Continued to work until his final weeks<\/p>\n
His partner of 14 years, Debs Botes, said her husband was proud of his entire body of work but found particular satisfaction in his independent productions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe latter documentaries that he made on his own \u2013 on a shoestring budget \u2013 and cobbled together with the help of friends and colleagues and really made something of.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he liked being the lone wolf because he kind of made the decisions at the end of the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was very proud of When the Cows Came Home and some others, like The Last Dogs of Winter, Angie, Act of Kindness. There were quite a few \u2013 in the last 15 years \u2013 he was very proud of,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Costa Botes, pictured while directing The Last Dogs of Winter.<\/p>\n
Shortly before his death, Botes had completed the first cut of a new film that she hoped a colleague would be able to \u201cwhip into shape\u201d for release next year, Debs Botes said.<\/p>\n
Botes was well known among musical circles in Wellington both as a player and an enthusiastic listener.<\/p>\n
In his last weeks, he bought his dream guitar, a Gibson Les Paul, and posted pictures of himself playing the instrument from his hospital bed, she said.<\/p>\n
An enduring fascination with people and stories<\/p>\n
Arts and entertainment writer Sarah McMullan said Botes inspired many with his no-nonsense attitude and generosity of spirit.<\/p>\n
McMullan said she and Botes bonded over his work on the 2011 documentary The Last Dogs of Winter.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe loved life and he loved people. That\u2019s why he made such beautiful films \u2013 he was so interested in people \u2013 and I think that\u2019s how he managed to achieve that level of intimacy that made his films so special,\u201d McMullan said.<\/p>\n
She said she loved discussing almost any element of film-making with Botes, who would like little more than to talk over the pros and cons of films, shows and documentaries.<\/p>\n
He took that passion to stints teaching film-making and scriptwriting at the New Zealand Film and TV School, and Victoria and Massey University, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish everybody had the chance to have watched Jaws with an audio commentary from Costa because his in-depth analysis of how that film is made is incredible. It just completely opens your eyes to \u2013 what is a brilliant film \u2013 but it\u2019s just [his awareness of] the detail and nuance which just speaks to his talent as a film-maker,\u201d McMullan said.<\/p>\n
Late last month, film-maker Zoe McIntosh wrote on the Women in Film & Television website of the profound effect Botes had when he worked alongside her to make Lost in Wonderland, which would go on to screen at international festivals and win Best Documentary at the Qantas Film and Television Awards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was 22, broke, and living in a damp Wellington flat where rice was both dinner and decor. At a depressing documentary hui, out of sheer desperation and delusion, I pitched my first documentary idea to film-maker Costa Botes. I expected a polite brush-off. Instead, he said, \u2018I\u2019ll shoot it. Let\u2019s just go make it\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo funding applications. No contracts. No catch. That offhand \u2018yes\u2019 changed everything,\u201d McIntosh wrote.<\/p>\n
She said Botes\u2019 faith in her work and his forthright, critical honesty helped shape her confidence and vision for her work and career.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was always there, always honest, sometimes brutally so. But he never let me lose sight of my vision. He\u2019d say, \u2018You\u2019ve got half a film here. The other half\u2019s still hiding. You gotta dig deeper\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cCosta gives his time generously, quietly, without agenda. He doesn\u2019t chase credit; he\u2019s allergic to self-promotion. He\u2019s the guy at the back of the screening checking sound levels while everyone else basks in applause. Motivated by people and, always, by story,\u201d McIntosh wrote.<\/p>\n
Shining lights on the dark corners<\/p>\n
Wellington musician Carol Bean worked in crews on Botes\u2019 films and also played alongside him in bands.<\/p>\n
She said she admired his skill as a musician and also his witty and, at times, cutting sense of humour.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had a bite. He didn\u2019t suffer fools but deep down [was a] very compassionate person,\u201d Bean said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had a lot of time for an authentic, regular person who wasn\u2019t blowing their own trumpet. He said he liked \u2018shining lights in the dark corners\u2019 with his films. Bringing people out, bringing the story out, the real true story, the best of people,\u201d Bean said.<\/p>\n
Costa Botes spent the last weeks of his life in the care of the Mary Potter Hospice in Newtown Wellington.<\/p>\n
Debs Botes said she was hugely grateful to the staff who kept him comfortable and accommodated his much-loved dogs, bedside editing suite and guitar.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knew what was happening and he knew that it was the best place for him to be because they would keep him comfortable and they did that to the very last moment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u2013 RNZ<\/p>\n