The Reel People of New Zealand

Half-hour documentary The Reel People of New Zealand visits boutique cinemas, from Te Awamutu’s Regent Theatre to Stewart Island’s Bunkhouse. The changing landscape of movie-watching is revealed through visits to legendary Christchurch video store Alice (which has added a screening venue) to Opunake’s community-owned Everybody’s Theatre and Wanaka’s compact Rubys Cinema. The interviews include cinema and video store managers, tales of getting married in a cinema, and contrasting views on whether the death of cinema is unlikely or inevitable. 

It's like they say about circuses — it gets in your blood.

– Cinema projectionist turned film historian David Lascelles, on working in cinemas

Key Cast & Crew

Nick Homler

Director, Producer, Editor, Camera

Geoff Lealand

Subject, Inspiration