Eco-adventure film LAST PARADISE opens at the Academy Cinema

Eco-adventure film LAST PARADISE opens at the Academy Cinema in Auckland today

LAST PARADISE is a brilliantly interesting story behind New Zealand's well-deserved reputation as the adventure sports capital of the world. This eco-adventure classic captures the mind-set, challenges and antics of a team of pioneers pushing the boundaries of what was to become today's extreme sports.

In 45 years of stunning original footage from the world's best extreme cinematographers, we relive their journey on the roads less travelled. We share their action-packed escapades from growing up as post-war children on a remote New Zealand sheep farm, to adults who are now trying to save what's left. A wild cast of characters, including Mr Adventure himself, AJ Hackett, show how they learnt to create their own fun and pushed themselves to the limit.

"When we began we were considered oddballs but now extreme sports are considered mainstream activities and is one of New Zealand's biggest industries today," says the director, Clive Neeson

Amongst other things, the film documents the birth of surfing in NZ, the earliest attempts at windsurfing, snowboarding and skurfing plus includes vintage footage of AJ Hackett's historic first bungy jump off the Eiffel Tower.

The cast, including scientists and adventurers, also provide a balanced and alarming insight into how our world has changed over the last four and a half decades, both culturally, environmentally and technologically. In a dramatic twist, we witness over the course of a generation the most compelling evidence of global warming ever filmed, and discover how the fruits of this journey offer hope that we can restore the planet.

The most watched New Zealand film at last year's NZ International Film Festival, LAST PARADISE is currently screening in boutique cinemas around the country and opens in Auckland today.

For more information visit http://www.lastparadisefilm.com

About the filmmaker, Clive Neeson

Clive Neeson grew up on safari in East Africa as his parents filmed wild animals during the 1950's. It was here where he first developed his interest in the great outdoors, adventure and cinematography.

A move with his parents and three brothers to New Zealand's west coast town of Raglan in the 1960's saw him join a group of young mavericks who would become the pioneers of today's extreme sports.

At Waikato University, Clive studied atomic physics and electronics under renowned physicist, and disciple of Ernest Rutherford, Emeritus Professor Bruce Liley, graduating with a MSc in physics and electronic engineering. He worked internationally in energy development and technology innovation including the first climate monitoring systems.

Living a double life between extreme sports madmen and the conservative scientific community, Clive filmed the journey from experimental beginnings, building his own filming accessories to get a closer perspective of action sports and the unique beauty of extreme New Zealand and Australia.

In 2007, Clive had the unique opportunity to digitally master 45 years of film footage in high quality at Peter Jackson's Park Road Post, Wellington and to create LAST PARADISE film.

Clive lives in the beach town of Oakura, nestled under Mount Taranaki.

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