Leanne Pooley
Encyclopedia
Leanne Pooley was born and raised in Winnipeg
, Canada
, she immigrated to New Zealand
in the mid-1980s and began working in the New Zealand television industry.
In 1992 she moved to England where she made documentaries for Britain's major broadcasters including BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 as well as PBS in America.
In 1997 Pooley established the independent production company Spacific Films based in New Zealand. Recent documentaries include, The Man Who Has Everything for the American Discovery Network, Kiwi Buddha as seen on National Geographic and Haunting Douglas, described by Variety Magazine as an "Expertly crafted video portrait of modern dancer/choreographer Douglas Wright
,"http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117923189.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&query=%22leanne+pooley%22. Haunting Douglas is a feature length documentary that has received accolades at film festivals around the world and earned Pooley the “Best Director” award at the 2005 New Zealand Screen Awards.
Pooley made The Promise about the life of euthanasia advocate, Leslie Martin, winning the “Best Documentary” award at the 2006 New Zealand Screen Awards. Her documentary Try Revolution explores how rugby was used to help end apartheid in South Africa and featured among others Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
In 2010 Pooley made the documentary Topp Twins – Untouchable Girls, a theatrical feature about the lives of lesbian, singing, twin sister comedy duo, the Topp Twins. The film has won 18 International Awards including Audience Awards at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Melbourne International Film Festival, and the Gothenburg International Film Festival among others. It has won jury awards at the Seattle Film Festival, New Doc New York, The Nashville Film Festival and the Florida Film Festival among others. It also won Best Feature at the NZ Film & TV Awards, and reached nearly $2 million at the New Zealand box office making it the most successful New Zealand documentary of all time.
Leanne serves as a judge for The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; EMMY Awards. She has taught documentary at the University of Auckland’s School for Creative and Performing Arts and is on the executive of the New Zealand Director’s Guild. Leanne lives in Auckland
with her husband and two children.
Leanne is currently directing Ice Captain, a documentary about Frank Worsley, captain of Shackleton's Endurance, and is producing the documentary Finding Mercy.
A documentary film about New Zealand entertainers the Topp Twins
which has won over 20 international awards including the "Cadillac People's Choice Award" at the Toronto International Film Festival. It is the most successful documentary ever made in New Zealand.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: "Being Billy Apple" - Spacific Films - 2007
Television New Zealand
A profile of the artist known as Billy Apple who was at the forefront of both the POP and Conceptual art movements and who alongside the likes of Andy Warhol helped to redefine the meaning of the word artist.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: TRY REVOLUTION – Spacific Films - 2006
Television New Zealand / M-Net (South Africa) / SBS (Australia)
How rugby helped to bring down Apartheid in South Africa featuring Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: THE PROMISE – Spacific Films -2005
Television New Zealand / CBC (Canada) / LINK (USA) / TPS (Taiwan)
Feature length documentary following the incredible journey of Leslie Martin, the euthanasia advocate who was convicted of attempting to murder her mother.
Winner “Best Documentary” and “Best Camera” 2006 NZ Screen Awards.
Winner “Special Mention” Feature Length Documentary DocNZ 2005.
Screened “Input 2006” (Taiwan) selected “Best Of Input” (Brazil).
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: HAUNTING DOUGLAS – Spacific Films - 2003
Television New Zealand / ABC (Australia) / YLE (Finland)
Feature length documentary about the life and work of Douglas Wright, one of the world’s greatest dancer/choreographers. Screened NZ Film Festival, San Francisco Film Festival (finalist Golden Gate Awards), Sydney Film Festival, Dance on Camera Festival-New York, Reel Dance Festival-Sydney, Vancouver Film Festival, Commonwealth Film Festival – Manchester, Cinedans- Amsterdam, IMZ – Brighton, Golden Prague, Reel Affirmations
- Washington, Festival de Cine de Granada.
Winner “Best Director” and “Best Editor” 2005 NZ Screen Awards.
Winner “Best Documentary” Reel Dance Awards 2004 Sydney
PRODUCER: THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING - NHNZ - 2001
Discovery Health (International)
A ground breaking docudrama about men’s health issues.
PRODUCER: KIWI BUDDHA - Spacific Films - 2000
National Geographic (International) / TV3 (New Zealand / Danish Public Broadcasting /
RTÉ (Ireland) / Israel / Korea / France
The story of Rinpoche, the Southern Hemisphere’s first Buddhist High Lama
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: RELATIVE GUILT - Spacific Films - 1999
TV3 (New Zealand)
Guilt by association, the family of a murderer.
Winner “Best Documentary” 1999 Qantas Media Awards.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: EVERYMAN - “PAPABILE” – BBC Manchester - 1997
BBC / ( over 50 Territories)
A docudrama examining the ancient process of Papal elections.
DIRECTOR: MODERN TIMES-“RELATIVE STRANGERS” – Mosaic Films - 1997
BBC (UK)
Exploring the complicated nature of our relationship with in-laws.
DIRECTOR: EYEWITNESS - “Pond & River “ - Café Productions –1996
BBC / OPB (PBS America) / (over 80 territories)
Part of the Emmy Award winning series combing history, science, and mythology with nature.
DIRECTOR: EVERYMAN “The Silent Export” - BBC Manchester- 1995
BBC (UK)
A docudrama exploring the experiences of Irish Women who travel to England for abortions.
DIRECTOR: BIG SCIENCE (X4) -Wall to Wall Productions – 1994
BBC (UK)
A weekly series exploring the moral, ethical and philosophical implications of modern science.
DIRECTOR: DEADLINE (X6) - Real Life Productions – 1994
Channel 4 (UK)
A 6 part behind the scenes look at the sometimes bizarre world of a regional news channel.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: EVERYMAN -“GODS CANDIDATES” – BBC Manchester - 1994
BBC (World wide) various territories
A documentary about Vatican politics.
DIRECTOR: BRAVE NEW WORLD – Open Media
– 1994
Channel 4 (UK)
A science film investigating the implications of genetic research on reproductive technology.
DIRECTOR/CAMERA: 40 MINUTES-“WILL THEY RING” - MOSAIC PICTURES – 1993
BBC (World wide) various territories
A documentary about the problems faced by patients waiting for organ transplants.
DIRECTOR/CAMERA: 40 MINUTES - “A Change of Heart” –Mosaic Pictures - 1993
BBC (World wide) various territories
A look at the issues surrounding the use of pig’s organs for human transplantation.
DIRECTOR/CAMERA: INSIDE TRACK ON PARENTING - LWT – 1993
ITV (UK)
An informative magazine programme about the trials of parenting.
DIRECTOR/CAMERA: FIRST HAND – First Hand Productions - 1990-92
Television New Zealand
A series documenting the lives of extraordinary New Zealanders.
The Screen Director’s Guild of New Zealand – Executive Board Member http://www.sdgnz.co.nz/docs/Board_Biographies_Final.pdf
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, she immigrated to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in the mid-1980s and began working in the New Zealand television industry.
In 1992 she moved to England where she made documentaries for Britain's major broadcasters including BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 as well as PBS in America.
In 1997 Pooley established the independent production company Spacific Films based in New Zealand. Recent documentaries include, The Man Who Has Everything for the American Discovery Network, Kiwi Buddha as seen on National Geographic and Haunting Douglas, described by Variety Magazine as an "Expertly crafted video portrait of modern dancer/choreographer Douglas Wright
Douglas Wright (New Zealand dancer)
Douglas Wright is an openly gay dancer and choreographer in the New Zealand arts establishment from 1980 until his retirement from dance in 2008 on the occasion of the publication of his first book of poetry, Laughing Mirror ....
,"http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117923189.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&query=%22leanne+pooley%22. Haunting Douglas is a feature length documentary that has received accolades at film festivals around the world and earned Pooley the “Best Director” award at the 2005 New Zealand Screen Awards.
Pooley made The Promise about the life of euthanasia advocate, Leslie Martin, winning the “Best Documentary” award at the 2006 New Zealand Screen Awards. Her documentary Try Revolution explores how rugby was used to help end apartheid in South Africa and featured among others Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
In 2010 Pooley made the documentary Topp Twins – Untouchable Girls, a theatrical feature about the lives of lesbian, singing, twin sister comedy duo, the Topp Twins. The film has won 18 International Awards including Audience Awards at the Toronto International Film Festival, the Melbourne International Film Festival, and the Gothenburg International Film Festival among others. It has won jury awards at the Seattle Film Festival, New Doc New York, The Nashville Film Festival and the Florida Film Festival among others. It also won Best Feature at the NZ Film & TV Awards, and reached nearly $2 million at the New Zealand box office making it the most successful New Zealand documentary of all time.
Leanne serves as a judge for The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; EMMY Awards. She has taught documentary at the University of Auckland’s School for Creative and Performing Arts and is on the executive of the New Zealand Director’s Guild. Leanne lives in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
with her husband and two children.
Leanne is currently directing Ice Captain, a documentary about Frank Worsley, captain of Shackleton's Endurance, and is producing the documentary Finding Mercy.
Filmography
DIRECTOR: The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls - Diva Productions - 2009A documentary film about New Zealand entertainers the Topp Twins
Topp Twins
The Topp Twins are the folk singing sister comedy duo of New Zealand entertainers Jools and Lynda Topp.They are known for their country music influenced style, live shows and television performances. They are openly lesbian...
which has won over 20 international awards including the "Cadillac People's Choice Award" at the Toronto International Film Festival. It is the most successful documentary ever made in New Zealand.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: "Being Billy Apple" - Spacific Films - 2007
Television New Zealand
A profile of the artist known as Billy Apple who was at the forefront of both the POP and Conceptual art movements and who alongside the likes of Andy Warhol helped to redefine the meaning of the word artist.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: TRY REVOLUTION – Spacific Films - 2006
Television New Zealand / M-Net (South Africa) / SBS (Australia)
How rugby helped to bring down Apartheid in South Africa featuring Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: THE PROMISE – Spacific Films -2005
Television New Zealand / CBC (Canada) / LINK (USA) / TPS (Taiwan)
Feature length documentary following the incredible journey of Leslie Martin, the euthanasia advocate who was convicted of attempting to murder her mother.
Winner “Best Documentary” and “Best Camera” 2006 NZ Screen Awards.
Winner “Special Mention” Feature Length Documentary DocNZ 2005.
Screened “Input 2006” (Taiwan) selected “Best Of Input” (Brazil).
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: HAUNTING DOUGLAS – Spacific Films - 2003
Television New Zealand / ABC (Australia) / YLE (Finland)
Feature length documentary about the life and work of Douglas Wright, one of the world’s greatest dancer/choreographers. Screened NZ Film Festival, San Francisco Film Festival (finalist Golden Gate Awards), Sydney Film Festival, Dance on Camera Festival-New York, Reel Dance Festival-Sydney, Vancouver Film Festival, Commonwealth Film Festival – Manchester, Cinedans- Amsterdam, IMZ – Brighton, Golden Prague, Reel Affirmations
Reel Affirmations
Reel Affirmations is a non-profit, all-volunteer LGBT film festival in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1991 and held every year in mid-October, Reel Affirmations is the third largest LGBT film festival in the United States and the largest all-volunteer film festival in the world.-Organization:Reel...
- Washington, Festival de Cine de Granada.
Winner “Best Director” and “Best Editor” 2005 NZ Screen Awards.
Winner “Best Documentary” Reel Dance Awards 2004 Sydney
PRODUCER: THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING - NHNZ - 2001
Discovery Health (International)
A ground breaking docudrama about men’s health issues.
PRODUCER: KIWI BUDDHA - Spacific Films - 2000
National Geographic (International) / TV3 (New Zealand / Danish Public Broadcasting /
RTÉ (Ireland) / Israel / Korea / France
The story of Rinpoche, the Southern Hemisphere’s first Buddhist High Lama
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: RELATIVE GUILT - Spacific Films - 1999
TV3 (New Zealand)
Guilt by association, the family of a murderer.
Winner “Best Documentary” 1999 Qantas Media Awards.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: EVERYMAN - “PAPABILE” – BBC Manchester - 1997
BBC / ( over 50 Territories)
A docudrama examining the ancient process of Papal elections.
DIRECTOR: MODERN TIMES-“RELATIVE STRANGERS” – Mosaic Films - 1997
BBC (UK)
Exploring the complicated nature of our relationship with in-laws.
DIRECTOR: EYEWITNESS - “Pond & River “ - Café Productions –1996
BBC / OPB (PBS America) / (over 80 territories)
Part of the Emmy Award winning series combing history, science, and mythology with nature.
DIRECTOR: EVERYMAN “The Silent Export” - BBC Manchester- 1995
BBC (UK)
A docudrama exploring the experiences of Irish Women who travel to England for abortions.
DIRECTOR: BIG SCIENCE (X4) -Wall to Wall Productions – 1994
BBC (UK)
A weekly series exploring the moral, ethical and philosophical implications of modern science.
DIRECTOR: DEADLINE (X6) - Real Life Productions – 1994
Channel 4 (UK)
A 6 part behind the scenes look at the sometimes bizarre world of a regional news channel.
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: EVERYMAN -“GODS CANDIDATES” – BBC Manchester - 1994
BBC (World wide) various territories
A documentary about Vatican politics.
DIRECTOR: BRAVE NEW WORLD – Open Media
Open Media
Open Media is a British television production company, best known for the discussion series After Dark, described by The Daily Mail as "the most intelligent, thought-provoking and interesting programme ever to have been on television"....
– 1994
Channel 4 (UK)
A science film investigating the implications of genetic research on reproductive technology.
DIRECTOR/CAMERA: 40 MINUTES-“WILL THEY RING” - MOSAIC PICTURES – 1993
BBC (World wide) various territories
A documentary about the problems faced by patients waiting for organ transplants.
DIRECTOR/CAMERA: 40 MINUTES - “A Change of Heart” –Mosaic Pictures - 1993
BBC (World wide) various territories
A look at the issues surrounding the use of pig’s organs for human transplantation.
DIRECTOR/CAMERA: INSIDE TRACK ON PARENTING - LWT – 1993
ITV (UK)
An informative magazine programme about the trials of parenting.
DIRECTOR/CAMERA: FIRST HAND – First Hand Productions - 1990-92
Television New Zealand
A series documenting the lives of extraordinary New Zealanders.
Industry associations
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences – Judge “The Emmy Awards”The Screen Director’s Guild of New Zealand – Executive Board Member http://www.sdgnz.co.nz/docs/Board_Biographies_Final.pdf
Further reading
- Upfront: Leanne Pooley, New Zealand ListenerNew Zealand ListenerThe New Zealand Listener is a New Zealand magazine. First published in 1939 and edited by Oliver Duff and the Monte Holcroft it originally had a monopoly on the publication of of upcoming television and radio programmes. In the 1980s it lost its monopoly on the publication of upcoming television...
- Haunting Douglas: A pound of Douglas's flesh, New Zealand Listener
- Dance on Camera: Haunting Douglas, Variety Magazine
External links
- Spacific Films Website
- Biography for Leanne Pooley on NZ On ScreenNZ On ScreenNZ On Screen is an online showcase of archival New Zealand television and film. The website is fully funded by NZ On Air and provides free worldwide access to NZ-produced television, film and music videos. Content is streamed and the webpages provide authoritative background information.The site...
along with an interview from April 2009 on ScreenTalk.