Forgotten Silver (1995)
| Title | Forgotten Silver |
| Year | 1995 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Genre | Documentary (Movies) |
| Run Time | 53 min |
| Director |
Forgotten Silver (1995) is a New Zealand mockumentary film that follows the supposed story of pioneering filmmaker, Colin McKenzie. Written and directed by Peter Jackson and Costa Botes, both also make appearances as the filmmakers within the film. According to presenter Peter Jackson, he stumbled upon McKenzie’s lost films in an old shed and claims him as the father of modern cinema. In this ‘discovered’ footage, McKenzie is credited with accidentally inventing the tracking shot, unknowingly creating the close-up, and pre-dating the historical introduction of sound and color in film. The documentary also includes snippets of Salome, an epic Biblical production supposedly filmed by McKenzie in a grand set deep within New Zealand’s forests. Additionally, a ‘computer enhancement’ of one of McKenzie’s works attempts to prove that fellow New Zealander Richard Pearse was actually the first person to invent a powered aircraft, beating the Wright Brothers by several months.
In addition to a (staged) premiere screening of a recovered McKenzie film presented by film promoter Lindsay Shelton, the movie also includes commentary from prominent figures in the industry. This includes actor/director Sam Neill and director and film archivist John O’Shea, as well as praise from renowned film historian Leonard Maltin and Harvey Weinstein of Miramax Films. However, it must be noted that McKenzie is a fictional character and all featured films in Forgotten Silver were created by Peter Jackson, who carefully emulated the style of early cinema. As such, the interviewees are all portraying characters rather than being themselves. Notably, Thomas Robins, who plays Colin McKenzie, is more recognizable to audiences as Déagol in Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Peter JacksonSelf  Costa BotesSelf - Film Maker  Harvey WeinsteinSelf - Miramax Films  Sam NeillSelf - Actor & Director |
Forgotten Silver (1995) is a New Zealand mockumentary film that follows the supposed story of pioneering filmmaker, Colin McKenzie. Written and directed by Peter Jackson and Costa Botes, both also make appearances as the filmmakers within the film. According to presenter Peter Jackson, he stumbled upon McKenzie’s lost films in an old shed and claims him as the father of modern cinema. In this ‘discovered’ footage, McKenzie is credited with accidentally inventing the tracking shot, unknowingly creating the close-up, and pre-dating the historical introduction of sound and color in film. The documentary also includes snippets of Salome, an epic Biblical production supposedly filmed by McKenzie in a grand set deep within New Zealand’s forests. Additionally, a ‘computer enhancement’ of one of McKenzie’s works attempts to prove that fellow New Zealander Richard Pearse was actually the first person to invent a powered aircraft, beating the Wright Brothers by several months.
In addition to a (staged) premiere screening of a recovered McKenzie film presented by film promoter Lindsay Shelton, the movie also includes commentary from prominent figures in the industry. This includes actor/director Sam Neill and director and film archivist John O’Shea, as well as praise from renowned film historian Leonard Maltin and Harvey Weinstein of Miramax Films. However, it must be noted that McKenzie is a fictional character and all featured films in Forgotten Silver were created by Peter Jackson, who carefully emulated the style of early cinema. As such, the interviewees are all portraying characters rather than being themselves. Notably, Thomas Robins, who plays Colin McKenzie, is more recognizable to audiences as Déagol in Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
