A Norwegian student's decision to study filmmaking at Unitec New Zealand has paid off with a national filmmaking award and work on a new TV show.

Ole Alsaker completed the Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts (Screen Arts) last year and won the New Zealand Kodak Filmschool Competition recently for his work as director of photography on Gift, a short film he made with classmates in his final year at Unitec.A Norwegian student's decision to study filmmaking at Unitec New Zealand has paid off with a national filmmaking award and work on a new TV show.

Ole Alsaker completed the Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts (Screen Arts) last year and won the New Zealand Kodak Filmschool Competition recently for his work as director of photography on Gift, a short film he made with classmates in his final year at Unitec.Ole came to New Zealand from Norway three and a half years ago to do the degree and says that he enjoyed the experience.

"I wanted to do film studies and I wanted to go on my OE at the same time. Looking back on my time at Unitec, it's been really great gaining the knowledge, and growing and learning about myself as well."

Gift is the story of a doctor struggling with his dying wife's final wish and Ole says that its visual style was influenced by a number of filmmakers.

"I've always been visually interested in films - I think that how a movie looks is important, and when I'm watching a film I can see what the director of photography was trying to achieve.

"In Gift we referenced a number of movies. One shot was straight out of Blue by Krzysztof Kieslowski, and an Australian film that our lecturer showed us, Somersault, was an influence too."

Since completing the Unitec degree, Ole has been working as a camera assistant on TV2's upcoming kid's show Amazing Extraordinary Friends.

He says he is keen to stay in New Zealand, and his long-term plan is to direct.

"I want to make the transition from director of photography to directing. That's the great thing about this industry - there are so many possibilities and here in New Zealand you have the chance to try different things."

25/6/07