Philip Sharp - from fantasy props-maker to wildlife photographer

From Standing Room Only, 1:33 pm on 13 June 2021

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Philip Sharpe

Filming his documentary ’The Condor The Coyote and The Canyon’ (discovery Channel). Grand Canyon Arizona 1997

Griffon Vulture Nairobi National Park Kenya 1990

Flamingo Lake Nakuru (Filming for ‘The Sexual Imperative’ WNET New York) Kenya 1989

Promo picture for ‘Living as Martians’. Oxford UK 2003

Parrot Snake La Selva Costa Rica 1983

Wolf Kaminuki (filming for BBC 'Velvet Claw’) Belarus 1993

Nile Crocodile Zambezi River Zambia 1998

Black Lechwe Bangweulu Wetlands Filming for BBC ‘Congo’. Zambia. 1998.

Marni the Cheetah (filming for ‘Velvet Claw’ BBC) Selous Zimbabwe 1992

Building Full-size Panzer VI tank. Weta Workshop Wellington. 2009

Glass statue of Kate Sheppard (now in NZ National Library). Wellington. 2014

On set of 'Tomb Raider II The Cradle of Life’. Pinewood Studios London. 2003

Toi Whakaari students Dalek project 2019

From set decoration, making props, models and costumes and art direction to cinematography and special effects, Philip Sharpe's film CV makes for impressive reading.

He's worked on major motion pictures like Batman Begins, several James Bonds, District 9, The Hobbit and Avatar.

Then there's his previous life as a wildlife cameraman that took him around the world.

The expat Brit has called New Zealand home for more than 10 years. In between working on film projects and passing on his prop-making skills to the next generation, he's got a plan to set up a wildlife reserve on Vanuatu.

Lynn Freeman asked Philip Sharpe why he moved into making props for blockbuster movies, away from the wildlife cinematography he loved so much.