James Haskard, Director / DOP
https://www.thebeards.nz/portfolio/james-haskard

James Haskard Showreel - The Beards

"For 55 years I was a girl in a boy-shaped box."

They’re the words of celebrated Central Otago children’s author Kyle Mewburn in Faking It: My Life in Transition, her true-life story and her first book for adults.

To the outside world, Kyle was a brother, a son, a mate, a husband, and an award-winning writer. On the inside, she was always female.

It was a secret she kept for 50 years before coming out as a trans woman in the small town of Millers Flat in Central Otago, where she lives in the house she built with a grass roof.

Produced for Crux by Kim Bowden, shot and edited by James Haskard, using funding from NZ On Air.

Southern Lens - Kyle Mewburn

We all know that our local volunteer firefighters are genuine heroes but what makes them do what they do - and how tough is it to know the victims of fires and accidents as your neighbours, friends and even family?

We spent time with Wanaka's volunteer firefighters to discover the reality of responding to that siren whenever they are needed - not just for disasters but even for the birth of new babies.



Producer / Reporter - Georgia Merton
Director / DOP - James Haskard
Produced in partnership with Crux using funding from NZ On Air.

Southern Lens - Wanakas Firefighters

We're all about blokes having a chat and embracing their spirituality! (and flexibility)
It seems that the previously deep-seated male attitudes towards vulnerability and emotion are changing - for the better. Produced by Kim Bowden, shot, directed & edited by James Haskard in partnership with Crux & NZ On Air.

Southern Lens - Southern Men Yoga

Crux journalist Isobel Ewing & The Beards Director James Haskard talked to the Rhodes siblings about carrying on their father's legacy of collecting relics of a bygone era and the joy they get from preserving and sharing memories for future generations.

Producer / Reporter - Isobel Ewing
Director / DOP - James Haskard
Made in partnership with Crux using funding from NZ On Air.

Southern Lens - Siblings in Timewarp

Of all of New Zealand's vast list of iconic events, the Brass Monkey Rally would have a strong claim to be the most authentic and the most unusual.
Crux producer Kim Bowden & The Beards Director James Haskard joined the last ever Brass Monkey rally, held near the tiny Central Otago town of Oturehua, to find out why they did it - and why they won't be doing it any more.
Produced in partnership with Crux with support from NZ On Air.

Southern Lens - The Last Brass Monkey

Everyone is aware that many capable students fall through the cracks of our NZ education system. But a new scheme in Central Otago has boldly addressed that huge problem - and now the initiative is starting to spread.

Producer / Reporter - Kim Bowden
Director / DOP - James Haskard
Produced in partnership with Crux using funding from NZ On Air.

Southern Lens - Fighting Cookie Cutter Education

When the 100 women who belong to Queenstown philanthropy group Impact 100 voted on the recipient of $100,000 in late 2020 their choice, from a strong short list, was Living Options.

The donation is a high point in a 20-year journey that has seen Living Options founder Alison Wildey fight the “invisibility” that society can inflict on people with disabilities.

Alison runs a successful, well established centre in Alexandra but now her daughter Olivia will use the $100,000 Impact 100 grant to set up a new operation in Arrowtown designed to “see the person first – not the disability.”



Producer / Reporter - Peter Newport
Director / DOP - James Haskard
Produced in partnership with Crux using funding from NZ On Air.