Community News - providing readers with the very latest in local news, sport, entertainment and more.
Camera IconCommunity News - providing readers with the very latest in local news, sport, entertainment and more. Credit: Community News

Film veteran shares wisdom

Tanya MacNaughtonEastern Reporter

"I think the main thing is to let them know that someone, who has had some success, is potentially no different to them and success can be theirs," McAlpine said.

"They have to have a lot of knowledge, a certain natural aptitude, they have to be lucky and then the rest is easy."

McAlpine's modesty is endearing considering his body of work that began in the early 1970s with Don's Party and My Brilliant Career before Hollywood called with films like Predator, Romeo and Juliet and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Given permission to name drop, McAlpine said he loved watching the late Robin Williams work on four of his movies, including Mrs Doubtfire, and was amazed by Robert De Niro.

"But my favourite would have to be Anthony Hopkins (in The Edge)," he said.

"He's probably the most wonderful actor I've worked with in the sense that he was absolutely brilliant, but it wasn't hard work because it was totally natural.

"He made no fuss about it, just got out there and did it and he was wonderfully approachable to everyone on the crew."

McAlpine's visit to the ECU Mt Lawley campus was thanks to a longstanding friendship with WA Screen Academy director Cathy Henkel, who directed Show Me the Magic, a documentary about McAlpine.

The documentary was screened before a public talk about McAlpine's life and career, wrapping up two days of student and local cinematographer workshops.