Before starting Reservoir Films Matthew worked for three years as a Development Executive with the New Zealand Film Commission. At the NZFC his primary responsibility was feature film development funding. The films funded for production by the NZFC and/or the NZ Film Fund whilst Matthew was at the Commission included: Perfect Creature, River Queen, The World’s Fastest Indian, Black Sheep, Number 2, Sione’s Wedding, Eagle v Shark, and Out of the Blue.
At various times Matthew was also responsible for the administration of the NZFC’s Industry Support funding for the various New Zealand film makers’ representative organizations (SPADA, SDG, NZWG, WIFT and Nga Aho Whakaari) and Training programs including the set up of the first NZFC 1st Writers Initiative. He represented the NZFC at SPAA Mart and the American Film Market and was also a driving force behind the setting up of the NZFC/Headstrong Digital Feature Film scheme.
Matthew’s first entry into the industry was as a director for TV3’s Ice TV in 1995. From 1996-1999 he worked as a producer at James Wallace Productions where his work included producing short films The Day Morris Left and Accidents, and the documentary Pacific Ikon. The Day Morris Left was a Screen Innovation and Production Fund short, written and directed by Dan Salmon, featuring Rawiri Paratene. Accidents was an NZFC funded film, adapted by John Cranna from his own short story, directed by Paul Swadel. Accidents featured Marton Csokas, Frank Whitten, Rawiri Paratene, and Marek Sumich and was selected for the Melbourne and Venice Film Festivals. Pacific Ikon, a documentary produced for TVNZ’s Work of Art series, was a portrait of the painter Patrick Hanly directed by Stewart Main.
In 2000 Matthew traveled overseas, returning to work as the Locations Manager on the feature film Snakeskin. In 2001 he moved to the UK where he worked for two years in production on TV commercials and feature films. Matthew worked in the production departments on 28 Days Later (directed by Danny Boyle) Dot the I (an independent feature funded by Summit featuring Gael Garcia Bernal) and Calendar Girls (starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters). In 2003 he returned to New Zealand and started work at the NZFC.
