From humble beginnings: Annabel Kean's break-through movie

_{Movie producer Annabel Kean (at front) after speaking to New Zealand Broadcasting School journalism and screen students. The former journalism student spoke about her latest movie, The Weed Eaters.}

After DIYing her way through her breakthrough movie, Annabel Kean has finally gone big-time.

From humble beginnings as a journalism student at the New Zealand School of Broadcasting, Kean's journey to being a film producer is nothing short of remarkable. Current broadcasting school students got the privilege of hearing from Kean this week, as she spoke on her journey from the newsroom to the silver screen.

Kean is coming off the back of ‘the big forking tour’ where she got to tour New Zealand with her co-workers, showing off her latest movie The Weed Eaters.
“We got told this film is going to be our noise-maker, not our money-maker… It now means I'm seen as a film maker, I'm seen as an actor, I'm seen as a film producer, which is huge.”

Filming for The Weed Eaters ran over four weeks, with a shoestring budget barely enough to cover rent. Filming in Springfield at her parents' cottage made the load easier, while hiring her dad to play the local farmer in the film.

Kean spoke to the students about her story, starting from a design course she dropped out of, to going to the New Zealand International Film Festival where The Weed Eaters was premiered. The main theme throughout the presentation was getting out there and trying everything.

“I can credit every opportunity I've had to the beautiful friendships and relationships I’ve had through the music scene, theatre scene, comedy scene, and you just gotta go to stuff and talk to people in real life. Look people in the eye, which is scary, but get out there.”

Looking back on her past, Kean has lived by these principles clearly. After graduating from the New Zealand Broadcasting School in 2018, she has since filmed over 60 music videos, won awards at 48Hours film festival, co-founded a film business, and even balanced some hospitality jobs throughout.

Kean has grown up surrounded by creatives, with her parents being a part of the New Zealand band The Bats. Kaye Woodward and Paul Kean have been playing for the band since the early 1980’s. Annabel said her parents were always very supportive of what she was doing, even when she didn’t know what she was doing herself.

“They’ve always said the classic thing of ‘you can do what you want’, because you can truly do whatever you want, which was kind of overwhelming and felt unhelpful as a teenager.”

Kean believes the morals her parents valued have helped significantly in her career.

“They really instilled in me the importance of keeping your word and being reliable and kind. I didn’t get in much trouble as a kid, but I remember getting in big trouble when I flaked on things. Do what you said you were gonna do, and communicate.”

These ideas have obviously paid off, with Kean's latest production already in the works. She says it will be bigger and better, but refuses to let the cat out of the bag just yet.

From aspiring for an RNZ job and being the next Kim Hill, to being nominated at South and South West Sydney for best feature, Kean could never have predicted her career path.

“It’s not gonna be a linear path, but you’re on the right path, and you’re gonna do 20 different jobs over your career, but that will be fun.”

“Just go and make stuff that sucks. Go make crap, because that's how you learn.”

If you'd like to make stuff, meet people and figure it out as you go, New Zealand Broadcasting School is where to start. Explore your options, build real-world skills and start creating your own path, just like Annabel. Find out more and apply at ara.ac.nz/nzbs.