INTERVIEW. ROGER DONALDSON.

Roger Donaldson discusses the beginnings of his film career making Labour Party commercials, meeting Ian Mune then onto making Derek and the Winners and Losers series.

He talks about making of Sleeping Dogs and Smash Palace and how this film propelled him into the Hollywood film Industry, mentions ‘The Bounty’ which was his first American feature. Explains the financial limitations of the NZ film industry and the closure of Aardvark Films, his production company in NZ. He discusses ‘The Get Away’, ‘No Way Out’ and ‘The Bounty’ as ‘remake’ films. Talks about the film industry as a business as well as an art form, with particular reference to US film industry.

Jonathan questions Donaldson about the film ‘Cocktail’ with Tom Cruise, and its success. Mentions his interest in geology and how this was used in the film ‘Dante’s Peak’, he also discusses the shooting of the film, the budget, the special effects and the cast particularly Geoff Murphy who had worked on special effects on Nutcase and Sleeping Dogs. Discusses the possibility of making films in NZ again (he left in 1982).
Recorded 14/04/1997