Signed, Theo Schoon

Logline: An intensely artistic soul is raised in the east, trained in the west, and replanted in the south. His artistic spirit guided him to cultural camaraderie, a strong liaison with the Maori community and the landscape - the legacy is re-considerd.

Tracing the story of one of our more complex characters, this layered portrait re-examines the exploits of influential outsider, Dutch immigrant artist Theo Schoon, told in his own words and through first-hand accounts.
Filmmaker and art historian Luit Bieringa pieces together the tale of Theo Schoon from historic archive footage, photos and audio recordings, underpinned by his own encounters and correspondence with this mercurial artist, as well as conversations with contemporaries.

  • Luit Hendrik Bieringa
    Director
    The heART of the Matter, Man in the hat, Ans Westra:Private Journeys/Public Signposts
  • As above
    Writer
    As above
  • Jan Anne Bieringa
    Producer
    The heART of the Matter, Man in the hat, Ans Westra:Private Journeys/Public Signposts. Director Te Hono ki Aotearoa
  • Theo Schoon
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 40 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    August 20, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    80,000 NZD
  • Country of Origin:
    New Zealand
  • Country of Filming:
    New Zealand
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital + archive footage + stil
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • NZIFF in 12 venues around NZ post the premiere in wellington
Distribution Information
  • Ronin Films, Australia
    Rights: All Rights, Theatrical, Paid TV
Director Biography - Luit Hendrik Bieringa

Art historian, gallery director, curator and photography specialist, Luit Bieringa was Director of the National Art Gallery of New Zealand from 1979-89, after heading the Manawatu Art gallery from 1971. He added filmmaking to his bow in 2006. Made for TVNZ, his documentary "Ans Westra: Private Journeys/Public Signposts" played in the 2006 NZ Film Festival and extensively around NZ on marae and galleries/museums. Luit followed it with "The Man in the Hat," a portrait of art dealer Peter McLeavey which screened in the International Film
Festival, on Television and like the Westra film, extensively around NZ, including Readers and Writers Festival. "The HeART of the Matter" followed in 2016, and again screened extensively in the International Film Festival throughout the
country. That documentary has subsequently screened at conferences and marae and most recently at Wellington Museum at then end of the April 2019 at NZ
Primary School Teachers conference.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Tracing the story of one of our more complex characters, this layered portrait re-examines the exploits of an influential outsider, Dutch immigrant artist Theo Schoon, told in his own words and through first-hand accounts.
“ I have pieced together the tale of Theo from historic archive footage, photos and audio recordings, underpinned by my own encounters and correspondence with this mercurial artist – I created the film storyline from intense research and discussing the subject with the few remaining people who knew Schoon”.

I see myself more as the creative engineer, finding a way to tell a story using all the diverse components that go to make up an historical film. I didnt really know how the film would turn out - the real art of documentary making.
I couldn’t have made this film without the long and deep knowledge of the art history of both this country and also the wider world.
This complex case came packaged with a contoversial reputation,I wanted to tell his story because of the considerable legacy he had left (many artists have subsequently referenced or appropriated his material eg Michael Parakowhai).
I didn't want to be judgemental but rather put all the issues on the table and leave the audience to make their own decisions. LB