Queenstown film maker flying high with the world's elite

Media Release from Hot Knees Media
March 27 2013

Award-winning Queenstown film maker flying high with the world’s elite

Queenstown-based and multi-award-winning film maker James Holman will literally be on top of the world this Saturday (March 30) as he takes to the mountain tops to film his latest project.

With the help of a local helicopter company, he’s heading to a stunning location on Cecil Peak – overlooking the pristine waters of Lake Wakatipu - with a crew of 30 skateboarders and a DJ to film his latest project.

Thirty one-year-old James is the sole New Zealander chosen to take part in the inaugural GoPro Filmakers Challenge, where artists worldwide have been tasked with creating a short film on any subject related to skateboarding.

The selected ten filmmakers must shoot the film and edit it using only the GOPRO HERO Black Edition, a lightweight camera that produces professional quality digital video. The top three films will be screened at the International Skateboard Film Festival (ISFF) in November in Los Angeles.

James said he was ‘stoked’ to be lining up against some of the world’s best short film makers in the prestigious competition.

“Honestly I’m absolutely thrilled. I’ve been on cloud nine since I heard the news and am so happy with the help I’ve had locally to make this project happen. Nowhere else in the world would I get such unwavering support,” he said.

The shoot will take place at various locations around Queenstown culminating in a large skate jam, complete with mini ramp, 30 skaters, and DJ at the top of the famous Ledge at Cecil Peak.

James has relied mainly on the help of local businesses to support the project including the World Bar, Luanda Boat Experience and Heli Tours, the latter which will fly equipment and crew to ‘The Ledge’ for the shoot.

“I’m beyond excited to not only compete in this competition but have the chance to showcase the amazing Queenstown views from ‘The Ledge’ to the rest of the world.”

Judges from the Academy of Skateboard Filmmakers, along with invited guest judges, will select the winner based on originality, execution, editing, and complete usage of the GoPro equipment.

Dubbed the ‘Oscars of Skateboarding’ by industry heavyweights, the ISFF is the premier film festival dedicated to the creativity of filmmaking within the skateboard industry.

As an avid skateboarder and accomplished videographer, James Holman is no stranger to international success, having received global recognition for his outstanding work on film projects in Myanmar, the Sahara Desert and Antarctica.

James’ work on a 19 minute documentary, Altered Focus, achieved him the ‘Best Independent and Emerging Film Maker’ gong at the International Skateboard Film Festival in 2011.

This thought provoking documentary set in Myanmar offers a never-before-seen look behind the scenes of this troubled country from the eyes of local young skateboarders, and has received worldwide coverage from the likes of CNN, Lonely Planet and the BBC.

The second movie in the series, The Youth of Yangon, focuses more on the skateboarding culture in Myanmar and premiered in Yangon in February this year with support from the British Council.

It has already been nominated for the Newport Beach Film Festival held between April 25 and May 2 in Los Angeles, which showcases over 300 films from across the globe during the eight day festival.

The New Zealand premiere of The Youth of Yangon is scheduled for May 2013 with preview screenings in Queenstown in mid-April.

Fully funded by himself to date, James said the work he’d been doing with the teens in Yangon had been his ‘true passion’ for the last few years.

“These teens are very close to my heart,” he said.

“They could hold their own amongst some of the best skaters in the world but they have very limited resources and struggle to modernise in a country where they can’t get equipment that most Westerners take for granted.”

James plans to return to Myanmar in October this year to film the third and final movie, in which he hopes to focus on the building of a brand new skateboarding facility for the teens.

Energised by the success of the film, local skateboarders, with the support of friend and fellow skateboarder Ali Drummond, are working with the government to make skate boarding a federated sport in Myanmar.

Thanks to their determination, they are close to securing land for a new skate park, subject to funding once federated status is granted.

“To empower these teens to take control of their lives and have a better future is what’s driven us to take this as far as we have,” said James.

ENDS

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