A Memorable Encounter - by Prabhu Prabhakaran

In August/September my wife and I travelled to Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. In New Zealand, we spent a few days in Auckland, and then travelled to Wellington. After spending four days there, visiting some key attractions in and around the capital, on the last day we realized we didn’t visit the famous NZ film city.  As time was short, we enquired around and got on a public bus heading to Miramar which is an eastern seaside suburb.  This place is famous because it is home to a hub of world class production and special effects facilities as well as a number of talented filmmakers and crew who have worked on global movie releases such as James Cameron’s Avatar. Our main objective was to visit Weta Workshop and Weta FX in Miramar. These are the companies that helped create some of the world’s most creative cutting edge films and TV series.  Weta has worked on Hollywood blockbusters including The Lord of the Rings triology, King Kong, The Avengers, and Ghost in the Shell.

The story I am going to tell you is not about the film city or Lord of the Rings but our chance encounter with a very kind, 88 years old, Scottish gentleman named Jim Caddis. It is almost an hour’s journey from Wellington city to Miramar by bus. The bus stopped at various places and we were not sure where to get off. I asked a couple of co-passengers but they were not very sure. Then I saw this old gentleman sitting in the next row looking at us as we are somewhat lost. I told him we want to visit the Weta studios. He told us to relax and not to worry. He said he lives next to Weta studios and its 4-5 stops ahead. He assured us that he would take us there.

At the right stop we got down with him. In fact, the bus stop was exactly in front of his house. He appeared very warm and friendly and wanted to engage in conversation. Upon hearing we are from India, he talked about his stay in Mumbai many years ago and how he loved Indian tea. He said the studio was just three minutes walk from his house. Since we were in front of his house, he invited us to visit and then we could proceed to the studio. We agreed. He showed us around. The rooms in the house, his kitchen, his garden and the plants that he nurtures.

 He gave a brief history of his life. He said he hailed from a place called Ayr in Alloway, Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland. He was proud to say that it’s where Robert Burns, the famous poet lived. I told him I am familiar with the name because I studied one of his famous love poem titled “the Red, Red Rose”. Jim came to New Zealand when he was 20 years old and settled down in Wellington. He worked in a shipping company for many years and retired 28 years ago. He married a Greek woman and has children and grandchildren, all living nearby.  He said he lost his wife four years ago and ever since then has been living alone in his new house. His voice trembled when he talked about his wife. It was a good marriage, he said. His main regret was he was not lucky to show her the new house he was building for them. Despite the loneliness and the absence of his life's companion, he is a positive and practical man, wanting to remain independent. He does his own household chores including taking care of  his plants in the garden. Every Saturday he catches a bus and goes to the local market to buy groceries. He makes his own food. He said he still has many brands of tea with him. Once a week he goes to Wellington city and meets his former colleagues/friends who worked with him.

 After showing us his house and exchanging his life experiences, he took us to the Weta studio nearby. Posed for pictures with us. We felt a pang of pain when we said goodbye to him. As he does not use social media or a cell phone, it is not easy to be in touch with him. I wish I could talk to him sometimes.