It begins with a great performance for New Zealand filmmaker, Louis Sutherland, who studied performance at the famed New Zealand Drama School, Toi Whakaari. This background in film and theatre ensures he films raw, honest moments drawn from real life that Photoplay has added to its rich range of directing styles. Photoplay has signed Sutherland for representation in Australia.
Growing up as a bicultural kid has also given the Samoan-Scottish Kiwi a rich perspective and an innate ability to capture the warmth of human connection. Sutherland commented, “There is something about eating lamb chops for dinner one night, then having chop suey the next that grows you into a worldly unit. Living in this intersection of cultures has given me an ear and an appreciation for all things different. I am flexible and empathetic when approaching human stories and love creating characters that feel like the lady next door yet are gorgeously odd and memorable.”
Sutherland is also a father of six, so he has a special affinity for directing children, revealing their inherent personality and spark on film. His ability to portray the relatability of family dynamics is evident in recent campaigns such as Push Play for Sport NZ and The Table for Oceania.
Sutherland’s work includes global brands as diverse as including McDonalds, IKEA and HSBC.
His work, Mike and Mandy, for donation system, One Percent Collective shows both his ability to find the heart of a story and to create offbeat fun.
Beside Sutherland’s commercial work is a collection of awarded feature films, TV series and documentaries he has written and directed. His first feature, Shopping, premiered at Sundance and won the Grand Prix at the Berlin International Film Festival. Currently in the pipeline is feature The Last Dodo and TV series, The Wrecking Ball.
Sutherland commented, “I love their [Photoplay] curiosity and appreciation for craft. They have a great feel as a team and conversations come easily. I also have a renewed energy to collaborate more with Aussie agencies; they have a slightly different tone to their global counterparts, which I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed.”
Photoplay managing director & executive producer, Oliver Lawrance, added, “A lot of directors talk about collaboration, but Louis really lives it. He thrives when working with other creatives and is one of those rare open-hearted listeners. Louis’s casting and performance process often uncovers raw talent, and his directing draws out such emotive performances that really get under the skin of a story and the audience.”
View Louis Sutherland’s reel here.
