“I’m a dreamer from New Zealand”

She has Hollywood celebrities taking serious interest in her creative work, but for Otago Polytechnic student Lizzie Mackie, she’s just following her love for music and singing.

For the past year, the Information Technology student has been composing music for short-films and collaborating with creative talents from around the world.

The 20-year old was plucked from obscurity when she began composing soundtracks through an internet site established by Los Angeles actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception, Third Rock from the Sun), encouraging collaboration between musicians and film-makers.

“That’s where New York production company Tea Town Communications found me,” says Lizzie. “I was invited to compose the musical score for a short film ‘Time is On My Side’, and have been writing and recording music since.”

Hollywood heavyweights were quick to take notice of Lizzie’s musical flair, including actor John Hamm who stars in the television series, Mad Men.

“Tea Town presented my work to him and apparently he loved my music, which is pretty amazing. We’ve also had a lot of interest from a renowned talent agency in the States that represent the likes of Natalie Portman and Tom Cruise, which could open a lot of doors for me.”

Lizzie, who composes the tracks in the comfort of her soundproof bedroom in Dunedin, sends her work to the New York-based studios via email and Skype.  

When she’s not making a name for herself in the music industry, Lizzie is studying a Bachelor of Information Technology at Otago Polytechnic’s Dunedin campus.

“The programme really expands my horizons in terms of combining the technical skills I’m learning in class, with the creative side of my work. It’s a completely different headspace for me and it opens you up to an alternate state of mind, which I really appreciate.

“My lecturers are incredible. They have been very supportive of what I’m doing and it’s such a friendly and flexible environment to learn in.”

Cultivating an international career and managing full-time study has been a challenging balance. “Time management is a big one for me currently and it can be a mission getting on top of it all, but I’ve always had a lot of energy!”