Curious Film sharpens its blades sharing in seven awards at the New Zealand Film Awards

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16797868_799680453530910_5382339385344220741_o (1).jpgOn Saturday, February 18, Curious Film went to the New Zealand Film Awards presentation in Auckland with 3 different feature films it’s been involved with – Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Turbo Kid and Born to Dance up for 22 nominations in 15 categories.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Curious Film celebrated 7 wins, Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Post Production Visual FX.

16836116_799681853530770_7633009274790075658_o (1).jpgWilderpeople is also the #1 film in New Zealand of all time, and #1 New Zealand film in Australia of all time. It was the highest grossing film in New Zealand in 2016, above Star Wars the Force Awakens, Dead Pool, Finding Dory, Batman & Captain America. After it won worldwide distribution, it was also named #1 Best Movie of the Year by Bauer’s Empire magazine.

Curious has demonstrated unequivocally its ability to triumph over major productions. And yet, its executive producer and managing partner, Matt Noonan, is equally invested in creating the same success in commercials production. “We discovered what it takes to make great work and to reach an audience and we found out how rewarding that is creatively,” he is going to tell the audience at Adfest.

“How do you overcome the challenges of turning washing powder demonstrations entertainment?” Noonan asks. His Adfest audience will find out.

Curious has undergone more changes than conquering feature films in the last year. He chose not to replace Peter Grasse in Australia, but has taken on the challenge of creating the “fittest, meanest and most focused production company” himself.

That meant adding a lot of flight time to his schedule. But even that was a labour of love for Noonan. “I love to compete, to do the best work. That’s what gets me out of bed every morning. The thrill of fighting for my clients – for agencies, inspires me.”

For Noonan, competing means holding the best range of directors possible in his hands. While Taika Waititi has been (in a couple of cases unhappily) turning down briefs due to his post schedule on Thor:Ragnarok for Marvel, Noonan has taken on the director Hollywood legend Zoë Bell; “the funniest and most lovable Kiwi to hit New York since Flight of the Conchords,” Florian Habicht; the director who “has written every type of ad there is as a creative”, Oliver Green; and has nurtured the rise and rise of Daniel Max because, “Maxy’s just such a hungry can-do-mother-fucker it’s a pleasure to go work with him, the harder the challenge, the longer the days, the more technical it gets, he just fucking loves that shit. And so do I.”

And in news just to hand, Waititi, has just been signed to make a stop frame animation called Bubbles with Mark Gustafon, the animation director on Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Bubbles will be the semi-fantastical adventures of Michael Jackson’s famous pet chimp. “This film is not about Michael Jackson because that’s not a story for me to tell – or a story I’d be comfortable telling – it’s about a chimpanzee’s fascinating journey through the complex jungle of human life,” Waititi told The Independent.

“I see and hear too many clients asking for average work and too many good agencies acquiescing. It doesn’t have to be like that – I don’t believe it’s worth the effort. It doesn’t have to be average, it can be awesome. This is Australia and New Zealand we are talking about for fuck’s sake, go hard or stay home.”