Standing out from the herd

Film-maker COSTA BOTES on how his latest project, about a Waikato cow-whisperer, began and how it fits into an uncompromising career spent capturing the stories of idiosyncratic, persistent and passionate people.

At almost the ripe old age of 64 (just like in Paul McCartA ney's song), I'm commonly referred to as a "veteran" film-maker, which seems distinctly odd, as in my own head I am still a beginner. I've spent my working life practising a craft that's literally impossible to master. This used to bother me. Now I understand it's a gift and a privilege.

You cannot get bored making films. At least, not if you're doing it right. By which I mean that you're pursuing a meaningful exploration for the sake of art. Film-making can bea special kind of hell when you're merely filling out someone else’s prescription and have no personal stake in the work.

This is not a popular view among those who hold that the market” is all, and one must satisfy it. To them, I say good luck. I know only my own mind.

Twenty years ago, I made a critical decision: to make only films I really, truly want to make, with full creative independence. That has meant certain trade-offs. Working with very low budgets, by myself, often largely self-funded, and doing other things to make ends meet.

Starting with Struggle No More 2006), the ironically titled biography of New Zealand’s greatest unknown band, I’ve produced a string of films Lost in Wonderland 2009), Candyman 2010), Daytime Tiger 2011), The Last Dogs of Winter 2012), Act of Kindness 2015), and Angie 2018) works that I’m proud of, that represent exactly what I wanted to do, without any compromises.