April 20 2005

Local Studio Named After Young Filmmaker

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey today officially named one of the council’s Henderson film studios after the late brilliant young filmmaker and Massey resident Cameron Duncan who died in November 2003 after a battle with cancer.

More than 100 friends, family and film industry representatives gathered at the Henderson Valley Studios to pay tribute to Cameron on what would have been his 19th birthday.

As part of the ceremonies a video of Cameron’s work was screened and a support message from Director Peter Jackson, a friend and mentor of Cameron’s, read out.

“Cameron made a significant contribution to film and Waitakere and it is an honour to remember him in this very appropriate way,” said Mayor Harvey who made a short speech and unveiled the Cameron Duncan Studio plaque.

Cameron’s mother Sharon Duncan also spoke at the ceremony.

“To have a film studio named after Cameron is a wonderful gift from the City of Waitakere and is excellent recognition for the area and New Zealand film-making talent,” says Sharon.

“It also serves to encourage those in the film industry to aspire to achieve as Cameron did and in his words ‘to do what they can, with what they have, where they are’.”

Formerly the Apple and Pear Board cool store complex, Henderson Valley Studios was bought by Waitakere City Council in October 2002. Disney shot The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe there over the past year, as was In My Father’s Den. The latest New Zealand feature, the $4m movie Number 2 has just wrapped shooting at the venue.

ENDS

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