Cameron Troy Duncan (20 April 1986 – 12 November 2003) was a filmmaker from New Zealand.

Biography

Life and film career

Duncan was of

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

descent and was raised in Auckland and attended

Avondale College Avondale College is a state coeducational secondary school located in the central Auckland, New Zealand, suburb of Avondale, Auckland, Avondale. With a roll of students from years 9–13 (ages 12–18), it is the third largest secondary schoo ...

. Duncan completed many home videos but finished only two short films, ''DFK6498'' and ''Strike Zone''. The former dealt with his cancer diagnosis and subsequent loss of freedom, drawing analogy between the limitations imposed by the disease and a prison sentence. The latter film was devoted to his love of

softball Softball is a Variations of baseball, variation of baseball, the difference being that it is played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with only underhand pitches (where the ball is released while the hand is primarily below the ball) ...

. Both films received recognition at the Wanganui Rivercity Film Festival. In 2002 DFK6498 won the best script and the viewers choice awards, with Duncan winning the best director award, while in 2003, Strike Zone won the best film award. He was also successful in the Fair Go Ad Awards, with his entries in 1999 and 2003 winning the award for best high school entries in their respective years. The advertisement he created for the 1999 competition was officially adopted by

TVNZ Television New Zealand (, "Te Reo Tātaki" meaning "The Leading Voice"), more commonly referred to as TVNZ, is a New Zealand state-owned media company and Crown entity. The company operates a television network, streaming service, and news se ...

and played on television for its message concerning road safety. He flew to Tijuana, Mexico for alternative treatment for his

bone cancer A bone tumor is an neoplastic, abnormal growth of tissue in bone, traditionally classified as benign, noncancerous (benign) or malignant, cancerous (malignant). Cancerous bone tumors usually originate from a cancer in another part of the body su ...

. He died on 12 November 2003 in

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

at the age of 17.

Relationship with ''Lord of the Rings''

Near the end of his life he befriended

Peter Jackson Sir Peter Robert Jackson (born 31 October 1961) is a New Zealand filmmaker. He is best known as the director, writer, and producer of the ''Lord of the Rings'' trilogy (2001–2003) and the ''Hobbit'' trilogy (2012–2014), both of which ar ...

and

Fran Walsh Dame Frances Rosemary Walsh (born 10 January 1959) is a New Zealand screenwriter and film producer. The partner of filmmaker Peter Jackson, Walsh has contributed to all of their films since 1989: as co-writer since ''Meet the Feebles'', and a ...

. His illness also helped to inspire Fran Walsh to write the lyrics for the

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People and fictional and mythical characters * Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar * Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...

-winning song, " Into the West" for the film '' The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King''. After his death, his work as well as an explanatory documentary was put onto the Extended Edition DVD set for ''The Return of the King''. On the set of '' The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'', he received blessings from

Viggo Mortensen Viggo Peter Mortensen Jr. (; born October 20, 1958) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received nominations for three Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards. Mortensen made his film debut with a small role in ...

and Sir

Ian McKellen Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. He has played roles on the screen and stage in genres ranging from Shakespearean dramas and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is regarded as a British cu ...

as well as a signed photo from

John Rhys-Davies John Rhys-Davies (born 5 May 1944) is a Welsh actor known for portraying Gimli (Middle-earth), Gimli in The Lord of the Rings (film series), ''The Lord of the Rings'' trilogy and Sallah in the ''Indiana Jones'' franchise. He has received three ...

. He was going to make a cameo in the film, but as his health deteriorated, it became impossible for him to do so.

Legal battle after death

Duncan's family have made approaches through the NZ ethics system to use his frozen sperm. His sister and her female partner want to use the sperm and it is alleged that his mother has ownership rights.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Cameron 1986 births 2003 deaths Deaths from cancer in Texas Deaths from bone cancer in the United States New Zealand film directors People educated at Avondale College