Arthur Everard
Encyclopedia
Arthur Everard graduated with a BA in psychology from Victoria University of Wellington
and worked for 19 years as a writer, editor and director at the National Film Unit
. He directed films such as Margan’s Musical Move (1971) in which he captured the drama of classical music by filming tanks firing shells, and with John King, Sam Pillsbury
and Paul Maunder
, Games ‘74, a documentary about the 1974 Commonwealth Games held in Christchurch
.
His film Score, which set slow-motion footage of French rugby players to the music of Tchaikovsky
, won a jury prize at the Montreal Film Festival.
Everard was appointed New Zealand
’s seventh Chief Censor
in February 1984. In an interview with Gordon Campbell published in the New Zealand Listener
later that year, Everard explained that he did not think that the Chief Censor should be a defender of public morals or a defender of civil liberties. Instead he should be a referee “between a part of the public that wants to inflict its tastes and norms onto another section of the public. Other sections of the public want to inflict their desires and wishes onto the movie industry. Sections of the movie industry are wanting to exploit various sections of the public to get to get the money out of their back pockets. . . . And you’re sitting in the middle, trying to keep the peace.”
After passing the film I Spit on Your Grave
in 1984, Everard’s tenure as Chief Censor was marked by attacks from Women Against Pornography
and the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards
( the conservative Christian lobby group headed by Patricia Bartlett
), both of which campaigned for his removal. Women Against Pornography in particular called for “his resignation and the establishment of an independent tribunal of women to replace him.” Eventually, Parliament passed the Films Amendment Act in 1990 to impose a limit of six consecutive years on the length of time a person could remain Chief Censor, effectively forcing Everard from office in 1991. This provision remained in legislation describing the tenure and functions of the Chief Censor until it was repealed by the Films, Videos and Publications Amendment Act on 24 March 1999 while Bill Hastings
was Acting Chief Censor.
Everard resumed making films after stepping down as Chief Censor, notably Gottfried Lindauer
in New Zealand, about the nineteenth century painter of Maori portraits, and with Bronwen Stewart and Brian Lennane, To live in the city 24 years on, a 1991 documentary that traced the progress of four adults who were featured in a 1967 film about a Maori Affairs Department pre-employment scheme for young rural Maori. He also wrote record reviews for newspapers and the New Zealand Listener
and is currently the science and technology correspondent for a wine and spirits industry publication.
Arthur Everard was succeeded as Chief Censor by Jane Wrightson
.
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
and worked for 19 years as a writer, editor and director at the National Film Unit
National Film Unit
The National Film Unit was a state-owned film production organisation in New Zealand. Founded in 1941, it mostly produced newsreels, documentaries and promotional films about New Zealand, and for many years was the only significant film production facility in the country...
. He directed films such as Margan’s Musical Move (1971) in which he captured the drama of classical music by filming tanks firing shells, and with John King, Sam Pillsbury
Sam Pillsbury
Sam Pillsbury is an American film director and producer.Connecticut-raised Sam Pillsbury emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 14. Aged 23, he began working at the Government-owned National Film Unit, joining a group of emerging filmmakers who were investigating new subjects and styles.Pillsbury...
and Paul Maunder
Paul Maunder
Paul Maunder is a film director, playwright and "cultural activist" from New Zealand. He is best known for his 1979 film of the Albert Wendt novel Sons For the Return Home, and his 1983 play Hemi, about the life of James K. Baxter....
, Games ‘74, a documentary about the 1974 Commonwealth Games held in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
.
His film Score, which set slow-motion footage of French rugby players to the music of Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
, won a jury prize at the Montreal Film Festival.
