Lost in Wonderland

Zoe McIntoshs’ inspired documentary is a celebration of the extraordinary life of Rob Moodie, a man who scandalizes convention, champions self-belief and epitomises self-actualization. Lost in Wonderland tells this real-life story in an artistic way, using drama and emotion to reveal telling insights into Moodie's character and beliefs.Directors StatementBy Zoe McIntoshEarly in 2007 I was looking through a newspaper and came across a bizarre image. It showed  an older man, with glasses and a mustache standing outside the high court of Wellington dressed as Alice in Wonderland. I thought, "what the hell is going on here...?"So I called him up and asked him. From that conversation I knew there was an extraordinary story to be told.The process of making this film has been a huge learning curve for me. Previously I had made two very short documentaries — Night Moves, about a prostitute and her pimp, and Mail Order, about NZ men and their mail order brides. I got these shown at festivals, nationally and internationally, but I had never made any thing as complicated as Lost In Wonderland. As I quickly discovered, there's a real art in sustaining an audience's attention over a long span of time. Thankfully Moodie's history is offered a rich trove of possibilities. He's had a life full of dramatic peaks and troughs.I hope Moodie’s notoriety will help the film attract a broad audience, but there is a much richer, deeper story here than an oddball in funny clothes. The core themes embodied in Moodie’s life are universal: everyone loves an underdog, everyone wants a fair and impartial justice system, and everyone will be fascinated by a man who challenges authority and scandalizes convention.Although there are some who write him off as a mere attention seeker, I hope to underline Moodie's very real achievements, both on a personal level, and through the different careers he has followed over the years — farmer, freezing worker, policeman, academic, union advocate, and lawyer.On a personal level, Moodie’s need to battle conformity and assert the rights of individuals to find their own unique expression resonates powerfully with me as a creative artist.I have a passion for celebrating this kind of positive rebellious spirit.  Moodie is not just a man who scandalizes convention. He is a champion for self belief and self actualization. He is very articulate in getting his  message across. Through good times and bad, his optimism and spirit have always shone through. He is undeniably an amusing man, but also an inspiring one.Moodie is a subject who perfectly answered my need to make a film that’s meaningful, independent, and artistically interesting.The visual style of Lost in Wonderland was really important to me. I'm particularly influenced by documentary makers who user their medium expressively and tell real life stories in an artistic way. A lot of our story happened in the past; the film is composed of memories, historical events and key turning points tha shaped Moodie into who he is today.  I wanted to transport the audience back to those  significant  moments with more than just talking head interviews.I imagined imagery that would evoke key moments from Moodie's past in a dramatic and emotional way. But how to do this on a nothing budget?Then a friend of mine, a talented DOP, Marty Williams, said he had some 35mm film kicking around that was left over from a commercial job. He offered to shoot something for free.  Simple!  Of course, there was nothing simple about it. Our little 'pick up' shoot ended up being an amazing free for all involving  many extras, period costuming, and a dozen locations. We had to make every shot count, and in fact they all made it into the movie. As a result we got some beautiful imagery. I believe these 35 mm inserts give the film a unique style and really allow you to step into Moodie's shoes and be taken on his journey.Ultimately, depicting that journey became the most important task. I wanted the film to take an audience through a  variety of emotions, but where it became really exciting was when it became clear we would ultimately be able to deliver some never before revealed insights into Moodie's character and the reasons why he likes to wear dresses.Lost in Wonderland  has energised me and confirmed my sense of mission to make more films. I have just finished shooting a short film drama called Day Trip, written and produced by Costa Botes. This was based on a short story by the late Bill Payne. It tells the story of a Wellington gang member who decides to take a day out of his normal routine with a day trip to Picton. I have also started putting together a new documentary called King of Caravans about the proprietor of a caravan park. We tripped over that story when we were forced to stay in the cheapest available place shooting our of town for Lost in Wonderland. Instead of being depressed by our budget lodgings, I was inspired by the characters I observed living there.Making Lost In Wonderland has had its low moments. The attitude of local broadcasters has been disappointing, in stark contrast to the encouragement we got from SBS TV-Australia. But being forced to improvise with a tiny budget also tested me in positive ways. I had to be innovative in seeking out alternative means of support;  and persistent in finding ways of executing ideas for an effective result without spending lots of cash. While it was frustrating to work so hard on something without any income, I have to admit it was also creatively liberating to work outside the typical restraints of a commissioned programme. I wanted to make something cinematic and personal, and in the end, perhaps this was the only way to do it.