, which grossed the highest-ever opening weekend for a New Zealand movie.  He also made the award-winning short films Bus Stop [Melbourne Award 2002] and Water [Sundance 2004].

Chris studied at a prestigious film school in New York and, with Neil (Stitch), has made ads for clients that include Genesis Energy, Cadbury, 42 Below, Weetbix and Pepsi.

EIT screen production programme Coordinator Claire McCormick says Chris has an amazing track record. 

 “He is the most awarded video maker in New Zealand and his most memorable music videos of the last ten years include Trinity Roots’ Little Things and Scribe’s Not Many if Any.

The iconic bands he has worked with include The Black Seeds, Dei Hamo, King Kapisi, Scribe and Savage.  Chris picked up three TUI awards in one year for Smashproof’s Brother, Dei Hamo’s We Gone Ride and Scribe’s Stand Up.

EIT staff and students started collaborating with Chris and Stich last year when they filmed the short film Simple Pleasures ad for Pipfruit NZ.

“Tess Tylee from Film Hawke’s Bay contacted me asking if one of our students could work as a runner for Chris and his crew.  Amanda Dawson ably filled the role and managed to get work for some of her classmates as extras during the shoot.”

The short film was launched online to promote New Zealand apples to the German and UK markets.

Claire says she then had a brainwave.  After talking to EIT’s marketing team, she approached Urs Blum, director of the Black Barn Outdoor Film Festival, about the possibility of screening Simple Pleasures at the summer festival.

Chris came down from Auckland in January and he and Amanda introduced the film.

“The New Zealand film industry is like a big family,” says Claire.  “Chris and Stich remember what it is like to start out and it is great to see them fit us into their busy schedules and share their experience with our EIT students.  They are fantastic role models.”

Chris will be working with second-year screen production students who are about to start directing their own short films.

Chris and Stitch will also be holding a lecture open to all EIT students and staff at the Visual Art and Design School at 12.15pm on Friday.