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Shirley Horrocks

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Shirley Horrocks (born in Auckland) is a New Zealand documentary filmmaker, specialising in social and art topics.

Contents

Education and early career

Horrocks' first career was as a high school English teacher in the 1970s, before studying drama at Auckland University. As part of her diploma she made a documentary on Theatre Corporate. After completing the diploma Horrocks travelled to New York City, where she explored filmmaking. She returned to New Zealand and became a documentary filmmaker.

She holds a Diploma in Drama, holds a BA, MA (Honours), and MBA from the University of Auckland.

Documentary career

In 1984, Horrocks started a production company, Point of View Productions, which she directs with husband Roger Horrocks. The company specialises in documentaries, drama, education and training programmes.

Horrocks is especially known for her documentaries about New Zealand artists and writers, including artist Len Lye, writer Albert Wendt, poet Allen Curnow, artist John Reynolds, playwright Roger Hall, artist Tom Kreisler and photographer Marti Friedlander.

Filmography

  • 1992 See What I Mean (Writer, director, producer). On people with a hearing impairment, and those who identify as deaf.
  • 1993 Act of Murder (Director, writer, producer). On Miranda Harcourt and her tour of her work Verbatim to prison audiences.
  • 1995 Putting our Town on the Map (Producer, writer, director). Television documentary on expressions of small-town identity.
  • 1995 Flip and Two Twisters (Writer, producer, director). On artist Len Lye.
  • 1996 Kiwiana (Director, producer). On New Zealand fashion, culture, collectibles and personalities.
  • 1999 Sweet As (Producer, director). On music festival 'Sweet Waters'.
  • 2000 The Real New Zealand (Director, writer). On home-stays in New Zealand.
  • 2001 Early Days Yet (Director, producer, writer, researcher). On poet Allen Curnow.
  • 2004 Marti: The Passionate Eye (Director). On photographer Marti Friedlander.
  • 2005 The New Oceania (Director). On writer Albert Wendt.
  • 2006 Who Laughs Last (Director, writer, researcher, producer). On playwright Roger Hall.
  • 2007 The Comics Show (Producer, director). On cartoonists and comics in New Zealand.
  • 2007 Questions for Mr Reynolds (Director, producer). On artist John Reynolds.
  • 2009 Dance of the Instant (Director). On New Zealand modern dance group, New Dance Group.
  • 2013 Venus: A Quest (Writer, director, producer). A personal take on the Transit of Venus.
  • 2015 Tom Who? The Enigma of Tom Kreisler (Director, producer). On artist Tom Kreisler.

    • Horrocks is currently working on a documentary about experimental theatre group Free Theatre Christchurch.

    Personal life

    Horrocks is married to Roger Horrocks, who founded the Department of Film, Television and Media Studies at Auckland University. Her stepson Dylan Horrocks is a well-known New Zealand cartoonist.

    References

    Shirley Horrocks Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA