Alex Galvin: Difference between revisions

Alex Galvin (born 1976) is a Wellington, New Zealand film director.

Early life

Galvin, whose father, Badih, was part Lebanese and mother, Noël is a New Zealander, was born in New Zealand and has lived in Wellington from an early age. He received his secondary education at St Patrick's College and attended Victoria University. He graduated Bachelor of Arts in linguistics and music history. He trained as an opera singer and has been a member of the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus since 1998. has also helped. After working as a public servant, Galvin commenced study at the New Zealand Film School in 2003. He is presently employed as a policy manager at Victoria University.

Film career

In the school's 13-year history, only a handful of graduates have shot feature films. "Because it's not easy. There's no such thing as an overnight success. It's been 10 years of incredibly hard work. Every day on a film set is like planning a full-scale war. Imagine doing that for 25 of them."

The key, he says, is minute-by-minute planning. And reverse budgeting - taking the good old Kiwi can-do approach of "here's how much we've got - what can we do with it?".

But there are rewards. At least you know people have seen the movie, unlike his 2007 novel, One Endless Day, Galvin says, his characteristic Cheshire grin splitting his face.

"If they buy the book, you don't know if they've damn well read it. I think more people went to the premiere of this movie than read my novel. I think it sold about 600 copies. I know a lot of my male friends bought the book and probably never read it. At least if you have a premiere you know they've seen it.

And Eternity has already met success overseas, being selected for festivals in Boston and St Tropez, winning the Special Jury Prize at the California Film Awards and being nominated for four awards at the Madrid International Film Festival.

Galvin is also heading to France, where Eternity will screen at Cinema des Antipodes at Cannes in May. London, via Beirut, he told his stunned travel agent. Galvin's father, Badih, was part Lebanese, and Galvin is taking the opportunity to visit the home country for the first time on the way.