ALASTAIR RIDDELL
Roles
Director
Musician
Composer
Editor
Sound Design
Film Scoring
Bio
Singer, songwriter, professional musician and artist Alastair Riddell studied art at The University of Auckland majoring in art history and film. In his time at university he developed a special interest in European film (François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini and Michelangelo Antonioni).
Alastair is best known for his musical success with his band Space Waltz and their No.1 hit Out on the Street. A talented artist himself Alastair took inspiration from his art history studies at university and used elements of painting and print for the design, texture, and colour for his stage clothing and general style. Alastair had his own flamboyant eccentric stage outfits tailored for himself that were unique among New Zealand Rock Bands at the time. He has since written and performed a large variety of music for himself and other artists. He has received a New Zealand Music Award and two Gold Discs for his own songs and again for his collaboration on Poi E.
He ran his own audio engineering studio for several years, producing and engineering for a range of artists, from Celtic and Rock music through to Maori Kapa Haka as well as commercials for broadcast. In 1998 he took up the challenge in the show Get Your Act Together for best production of an artist and won his heat.
He has since written and performed a variety of music for himself and other artists and has had his music featured in many films including In My Fathers Den, Hallelujah (a skate boarding documentary), Rotting Hill, Boy, Underbelly, How to Murder Your Wife and Housebound.
Alastair has directed short film The Last Stop which received entry into two American festivals, nominated for a Moa and was purchased by Sky TV Rialto Channel. Broken Hallelujah is, as a director, his debut feature film and at present has entry to one American film festival. He has a second feature film West of Eden currently in post-production.
VANESSA RIDDELL
Roles
Producer
Writer
Actor
Colourist
Bio
Vanessa studied both Art History and English Literature at tertiary level, and has a Diploma of Education, specialising in art. She won Most promising Young Artist from The Fisher Art Gallery Awards during her final year of study. Vanessa began work as a fashion model for extra cash during her years of study. After graduating she continued modelling full time in Hong Kong before she moved to the UK. While living in the UK she taught Art at High School level and managed her friend’s bands in her spare time. She secured management with David Walker (George Michael’s manager) with an opportunity to record with Pip Williams (Moody Blues producer) for a band both Vanessa and Alastair were in at the time.
Vanessa has written and produced a short film The Last Stop as well as and Broken Hallelujah, her first feature film. She has a second feature West of Eden is currently in post-production.
Vanessa had a role as Iris in award winning In My Fathers Den as well as a variety of acting roles in TV and film. Broken Hallelujah is her first feature script.
"I love both acting and writing. With acting you get to breathe life into a character and with writing you get to see the characters living in their world, a world that before only ever existed in your mind, both are an extremely rewarding and thrilling experience."
DEAN CARRUTHERS
Roles
Cinematographer
Portrait Photographer
Commercial Photographer
Bio
Dean is a professional photographer with an interest in the medium spanning 25 years. His professional background also includes graphic design and print media.
"I think it's about finding those things you enjoy in life and being able to express or pursue them, however that unfolds".
Dean was cinematographer, stills photographer and graphic artist on short films The Last Stop and Holding the Sun and feature film Broken Hallelujah. He has just finished work as cinematographer and stills photographer on his second feature film West of Eden.
Mark Swadel
Roles
Producer
Director
Cinematographer
Bio
Marc has directed, shot or produced music videos and concert films for over 450 acts, including Neil Young, Iggy and the Stooges, The Cramps, The Zombies, Yoko Ono, The Strokes, Julian Lennon, The Chemical Brothers, The Stone Roses, Wilco, Mogwai, Love, The Fall, Echo and the Bunnymen, Nick Cave, Sonic Youth to name a few.
Marc has had a close friendship with Alastair and Vanessa since 1995, when Marc met Alastair whilst shooting for ‘The Way We Were’ the TVNZ NZ history series. Marc has also made several music videos for Alastair in that time.
Marc has had a 20 year history of working at feature level, starting in 1995 as a Sound Recordist on ‘Broken English’.
As a Cinematographer, Marc is a committee member of the NZCS and IMAGO, a member of the ACS, and has worked with award winning Directors such as Jim Jarmusch, Stephen Kang, Adam Smith, Johnathan Caouette and Shane Meadows, and has shot UKMVA winning, Cannes winning, Grammy nominated films for Warp Films, Ridley Scott and Associates, Black Dog, London Film Syndiacate, Curious Films and Severe Features.
As Producer, Marc pitched, and gained a commission for UK rock doco series ‘Rockfeedback TV’ for Channel 4 UK, as well brokering a deal for MTV Europe, across 16 territories. Marc has also worked as a Producer for British Eurosport, MTV NZ, Nickelodeon, and launched Comedy Central in NZ. Marc has also produced over 300 concert shoots and music videos for various companies in the UK, Australia, Italy, Japan, NZ and the US.
In Film, Marc Produced the NZFC short ‘Tuffy’ for Director Mathew Sunderland, ‘Better To Be’ for Mushroom Pictures, and the UK/US short ‘Deerhunter’ for ATP Films.
