Andrew Blackman, New Zealand Based Writer and Director
In this profile series, Revry is highlighting authentic contributors to the LGBTQ media and entertainment community. We ask questions to find out who they are and where they are going in the future. The questions remain the same but the answers tell their unique story. It’s time to explore and celebrate true representation beyond the limits of Hollywood.
Andrew is a writer and director from Auckland, New Zealand. His films and music videos have featured in international film festivals, galleries and cultural platforms, including Vimeo Staff Picks, Directors Notes and NOWNESS, some amassing hundreds of thousands of views online. His 2014 short film If In Doubt Paddle Out premiered at Nordic Panorama. His 2016 short film Eight Years Later premiered at Show Me Shorts. His 2019 feature documentary Jamie Bowen, Not So Special was picked up by the global streaming platforms Apple TV, iTunes, Amazon Prime and Google Play. In 2020 his documentary short INFERNO was selected for Oscar-qualifying Outfest and BAFTA-qualifying Frameline festivals, it was shortlisted for two Cannes-Lions Young Director Awards (YDA's) and won Best Documentary at FilmQuest in Utah. Andrew is represented by Thick as Thieves for directing commercials in New Zealand. He has an M.A. in Screen Production, Directing Drama with first-class honours from the University of Auckland. Andrew lived, studied and worked in Copenhagen, Denmark for several years.
What are you best known for?
Short films and music videos, often evocative with a dark and eerie vibe.
What is the first thing you directed?
The first thing I directed was a pair of promo spots for the Copenhagen leg of the International Bicycle Film Festival. One is called Long John Living Room, the other Exercycle Projector. They were an accidental and somewhat controversial viral success. Upon their release on the then blogger-sphere, their popularity drew attention away from much bigger festival stops in US cities. It got us in trouble with the BFF head office in NYC. What can you do? I heard they got big in Japan. It was a long time ago.
What are you working on that no one knows about yet?
I have a feature film project in development called Run to Paradise. It’s a crime thriller set in 2001 against Hanoi's red-light underworld. It’s about a gay Australian man who has built a life for himself in Hanoi by entrapping, photographing and blackmailing wealthy western sex tourists. Things spin out of control when he sets up an innocent English tourist and unwittingly photographs his murder.