Louis Sutherland Explained

Louis Sutherland
Occupation:Actor
Director
Screenwriter
Years Active:2002–present

Louis Sutherland is a New Zealand film, television and advertising director and actor. He is of Samoan and Scottish descent, and based in Wellington.[1] [2]

Sutherland studied at Toi Whakaari (The New Zealand Drama School, Wellington)[3] where he worked with childhood friend Mark Albiston, creating a graduation short film.[4] After creating the award winning short films Run (2007) and The Six Dollar Fifty Man (2009), the duo co-directed their award-winning debut feature Shopping (2013).

Career

In 2000, Sutherland won a place at the Toi Whakaari Drama School where he first developed his dramatic talents, graduating in 2003 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting).[5] He went on to work as a character actor for the stage and screen. Sutherland worked as an actor on a number of feature film projects King Kong and Black Sheep as well as TV projects including the acclaimed TV drama The Insider’s Guide to Love.

In 2007, Sutherland wrote and starred in the Cannes Film Festival award-winning piece Run. Created in collaboration with Mark Albiston, the film secured a Special Mention in the Short Film category at the Cannes.[6]

Sutherland later partnered with Mark Albiston under the directing banner Mark & Louis to create their follow up short film The Six Dollar Fifty Man which earned Special Distinction at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival.[7] The film went on to win major awards at both Sundance and the International Film Festival in Berlin. To date, it is the most successful short film for the New Zealand Film Commission.

At the 2013 Sundance Film Festival Sutherland premiered Shopping, his feature film co-directorial debut with Mark Albiston. Based largely on experiences from his own childhood,[8] the film received rave reviews and earned several awards including a Grand Prix at the Berlin International Film Festival and seven New Zealand Film Awards including Best Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Director.[9]

Sutherland has increasingly focused on his directorial career, passing up acting opportunities to work as a film and commercials director.[10]

Filmmaking style

Sutherland's films have been auto-biographical to an extent, based on his experiences of growing up on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand.[8] This approach to writing and directing has given the films a "heartfelt" and honest tone, helping create "an emotional immediacy in the performances".[11] Sutherland has displayed a deft hand at working with children in his short and feature films, and this trait is also apparent in his commercial work for the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, Otto and others.

Sutherland has detailed his process as a director, casting extensively and immersing cast in entire worlds, something he's experienced personally as an actor.[12]

Acting filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2002 The Strip Waiter "The 'Joy' of Sex" (S01E09)
2005-2006 Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby Hone Hakanui Main role
2006 The Insider's Guide To Love Marty Main role

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2005 King Kong Venture Crew #14
2006 Black Sheep Winston Comedy / Horror
2010 Choice Night Coach Drama - Short film

Awards

YEAR AWARD ORGANISATION
2007 Cannes Film Festival Honourable Mention Winner - Short Film Run
2009 Cannes Film Festival Special Distinction Winner - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2009 Best International Short Film[13] - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2009 Special Narrative Short Winner[14] - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2009 Winner - Silver Spike - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2009 Special Narrative Short Winner - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2010 Jury Prize in International Film Making - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2010 Special Mention - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2010 Best Narrative Short Film - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2010 Best Drama, BAFTA/LA Award for Excellence Film - Six Dollar Fifty Man
2013 Winner - Best Film / Best Director / Best Screenplay / Best Supporting Actor / Best Supporting Actress / Best Cinematography - Shopping
2013 Winner - Grand Prix, Generation International Jury[15] - Shopping

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Let's go Shopping . Lydia Jenkin . nzherald.co.nz. 20 April 2017.
  2. Web site: Louis Sutherland . nzonscreen.com. 20 April 2017.
  3. Web site: Toi Whakaari - Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, performing arts courses in acting, design, costume construction, entertainment technology, arts management and directing. Toiwhakaari.ac.nz. 11 October 2014.
  4. Web site: The Arts Foundation : Louis Sutherland - Biography. Thearts.co.nz. 11 October 2014.
  5. Web site: Graduate. 2021-08-09. www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz.
  6. Web site: Palme d. Festival de Cannes. 11 October 2014.
  7. Web site: THE SIX DOLLAR FIFTY MAN. Festival de Cannes. en. 2020-03-03.
  8. Web site: Meet the 2013 Sundance Filmmakers #57: Louis Sutherland & - Indiewire. 28 January 2013. Indiewire. 11 October 2014.
  9. Web site: 'Shopping' Dominates the New Zealand Film Awards With Seven Wins. Pip Bulbeck. 10 December 2013. The Hollywood Reporter. 11 October 2014.
  10. Web site: Louis Sutherland. Nzonscreen.com. 11 October 2014.
  11. Web site: Film Review: ‘Shopping’. 5 March 2013. Variety. 11 October 2014.
  12. Web site: Creative Collaboration with Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland – Script to Screen. Script-toscreen.co.nz. 11 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20101121023030/http://www.script-to-screen.co.nz/2010/03/creative-collaboration-with-mark-albiston-and-loius-sutherland/. 21 November 2010. dead.
  13. Web site: Louis Sutherland. IMDb. 11 October 2014.
  14. Web site: The Six Dollar Fifty Man : Press Kit. Nzfilm.co.nz. 11 October 2014.
  15. Web site: - Berlinale - Archive - Annual Archives - 2013 - Prize Winners. Berlinale.de. 11 October 2014.