Comments on: Jan Chapman – The Woman Behind So Many Great Films

By: Lou

Lou — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:43 +0000

Yes she has lived in Australia for a long-time :) But lived in NZ until her early-20s… which is enough to hard-wire anyone with a particular world outlook. I think she also lived in Britain for a while in her 20s.

I work with a mix of Americans and Brits (more Brits, being that I live in England), and find it to be extremely amusing in meetings watching the American outspokenness versus the British reserve – being a Kiwi I just sit back and enjoy it ;-P

By: Melissa Silverstein

Melissa Silverstein — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:44:19 +0000

Sometimes I think that here in the US we get caught up in being excited about nothing. We waste energy and get concerned about crap. I find myself a lot of the times just trying to chill. That’s what I felt from these women. A sense of calmness of being content with yourself.

By: Melissa Silverstein

Melissa Silverstein — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:42:41 +0000

Sorry to al the kiwi’s who I offended. I know that Jane is a kiwi but she has lived in Australia for a long time- right?

By: Lou

Lou — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:37:46 +0000

One thing I absolutely love about the relationship between these two is that when introducing Bright Star at the London Film Fest gala screening, Jane said “My friend and producer Jan” and did the same for the British producer of the film – and you know that they really mean it when they say things like that. Another female producer/ female writer-director I’ve come across that has similar values in filmmaking is Niki Caro (another Kiwi!) and her American producer Laurie Parker (who has also worked with Jane C). With these buddy buddy guy teams that seem to be dominating the film landscape at the moment (the Seth Rogan crowd, the George Clooney crowd, etc), it’s so great to know that there are these strong teams of women continuing to make films their own way.

BTW, in case you’re wondering why we keep pushing the “Jane is a Kiwi” thing – it’s very important to me that people know there is more to the NZ film heritage than Lord of the Rings, and it fits into our country’s feminist roots to have such strong woman filmmakers, and of course she herself identifies as a Kiwi.

By: Sue Brown

Sue Brown — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:26:38 +0000

Found it interesting how you described both Jane Campion and Jan Chapman as ‘calm’. What are American directors and producers like in interviews over the phone? More excitable? Quick talking? I think it may be a cultural thing. I’m a Canadian living in Australia and I find Aussies and Kiwis very heavily influenced by the British culture. Much more so than North Americans. And educated Brits appear to be very good at keeping their emotions in check. Same with Aussies and Kiwis. North American’s are more ‘in your face’. Personally, I miss that.

By: Estelle

Estelle — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:58:18 +0000

“High Tide” is one of my absolute favorite films and a brilliant woman centric story. It really solidified my love of Australian movies and Judy Davis.

By: Bel

Bel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:19:11 +0000

FYI, Jane Campion is a New Zealander. Check out our site for my co-blogger Lou’s post on having recently heard Campion speak at the London Film Fest…
We are both Kiwis and big fans of your site ;)