THE historic shops and buildings in Eltham are being sized up as location sites for filming a full-length movie of Ronald Hugh Morrison's novel Predicament.
Filming of the movie, believed to have a budget of $5-6 million, will begin next month, and last week production people were in Eltham planning and checking out venues.
Filming in Hawera and Eltham is expected to take seven weeks and finish in August.
The South Taranaki District Council welcomes the feature film based on acclaimed New Zealand author Ronald Hugh Morrieson's novel, and the fact it will also be filmed in the writer's former hometown of Hawera.
The film, a comedy crime caper, is to be directed by Jason Stutter, who adapted the screenplay, and produced by Sue Rogers (Home by Christmas, Forgotten Silver, Heaven). Stutter's latest film, Diagnosis Death, has just been picked up by US and international distributors at the Cannes Film Festival.
"This is a great opportunity for what is essentially a South Taranaki story to be made in South Taranaki, with positive impacts for the district economy as a result," says South Taranaki District Mayor, Ross Dunlop.
Cast and crew will be based in South Taranaki during filming. There will be benefits for tradespeople and those in the hospitality industry as well as for regional employment as the film is likely to hire a number of local extras and assistants.
"In the current climate, such project will provide a significant boost for the district economy. For a comparatively small contribution we have a movie being made in our district from a novel by one of our most famous sons," says Mayor Dunlop.
South Taranaki District Council will contribute $200,000 to the project. The funding comes entirely from existing reserves.
"The film company originally approached us about two years ago about the prospect of creating the film in the district. We put money aside from our Economic Development Fund in anticipation and said come back to us when you have all other funding secured. They have now done this."
"The positive impact on our district economy and profile will be vastly greater than the Council's small contribution. It's a fantastic outcome," says Mr Dunlop.
Further down the track there are also significant opportunities from the production to promote the region, delivering marketing and tourism benefits.
The Council will work with Venture Taranaki to ensure the District gains the maximum exposure from the production and ongoing profile generated by the film.
"Venture Taranaki was integral in helping the District secure this project, and we are looking forward to working with them to ensure the greatest benefit for the region," says Mr Dunlop.
"The film will raise the profile of South Taranaki, and of Morrieson's work."Predicament producer Sue Rogers says. "Without council support we would not have been able to shoot in the district."
Director Jason Stutter said "Predicament is considered by many to be Morrieson's best novel. It is my favourite novel by any author. Predicament is the only novel I have read and belly laughed. I literally couldn't put it down. It's exciting to have the opportunity to make a movie from this material, and to film in the town where the story was invented is the icing on the cake."
Three novels written by Morrieson, who was born and lived all his life in Hawera, have already been made into feature films, Scarecrow (1981), Pallet on the Floor (1984) and Came a Hot Friday (1985).
Much of the footage of Came a Hot Friday was filmed in Eltham in 1985 and many locals were extras in the film. Their chance may soon come again.
Spotlight back on Eltham for Morrieson film
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