With a quarter of a century of experience in Hollywood, Patrick Winters is helping Kiwi students learn the art of film-making. Patrick Winters migrated to New Zealand with his wife and son in 2004, and is now tutoring in digital media studies at the Southern Institute of Technology in Invercargill.
Patrick grew up in Seattle and developed an early interest in film, using the family camera to make short movies. In a Hollywood career spanning 25 years, he specialised in sound editing and design, working on such films as ‘Psycho’, ‘Good Will Hunting’ and ‘Finding Forrester’.
Patrick and his wife first considered moving to New Zealand about 11 years ago. “We were looking to find a place that was more environmentally conscious and where people respected each other. New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance was definitely positive, and it didn’t seem that Kiwis were as materialistic. I also looked at the film and video industry here and it seemed like there could be a place for me.”
Today Patrick teaches budding New Zealand film students the finer points of film-making, from screen-writing to camera, lighting, sounds design and editing. “This is the third year of a three-year degree programme, and our film students will be working on longer format dramas. I’m looking forward to helping them create that.”
He says that the Southern Institute of Technology is really behind the programme, and has spent a lot of money buying additional gear and software. “If you’re into animation or graphics or film, this will be a place that will take off. This is a programme that is building. It’s a pretty exciting place to be.”
New Zealand, he says, is becoming more international. “A pretty high proportion of my friends are from other countries, and the Kiwis I’ve gotten to know are – to borrow a Kiwi expression – as good as gold.”
Patrick is confident he made the right choice in coming to New Zealand. “The explosion in the film industry over the last 10 years has created huge excitement here, and really put a spotlight on New Zealand in terms of the movie industry and as a location.”