There was drama on the railway line that runs beside Hutt Park, recorded on film in full colour and viewed on-screen at our meeting on 24 April.
A gang of youths and girls drove at speed along a deserted road, stopped and dragged a struggling adult male out of the door. They laid him across the railway track, tied him down and left him to a gruesome fate.
The victim was their English teacher, Tony Donovan, who fortunately survived for the next 56 years to fascinate us with his story.
Back in 1968, faced with a rather bored-looking English class at Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College, he had suggested, “Why don’t we make a movie?” That started an exploration of the practical and philosophical aspects of film-making that soon went nation- wide and spawned a new subject that became known as media studies.
Excited by their new ability, teams of six students made more short films, including a black and white documentary on the somewhat below-standard state of the school grounds and facilities. This was shown to the staff and the school board, rather to their horror.
Later, a similar film in colour and featuring happy and smiling students, gave an alternative view of the school and taught the students about the possibility of skewed messages in the media.
Scripts tended to exploit goodies vs baddies themes, including Superboy in action, but extended to a simulated advertisement for Ford motorcars. Super 8 film with a soundtrack challenged them to synchronise sound and vision. Editing by cutting and gluing
film was more demanding then than it is today with digital media.
Establishment of a school radio station, by a student who wanted to be a disc jockey, was an interesting development. The Evening Post, Dominion, Radio NZ and the Post Primary Teachers’ Association Journal all covered these new developments extensively.
Rebus club members, none of whom were still at school when media studies became part of the curriculum, thoroughly enjoyed Tony’s presentation and films.
Our next meeting, on Friday 27 June is our annual Matariki lunch, at the Carterton Club.
The South Wairarapa Rebus Club meets at 9:45am on the fourth Friday of each month, at the South Wairarapa Working Men’s Club in Greytown. The club prides itself on the quality of its guest speakers. Reviews of previous talks are included in newsletters which can be found on the club’s website at southwairaraparebus.com. Retired people are invited to attend a meeting as a visitor. Introduce yourself at the door from the West Street carpark, or contact
John Reeve on 021 560 461 for more information.
David J Woodhams dwoodhams@orcon.net.nz
