Craig Potton - $69.99
Originally trained as a fine artist, Ward’s strong visual sensibility is a determining feature of his work and won him an Oscar for visual effects in 1999 for his film What Dreams May Come.
It is this skill as an image maker conveying powerful emotional experiences that was the genesis for a new book being published this month. The book, The Past Awaits, a large handsome hardback, collects together the poignant images that form the heart of Vincent Ward’s films and for Ward has been a way to look at his career to-date as he gathers himself for his next projects.
Beginning with his most recent film, Rain of the Children, which builds on his groundbreaking documentary/drama In Spring One Plants Alone, the book covers all his feature films, including Vigil, The Navigator: A Medieval odyssey, Map of the Human Heart, What Dreams May Come and River Queen, as well as earlier films and others developed but never made.
Interwoven with the images in The Past Awaits is also a fascinating part-memoir in which he explains why these films were made, and examines the themes that interest and motivate him. “This book is about the search to stay whole through making films, of being inspired by the people I have worked with and made films about, and how by seeing these lives it is perhaps easier to see more clearly into my own.”
This is a must-have book for all you NZ film buffs out there. One for the coffee table.
About the author:
Vincent Ward is a painter and filmmaker living between New Zealand, Australia, and Los Angeles. His film work has seen recognition at both the Academy Awards and the Cannes Film Festival.
He has developed stories ranging from Alien 3 to The Last Samurai which he acted as an executive producer on.
Ward was behind the development of motion-painting, a groundbreaking aesthetic used in his film What Dreams May Come.
The Past Awaits was launched on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th November, 2010, at the Greytown Town Hall, which was built by Ward’s great-great uncle. The local Film Society screened a selection of Ward’s films over the weekend as part of the launch. The Bookman hopes to have some photos from the weekend shortly.
For Aucklanders there are two events featuring Vincent planned for later this month:
1. Saturday, November 27, 6pm: part of a NZ Book Council, Stories Told Live, event
Vincent Ward and six others with flair for storytelling will speak on the theme 'Blood is thicker than water' at the Book Council's next True Stories Told Live event on November 27. True Stories Told Live taps into the compelling need we all have for story, whether we are avid storytellers or enjoy listening to a good yarn. Unrehearsed and in front of a live audience, the speakers get up one by one and either sit or stand on the empty stage. From all walks of life, some never having done anything like this before, they start where they think the beginning of their story is and end about 10 minutes later.
Admission $15.00.
Door sales or book online: http://www.tapac.org.nz/
2. Saturday, November 27, 12 Noon : Auckland Art Gallery talk (free)
Vincent Ward gives an illustrated talk on and readings from his new book, The Past Awaits: - People, Images, Film, which details his two passions in life - film and painting. The book will be on sale and Vincent available for signings.
http://www.aucklandartgallery.com/whats-on/events/2010/november/vincent-ward-the-past-awaits-–-people-images-film
And here is a link to Vincent's interview with Radio NZ film critic Simon Morris:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/artsonsunday
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