Pacific Films
Encyclopedia
The Pacific Film Unit was established in Wellington
, New Zealand
in 1948 by ex-National Film Unit staff Alun Falconer and Roger Mirams
. At this time most films produced in New Zealand were documentaries made by the government’s National Film Unit
. In 1950 John O'Shea
joined; Alun Falconer left to pursue a career in China; and the company changed its name to Pacific Film Productions Ltd.
The first feature film was Broken Barrier
(1952), which O'Shea produced and directed with Roger Mirams. In 1956 Mirams moved to Australia, and started a branch of the company in Sydney, though he later formed his own company Roger Mirams Productions.
The company had an office in Courtenay Place, Wellington in 1960, and was the New Zealand representative for British Movietone News
and Fox Australian Movietone News. In 1969 the company had a staff of 15, the facility was in Kilbirnie and the office in Lower Hutt, and the company also represented Hearst Metrotone News and B.B.C. TV. Associated companies were Pacific Television Ltd. and Pacific Films Ltd.
John O'Shea was active from 1940 to 1970, and he produced numerous short films as well as the three New Zealand feature films made in that period: Broken Barrier
(1952) with Roger Mirams
, Runaway (1964), and Don't Let It Get You (1966).
Pacific Films produced scores of road safety dramas, rugby tests, documentaries and commercials (O’Shea).
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1948 by ex-National Film Unit staff Alun Falconer and Roger Mirams
Roger Mirams
Roger Eastgate Holden Mirams was a New Zealand film director, well known for the children's television series he produced throughout his career which extended over 70 years...
. At this time most films produced in New Zealand were documentaries made by the government’s National Film Unit
National Film Unit
The National Film Unit was a state-owned film production organisation in New Zealand. Founded in 1941, it mostly produced newsreels, documentaries and promotional films about New Zealand, and for many years was the only significant film production facility in the country...
. In 1950 John O'Shea
John O'Shea
John O'Shea can refer to:*John O'Shea, Irish footballer with Sunderland*John O'Shea , New Zealand film director*John O'Shea *John O'Shea , Wales international rugby union footballer*John O'Shea...
joined; Alun Falconer left to pursue a career in China; and the company changed its name to Pacific Film Productions Ltd.
The first feature film was Broken Barrier
Broken Barrier
Broken Barrier is a 1952 New Zealand film. It was directed and produced by John O'Shea and Roger Mirams, and written by O'Shea. It starred Kay Ngarimu and Terence Bayler, and also featured Mira Hape, Bill Merito and George Ormond....
(1952), which O'Shea produced and directed with Roger Mirams. In 1956 Mirams moved to Australia, and started a branch of the company in Sydney, though he later formed his own company Roger Mirams Productions.
The company had an office in Courtenay Place, Wellington in 1960, and was the New Zealand representative for British Movietone News
Movietone News
Movietone News is a newsreel that ran from 1928 to 1963 in the United States, and from 1929 to 1979 in the United Kingdom.-History:It is known in the U.S. as Fox Movietone News, produced cinema, sound newsreels from 1928 to 1963 in the U.S., from 1929 to 1979 in the UK , and from 1929 to 1975 in...
and Fox Australian Movietone News. In 1969 the company had a staff of 15, the facility was in Kilbirnie and the office in Lower Hutt, and the company also represented Hearst Metrotone News and B.B.C. TV. Associated companies were Pacific Television Ltd. and Pacific Films Ltd.
John O'Shea was active from 1940 to 1970, and he produced numerous short films as well as the three New Zealand feature films made in that period: Broken Barrier
Broken Barrier
Broken Barrier is a 1952 New Zealand film. It was directed and produced by John O'Shea and Roger Mirams, and written by O'Shea. It starred Kay Ngarimu and Terence Bayler, and also featured Mira Hape, Bill Merito and George Ormond....
(1952) with Roger Mirams
Roger Mirams
Roger Eastgate Holden Mirams was a New Zealand film director, well known for the children's television series he produced throughout his career which extended over 70 years...
, Runaway (1964), and Don't Let It Get You (1966).
Pacific Films produced scores of road safety dramas, rugby tests, documentaries and commercials (O’Shea).