Peter Houston

Director, Filming and Production

Peter has worked in the film and television industry for over four decades with many professionals from many countries – and that is his consuming passion. He’s never happier than when surrounded by producers, cameramen, staging/set construction specialists, lighting and sound geeks, wardrobe and make-up specialists, talent scouts – and all the wonderful people who make up the world of film.

Over the decades Peter has worked in various roles:

• pre-production scheduling
• directing, lighting, sound and floor management
• post-production editing and promotions
• … and of course hands on filming with a wide range of cameras – his first love

Always optimistic and ready with a joke – Peter’s heritage is Ireland, although he now lives in a beautiful region of NZ where much of the Lord of the Rings series was filmed by Peter Jackson and his team.

Peter’s extensive work experience includes:

Films, Documentaries and TV Drama/Series

• the “Indian Ink Trilogy” “Candlestick Maker”, Krishna & Dairy, The Pickle King – NZ dramas NZ
• filmed at the Wellington Opera House
• “Across the Divide” a motorcycle journey documentary
• “Kurawaka” (one man’s journey to find himself, filmed in Japan, Mount Sinai and NZ, and featured at the Red Film Festival, Aspen, US)
• … and many others, including: “The Governor”, “Country GP”, “Close to Home”, “Stroke”, “Gliding On”, “Jo & Koro”, “Peppermint Twist”, “Marching Girls”, and quizz programmes (e.g. “University Challenge”, “The Crypton Factor”).

Large Scale Entertainments

• the opening one of the Pacific’s most important Opera Houses (Michael Fowler Centre)
• Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Symphony (stage directed a cast of 300, using canons from the NZ Army)
• “Rock Around the Clock” (live bands and audience)
• large scale fund raising events (NZ Telethon)
• International Song Competitions (e.g. South Pacific Song guest)
• beauty pageants (e.g. Miss NZ)

Eco-Campaigns

• toxic chemicals and their use or misuse
• the battle between urban and rural interests
• eco-tourism and the preservation of our river systems
• preserving the culture of an indigenous peoples

Festivals and Competitions

• Sports Events (The Commonwealth Games, international and national championships in skiing, American football, rugby, football and squash)
• The International Buskers’ Festival
• Comedy Theatre
• Dance Companies and competitions
• The Christchurch Arts Festival
• Food festivals, of many kinds
• Community-based Festivals 

Training Videos and Promotional DVDs

• Corporate Sector (in a range of industries)
• Educational Sector (from secondary schools to universities to commercial training institutes)
• Government (training videos from health care to fire safety)
• Others (e.g. cooking and cuisine courses)
• and recordings for artists in diverse countries (painters, craftsmen and many musicians from classical to R&B and reggae to electronics and post-punk)

Peter’s personal interests are as diverse as his experience in film. He’s a water colour painter, composer of electronic music and enjoys fantasy novels and martial arts.