Gaylene Preston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame
Gaylene Preston
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Preston in 2018
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| Born |
Gaylene Mary Preston
1 June 1947 Greymouth, New Zealand
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| Occupation | Film director, film producer |
| Known for | documentary films |
| Relatives | Chelsie Preston Crayford (daughter) Jan Preston (sister) |
Dame Gaylene Mary Preston (born June 1, 1947) is a famous filmmaker from New Zealand. She especially loves making documentary films. These are films that show real-life stories and events.
Contents
Growing Up and Learning
Gaylene Preston was born in Greymouth, New Zealand, on June 1, 1947. She went to high school in Napier. Later, she studied art at the Ilam School of Fine Arts in New Zealand. She also studied art in England, where she earned a diploma in Art Therapy in 1974.
Gaylene has a sister named Jan Preston, who is a talented pianist and songwriter. Gaylene also has a daughter, Chelsie Preston Crayford, who is an actor.
Her Amazing Film Career
Gaylene Preston made her first film, All The Way Up There, in 1979. She is known for both directing and producing films. Producing means she helps make sure the film gets made, from start to finish.
Making Documentaries and Movies
Gaylene has helped create many award-winning documentaries. Some of these include Punitive Damage (1999) and Coffee, Tea or Me? (2001). She was also an executive producer for Lands of our Fathers.
One of her special films is Home By Christmas. This movie tells the story of her father's experiences during wartime. It also shows her mother's side of the story. Gaylene's sister, Jan Preston, wrote the music for this film.
Other movies she has directed include Mr Wrong and Ruby and Rata. She also worked on the mini-series Bread & Roses. In 2003, she wrote, directed, and produced Perfect Strangers. This was a black comedy movie.
Leading Roles in Film Organizations
Gaylene Preston has played important roles in the New Zealand film industry. She was the head of the Academy of Film and Television Arts from 1997 to 1999. She was also on the board of the NZ Film Commission for many years.
In 2001, she became the first filmmaker to be named a Laureate by the New Zealand Arts Foundation. This award celebrates people who have made a big difference in New Zealand art and television.
Awards and Recognition
In 2002, Gaylene Preston was honored for her work in filmmaking. She was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This is a special award from New Zealand.
In 2016, she received the New Zealand Women of Influence Award for Arts and Culture. This award recognized her important work on films and documentaries about New Zealand.
In 2019, Gaylene Preston received an even higher honor. She was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to film. This means she can now use the title "Dame" before her name.
Recent Projects
In 2011, Gaylene spoke out against plans for a "Wellywood" sign at Wellington Airport. She felt it was not a good idea for the film industry.
In 2014, she wrote, directed, and produced Hope and Wire. This was a drama mini-series about what happened after the big earthquakes in Christchurch in 2010 and 2011.
Her most recent documentary film is My Year with Helen (2017). This film was shown for the first time at a film festival in February 2018.