Everard was appointed New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
’s seventh Chief Censor
Office of Film and Literature Classification (New Zealand)
The Office of Film and Literature Classification is the government agency in New Zealand that is responsible for classification of all films, videos, publications, and some video games in New Zealand...
in February 1984. In an interview with Gordon Campbell published in the New Zealand Listener
New Zealand Listener
The New Zealand Listener is a New Zealand magazine. First published in 1939 and edited by Oliver Duff and the Monte Holcroft it originally had a monopoly on the publication of of upcoming television and radio programmes. In the 1980s it lost its monopoly on the publication of upcoming television...
later that year, Everard explained that he did not think that the Chief Censor should be a defender of public morals or a defender of civil liberties. Instead he should be a referee “between a part of the public that wants to inflict its tastes and norms onto another section of the public. Other sections of the public want to inflict their desires and wishes onto the movie industry. Sections of the movie industry are wanting to exploit various sections of the public to get to get the money out of their back pockets. . . . And you’re sitting in the middle, trying to keep the peace.”
After passing the film I Spit on Your Grave
I Spit On Your Grave
Day of the Woman is a 1978 controversial rape revenge film. The film received a limited release, with a wider release in 1980. Prominent film critics condemned the film for its graphic violence and lengthy depictions of gang rape, and the motion picture remains controversial to this day...
in 1984, Everard’s tenure as Chief Censor was marked by attacks from Women Against Pornography
Women Against Pornography
Women Against Pornography was a radical feminist activist group based out of New York City and an influential force in the anti-pornography movement of the late 1970s and the 1980s....
and the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards
Society for the Promotion of Community Standards
The Society for the Promotion of Community Standards is a conservative Christian-dominated organisation in New Zealand. The Society's objectives include the encouragement of "self-respect and the dignity of the human person, made in the image of God", the "recognition of the sanctity of human life...
( the conservative Christian lobby group headed by Patricia Bartlett
Patricia Bartlett
Patricia Bartlett was a New Zealand conservative Catholic activist of the 1970s and 1980s.She was born in Napier to Bertrand and Ivy Bartlett . She attended Sacred Heart school in Napier and failed her University Entrance examination. In 1947, she became a primary school teacher...
), both of which campaigned for his removal. Women Against Pornography in particular called for “his resignation and the establishment of an independent tribunal of women to replace him.” Eventually, Parliament passed the Films Amendment Act in 1990 to impose a limit of six consecutive years on the length of time a person could remain Chief Censor, effectively forcing Everard from office in 1991. This provision remained in legislation describing the tenure and functions of the Chief Censor until it was repealed by the Films, Videos and Publications Amendment Act on 24 March 1999 while Bill Hastings
Bill Hastings
His Honour Judge William Kenneth Hastings was New Zealand's tenth Chief Censor, from October 1999 to July 2010. He is currently a District Court Judge and Chair of the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.-Biography:...
was Acting Chief Censor.
Everard resumed making films after stepping down as Chief Censor, notably Gottfried Lindauer
Gottfried Lindauer
Gottfried Lindauer, also known as Gottfried or Bohumir Lindaur was a New Zealand artist of Czech descent famous for his portraits. Many prominent Māori chiefs commissioned his work, which accurately records their facial tattoos, clothing, ornaments and weapons. The other artist known for these...
in New Zealand, about the nineteenth century painter of Maori portraits, and with Bronwen Stewart and Brian Lennane, To live in the city 24 years on, a 1991 documentary that traced the progress of four adults who were featured in a 1967 film about a Maori Affairs Department pre-employment scheme for young rural Maori. He also wrote record reviews for newspapers and the New Zealand Listener
New Zealand Listener
The New Zealand Listener is a New Zealand magazine. First published in 1939 and edited by Oliver Duff and the Monte Holcroft it originally had a monopoly on the publication of of upcoming television and radio programmes. In the 1980s it lost its monopoly on the publication of upcoming television...
and is currently the science and technology correspondent for a wine and spirits industry publication.
Arthur Everard was succeeded as Chief Censor by Jane Wrightson
Jane Wrightson
Jane Wrightson was born in Hastings, New Zealand in 1958. She became New Zealand’s eighth Chief Censor, and first woman Chief Censor, in 1991, a position she held until the Films, Videos, and Publications Act was passed in 1993...
.