Elvis is out there, say Christchurch film-maker

Elvis is alive, Princess Diana was definitely murdered and we're all being controlled by British and American popular culture.

At least that's the theory behind an award-winning documentary by Christchurch film-maker Aaron Keown.

His first feature film, Pop, has won best international documentary at the New York International Independent Film Festival.

Keown, 34, said he was rapt by the win and further shocked to discover Pop on the cover of Los Angeles magazine, Metro.

Industry and media recognition has been a welcome relief to the film-maker as Pop was four years in the making and took Keown and his crew to 10 countries at a cost of more than $57,000.

The film, described by its maker as a conspiracy documentary, features the deaths of celebrities, from Elvis and Marilyn Monroe to Bruce Lee and Kurt Cobain.

Keown said he was always interested in celebrity culture and the "gaping holes" in some stories.

"Princess Di was definitely killed, and Marilyn Monroe was murdered. You find out by whom and why in my movie," Keown said.

"The Nazi war machine was fuelled by propaganda and so are we. Kids walk around dressed like gangs from south-central L.A. They've never been there, they're just manipulated by pop culture and what they see in movies."

Keown took an inventive approach to fundraising, selling shares in the film to more than 40 investors.

"They will get a return but it's difficult to tell how much from an independent production."

Tipping his hat to New Zealand's favourite film son, Keown acknowledged Peter Jackson's success as integral to his own.

"The whole country can ride off the back of him. Americans will talk to you now because you're a New Zealander and in film."

Following advice from an independent producer, Pop will be tailored for its November screening in New York.

The lighter, "gag scenes" will be deleted to add weight to the conspiracy theories, and recently acquired footage will be added to show Elvis "walking around after his death".

Keown has had two further film offers since winning the award and hopes to get a distribution deal allowing a New Zealand showing next year.

The film-maker is no stranger to the "independent" tag.

He stood as an independent candidate in last year's local body elections and was Christchurch mayor Garry Moore's closest rival.

He intends to run again. "I will not be making a film about the conspiracies behind local body politics. No one would be interested anyway."

- NZPA