Cancer claims young film-maker

By STUART DYE

One of the country's brightest young film-making talents has died.

Cameron Duncan, who received national acclaim for a series of short films, died on Wednesday afternoon in Texas after a long battle with cancer. He was 17.

His parents, Sharon and Rhys, posted the following message on Cameron's website: "Cameron fought a hard, long, fearsome battle against his cancer, but after last weekend's rapid deterioration, he finally succumbed to this evil disease."

The Auckland teenager's work and the website have drawn fans from all over the world.

Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson led the tributes last night, saying he was honoured to have called Cameron a friend.

"There's no doubt in my mind that Cameron would've become one of our country's great film directors," he said.

Cameron made a road safety advertisement at age 13 that was so good it was used by the Land Transport Safety Authority.

Last year, he was selected for a national age-group softball side to tour Australia. But he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that attacks the limbs of young people.

During nine months of chemotherapy he made a short film about his cancer. It so heart-wrenching it drew tears and won the popular vote award at the Wanganui Rivercity Film Festival.