Roger Hawkins (film director)
Roger Hawkins | |
|---|---|
| Born | Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Nationality | Zimbabwean |
| Alma mater | University of Natal |
| Occupations |
|
| Notable work | The Legend of the Sky Kingdom |
Roger Hawkins is a Zimbabwean director and film producer best known for films such as The Legend of the Sky Kingdom (2003), The Silent Fall (2006) and The Lion of Judah (2009).[1]
Early life and career
[edit]Born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, Hawkins graduated with a BSc degree in agriculture from the University of Natal.[2] After earning his BSc, he became a school teacher, advertising copywriter, fumigator, soil surveyor, research assistant, lounge pianist and landscape gardener.[2] Hawkins resigned from his job as a math teacher in 1993 to pursue a career in the performing arts. He staged a musical he wrote and directed called The Singer.[1] Following the success of The Singer, Hawkins produced the TV series Adventure Unlimited and the television film Choose Freedom.[2] He studied directing at the independent film school Raindance Film Festival.[2] Hawkins directed the 60-minute TV film Dr Juju, which was shot in six days.[2]
In 2003, Hawkins released his full-length animated feature film The Legend of the Sky Kingdom.[3] It was made in Harare and pioneered a technique called "junkmation".[3] The film was chosen among the top five of 1,300 entries at the World Animation Festival in France.[3] Hawkins worked with fifteen people and spent four years making the film.[3] The characters and sets in the film were made from discarded items such as car parts, tools, kitchen utensils, pipes and pieces of wood.[3]
Selected filmography
[edit]- The Legend of the Sky Kingdom (2003)
- The Silent Fall (2006)
- Chose Freedom
- Dr Juju
- The Lion of Judah (2009)
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Roger Hawkins – Biography". African Films Festival. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Roger Hawkins – Biography". Moz'Art. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Steve Vickers (22 September 2003). "Junk earns Zimbabwe film kudos". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.