Shirley Horrocks

Shirley Yeta Horrocks (formerly Heim, née Spitz; born in Auckland) is a New Zealand documentary filmmaker, specialising in social and art topics. She was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to documentary filmmaking, in the 2019 New Year Honours. The citation notes that "Horrocks is a leader in documentary films on the arts in New Zealand and has directed and produced documentaries for 35 years".

Education and early career

Horrocks' first career was as a high school English teacher in the 1970s, before studying drama at the University of Auckland. As part of her diploma she made a documentary on Theatre Corporate. After completing the diploma Horrocks travelled to New York City, where she explored filmmaking. She returned to New Zealand and became a documentary filmmaker.

She holds a Diploma in Drama, holds a BA, MA(Hons), and MBA from the University of Auckland.

Documentary career

In 1984, Horrocks started a production company, Point of View Productions, which she directs with husband Roger Horrocks. The company specialises in documentaries, drama, education and training programmes.

Horrocks is especially known for her documentaries about New Zealand artists and writers, including artist Len Lye, writer Albert Wendt, poet Allen Curnow, artist John Reynolds, playwright Roger Hall, artist Tom Kreisler, photographer Marti Friedlander and photographer Peter Peryer.

She has also become noted for science documentaries such as Dancing with Atoms, her profile of Sir Paul Callaghan, and Venus: A Quest, about the links between New Zealand and the transit of Venus (which was observed by Captain Cook in 1769). Since 2020 she has been directing the ‘Science &’ series, documentaries focusing on New Zealand’s response to Covid-19, whole genome testing, and emergencies such as the volcanic eruption Whaakari (or White Island). Glenda Lewis has coordinated research. The series is an independent production but has been made with the cooperation of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Dame Juliet Gerrard.

Filmography

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''See What I Mean''
(Writer, director, producer). On people with a hearing impairment, and those who identify as deaf.
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''Act of Murder''
(Director, writer, producer). On Miranda Harcourt and her tour of her work ''Verbatim'' to prison audiences.
*199
''Putting our Town on the Map''
(Producer, writer, director). Television documentary on expressions of small-town identity.
*199
''Flip and Two Twisters''
(Writer, producer, director). On artist Len Lye.
*199
''Kiwiana''
(Director, producer). On New Zealand fashion, culture, collectibles and personalities.
*199
''Sweet As''
(Producer, director). On music festival 'Sweet Waters'.
*200
''The Real New Zealand''
(Director, writer). On home-stays in New Zealand.
*200
''Early Days Yet''
(Director, producer, writer, researcher). On poet Allen Curnow.
*200
''Marti: The Passionate Eye''
(Director). On photographer Marti Friedlander.
*200
''The New Oceania''
(Director). On writer Albert Wendt.
*200
''Who Laughs Last''
(Director, writer, researcher, producer). On playwright Roger Hall.
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''The Comics Show''
(Producer, director). On cartoonists and comics in New Zealand.
*200
''Questions for Mr Reynolds''
(Director, producer). On artist John Reynolds.
*200
''Dance of the Instant''
(Director). On New Zealand modern dance group, New Dance Group.
*201
''Venus: A Quest''
(Writer, director, producer). A personal take on the Transit of Venus.
*201
''Tom Who? The Enigma of Tom Kreisler''
(Director, producer). On artist Tom Kreisler.
*201
''Free Theatre: The 37 Year Experiment''
(Director, producer). On Christchurch based theatre group Free Theatre.
*201
''Paul Callaghan: Dancing with Atoms''
(Director, producer). On scientist and science communicator Sir Paul Callaghan.
*201
Peryer: The Art of Seeing''
(Director, producer). On the life and career of photographer Peter Peryer. Peter Peryer: The Art of Seeing is the 12th feature-length documentary directed by Shirley Horrocks to be selected for the NZ International Film Festival.
*2020-21 Science & (Director, producer). A series of documentaries highlighting the work of New Zealand scientists.

Personal life

Horrocks is married to Roger Horrocks, who founded the Department of Film, Television and Media Studies at Auckland University. Her stepson Dylan Horrocks is a well-known New Zealand cartoonist.

References

External links

*
*Point of View Productions website
''www.pointofview.co.nz''
*Science & series

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Horrocks, Shirley
Year of birth missing (living people)
University of Auckland alumni
New Zealand documentary filmmakers
Living people
Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit