UNDER HIS eye
By Andrea Louise Thomas Photos Yanni & Supplied
L
ife behind the camera has always been an adventure for award-winning cinematographer Brent Crockett. Whether shooting news segments, documentaries, television series, commercials, cinema shorts or feature films, working in film and television has always proved interesting. It’s carried him all over the world. A typical filming day runs for 12-14 hours. The pressure to get everything just right is intense because time is money. Shoots inevitably meet with the unexpected, but few industries are as exciting as working in film. Brent would know; he’s been behind the camera for over forty years. Growing up in New Zealand provided an inspiring landscape for a budding cinematographer. Brent’s father worked in the film industry as a cameraman and often went away for shoots. When he returned home, he’d bring ‘short ends’ (unexposed film). Brent would borrow his Dad’s camera and he and his high school friendswould take off to make short films with them. Brent’s first job was as a film processor at Television New Zealand. The job came with an opportunity to advance to the camera department. He was promoted to camera assistant and his love affair with filming began.
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June 2021
E ssence | 25
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