New Zealand Cinema and Soundtracks
A selection of explorations of the sonic world of New Zealand films.
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Music for zombie brides and killer clowns
Composer Marc Chesterman discusses the bizarre requests composers get from directors and other challenges of creating music for documentary, in this case, the new Florian Habicht film Spookers. Video, Audio
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Music can make or break a film
One of the most important decisions a filmmaker has to make is "How much music to put in?" In New Zealand, the go-to composers these days are the prolific band The Phoenix Foundation. Their track… Audio
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Celluloid Circus
31 Jul 2016Seasoned New Zealand journalist and documentary maker, Wayne Brittenden takes us through the history of Kiwis' love affair with the silver screen, at least between 1925 - 1970. Audio, Gallery
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Sonic World of Cinema - Sin City
Ryan Smith samples some music from the Robert Rodiguez crime thriller Sin City. New Zealand-born LA-based Graeme Revell is the composer of the noir-meets-industrial soundtrack. Audio
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At The Movies for 30 October 2014
Simon Morris talks to Oscar-winning sound mixer Mike Hedges about the advances of sound in Lord of the Rings, District Nine, Once Were Warriors, The Orator - and of course the upcoming final film in… Audio
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David Long : Beyond the Edge
11 Nov 2013Composer of music for Sir Edmund Hillary bio film 'Beyond the Edge'. Audio
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Feature Guest - Graeme Revell
New Zealand born and raised, Graeme Revell is a composer who has a strong career in the US composing soundtracks for films, television, and video games. Audio
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Sonic World of Cinema - Good For Nothing
John Psathas talks to Eva Radich about his score to the New Zealand-made 'Pavlova Western' Good For Nothing. Video, Audio
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Sonic World of Cinema - Consent The Louise Nicholas Story
Ryan Smith selects some tracks from Grayson Gilmour's soundtrack to the New Zealand drama Consent: The Louise Nicholas Story. Gilmour's soundtrack is a nominee for the 2015 APRA Best Original Music in… Audio
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Sonic World of Cinema - Woodenhead
Andrew Clifford talks with Wellington composer Marc Chesterman about his score to the 2003 "grimm musical fairy tale" Woodenhead directed by Florian Habicht Audio
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Deathgasm
Deathgasm, a homegrown heavy metal horror comedy premieres at this year's New Zealand International Film Festival. Featuring an ear-splitting collection of local and international bands on it's… Audio
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Florian Habicht and Marc Chesterman
18 Jul 2008Filmmaker and Composer of 'Rubbings from a Live Man' being screened at the NZ Film Festival. Audio
About Sonic World of Cinema
Let’s face it, the shower scene in Psycho just wouldn’t be as scary without those screechy stabbing strings, Amelie wouldn’t be as loveable without her quirky accordion soundtrack following her around the streets of Montmartre and the Imperial Stormtroopers from Star Wars just wouldn’t be as cool without their foreboding brass-heavy march. Frodo without Howard Shore’s Shire theme? Spaghetti westerns without Morricone? – unthinkable!
A well-crafted soundtrack can transport us into whatever world the film-makers have conjured up. And long after we’ve left the cinema the music has the ability to take us right back there.
Sample the best of recent film soundtracks, re-frame movie scores from the past that have refused to deteriorate with time, discover obscure film music (whether 1960s Czech fantasy, Japanese horror, or B-grade sci-fi).
The occasional video game soundtrack and noteworthy music from television shows are also in the mix.
Keep an eye on our unique and growing New Zealand film soundtracks collection and hear interviews with creators and composers from here and around the world.