Cameron Duncan

Cameron Troy Duncan (20 April 1986 – 12 November 2003) was a writer and director from New Zealand.

Film career

Duncan completed many home videos but only two short films, DFK6498 and Strike Zone, a movie involving his love for softball, as well as a few commercials and brief clips, before dying of osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, at age 17. He was successful in the Fair Go Ad Awards, with his entries for the high school section of the awards in 1999 and 2003 winning the award for best high school entries in their respective years. The advertisement he created for the 1999 competition was officially adopted by TVNZ and played on prime-time TV for its message about road safety.

Cameron was also a winner of the Wanganui Rivercity Film Festival. In 2002 DFK6498 won the festival's best director, best script and viewers choice awards, while in 2003, Strike Zone won the best film award.

Relationship with LOTR

Near the end of his life he befriended Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. His illness also helped to inspire Fran Walsh to write the lyrics for the Oscar-winning song, "Into the West" for the film The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. After his death, his work as well as an explanatory documentary was put onto the Extended Edition DVD set for The Return of the King.

On the set of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, he received blessings from Viggo Mortensen and Sir Ian McKellen as well as a signed photo from John Rhys-Davies. He was going to make a cameo in the film, but as his health deteriorated, it became impossible for him to do so.

Legal battle after death

Duncan's family have made approaches through the NZ ethics system to use his frozen sperm. His sister and her female partner want to use the sperm and it is alleged that his mother has ownership rights.