Robin scholes biography

The incredible life story of Robin Scholes, the producer of Once Were Warriors

Robin Scholes is one of our most prolific visual storytellers.

She is the woman behind one of the most successful New Zealand movies of all time, and the valiant survivor of a particularly vicious home invasion.

Yet she remains largely an enigma, preferring to fly under the radar, not seeking publicity for herself.

She is strong, independent and determined, attributes that are due in no small measure to her early beginnings.

“My dad wanted a son, that’s why he named me Robin with an ‘i’. He gave me boys’ toys. I had a big Meccano set and a Hornby train set that I would spread out all over the living room. It was an extraordinary start. There was no gender agenda in my house.”

The only child of Charles Terry Fletcher and Dorothy Kidd, Robin grew up in a state house in the Auckland suburb of Orakei.

“It had a huge section, lots of trees; I spent hours outside exploring and digging out roads with my trucks. I lived in a world of my imagination. One day Mu

Scholes, Robin, active 1973-2020

Date:1993-1994

By:Brown, Kerry, active 1980s-2010s; Communicado (Firm); Scholes, Robin, active 1973-2020; Shelton, Ann, 1967-; Tamahori, Lee, 1950-

Reference:PA-Group-00887

Description:Negatives and transparencies (mostly 35mm colour with some b&w) relating to the production of the 1994 New Zealand film 'Once were warriors' taken by Kerry Brown with assistance from Ann Shelton, circa 1993-1994. Individual frames do not include information about which of the two photographers took them. Chiefly contains images of the actors on set, with all main roles, as well as smaller parts and extras, covered, and production stills featuring numerous shots of key scenes in the film. Also contains photographs of crew including the director, producer, and cinematographer, in both formal posed portraits and while at work on set. Also includes a smaller number of images from pre-production, including location scouting and actor Temuera Morrison reading his script and working out. Annotations and various other types of markers show images selected for

Robin Scholes

Robin Scholes is one of New Zealand’s most experienced producers. Her credits range from feature films (Once Were Warriors, Mr Pip) to TV shows (Heroes, Black Hands) and documentaries (award-winners Hidden Places - Ōkārito and Colin McCahon: I Am). Scholes was a partner and managing director of high-profile production company Communicado. In 1997 she was made an OBE for services to film and television.

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If you’re starting out and you're wanting to learn stuff, the best thing to do is to work within a company . . . personally I’m a great believer in combining your energy and your talents with other people. Robin Scholes, in her ScreenTalk Legends interview for NZ On Screen

Interview

ScreenTalk Legends - Robin Scholes

Interview, 2024

Interview

Robin Scholes: Producing the goods...

Interview, 2010

The Convert

2023, Producer - Film

The Bad Seed

2019, Producer - Television

The Bad Seed - First Episode

2019, Producer - Television

My Brother Mitchell

2018, Executive Producer -

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