A Song Of Good
Director's Statement
For a time I had been thinking about the idea of someone trying to turn their life around in the exact same place they had suffered and caused suffering.
So we have the theme of redemption.
Another idea I wanted to explore was the notion of transference.
The way power and powerlessness travels through generations, peer groups, strangers. Chains of victimisation, where suffering is transferred to the other, for example – dealer to addict to female stranger. This is of course a simplification as in the larger picture the line is always part of a complicated ever-growing web that does not necessarily behave in such a straightforward vertical way.
Of course there are many other ideas I pondered on and that are part of the weave of the film. For example, the nature of loss and alienation in both the individual and the society.
My hope is that the film is able to engage an audience and in the process open the world up somewhat and move people in a deep and memorable way. The film then being able to work as a platform to provoke thought and discussion around these issues and struggles.
Gregory King, Director
Director's Biography
Gregory King – Writer/Director
Gregory has been making films since 1999 before this he worked as an actor, performance maker, youth-worker and casting director.
His first three shorts as a writer/director have been critically acclaimed and honoured internationally.
Gregory was awarded New Filmmaker of the Year 2002 (Screen Producers and Directors Guild New Zealand).
His first feature project CHRISTMAS (2003), an ultra low budget digital film (30,000 Euros), screened in Official Selection at Locarno, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Melbourne, New Zealand and Toronto International Film Festivals.
He received a Pacific-Maori scholarship to attend the Maurits Binger Film Institute in Amsterdam 2003/04 and graduated from the Directing and Screenwriting Courses.
He currently lives in Berlin with his family.
Director's Filmography
POP (1999) – Short Film; Official selection: NZ and Melbourne International Film Festivals; Winner: ‘Most Outstanding Achievement in a Video Production’ – Melbourne International Film Festival.
“...TEACH YOU A LESSON” (2000) – Short Film; Official Selection: New Zealand and Melbourne International Film Festivals.
JUNK (2001) – Short Film shot on 35mm; Loose Unit/ New Zealand Film Commission; Selected for Locarno, Bilbao, Brisbane, New Zealand, Commonwealth International Film Festivals; Winner: ‘Best Short Film’ and ‘Best Technical Contribution’ (Cinematography) to a Short Film, Nokia New Zealand Film Awards 2001; Runner up: Nescafe Australasian Short Film Awards.
CHRISTMAS (2003) – Digital Feature Film, 87 minutes; Severe Features/ Screen Innovation Production Fund/ New Zealand Film Commission; Official Selection: Toronto, Edinburgh, Locarno, Melbourne, Cardiff, Manchester Commonwealth, Senef-Seoul and New Zealand International Film Festivals; Winner: ‘Best Script’, ‘Best Technical Contribution’ (Art Direction), ‘Best Performance’ and ‘Best Digital Feature’ in The Digital Film Section of the New Zealand Film Awards (Academy of Film and Television Arts) 2003.
