The Wanaka film-maker prefers to let his images talk for themselves, so there is no dialogue in his short film, which was selected as a finalist in the New Zealand-made section of the New Zealand Mountain Film Festival screening in Wanaka from next Friday.
"It just worked out better not to have it," Finlay said in an interview.
Day at the Office features many of the adventurous activities Wanaka teenagers like to do, such as freestyle biking, motocross, and skateboarding.
Finlay and his brother Lachlan (12) are no strangers to film-making and have both been finalists in the national competition 5+ a Day Mad Movie Challenge (www.the-hub.tv.co.nz).
They call themselves Pig Butt Productions, after their pet kune kune, Gloria, who has featured in some of their other films.
Finlay is a bit embarrassed about the attention Day at the Office has attracted and claims he was "sort of forced" to enter the film festival by his mother, Mylrea Bell.
She cheerfully agrees.
"I strongly suggested he get it finished," she said.
Day at the Office is Finlay's first bike film and uses footage taken by himself, Lachlan and a friend, set to some of their favourite music.
They used a Panasonic handycam and Finlay did the editing on Windows Moviemaker.
He is happy with the end result although wishes he had more footage to work with.
"But the camera had been out of action for a while and also I had a broken collarbone," Finlay said.
Finlay's next movie might be on snowboarding, which he hopes to film this winter.
- The facts
Film-maker: Finlay Woods (15), of Wanaka
Short film: Day at the Office (6 minutes)
Screening: Lake Wanaka Centre, Friday July 3 from 8.30pm
Occupation: Year 10 Mt Aspiring College pupil
