Forget Frodo, our kids are movie stars

They've signed a few autographs in advance, been shopping at Farmers for new shirts and "mum" will play make-up artist and hairdresser tonight to Tauranga's hottest new talent.
Pahoia School pupils will step out of a limo and on to a red carpet at Baycourt tonight  for the premiere of their feature-length movie The Great Stone of Isthgul.
Planned in late 2008, written in term one, and filmed during terms two and three in  the Western Bay, the movie is something principal Steve Wadsworth is confident will change  perceptions of what primary children are capable of.
The school-wide effort  featured on TV3's Campbell Live last night and TV One's Breakfast  is scheduled to run an item  tomorrow.
In a move away from the traditional school stage show, Pahoia School's board of trustees approved up to $8000 for the project, and the school hopes to recoup some of that cost through the sale of movie tickets and merchandise.
The screenplay, written by teacher Andy Tate, and adapted by staff and students, has a trailer preview posted on www.thegreatstone.co.nz.
Mr Wadsworth said he was keen to look into getting the movie classified in Wellington so it could possibly be distributed commercially. He and Mr Tate directed and produced the film, and an original score was composed by teacher Billy Edwards.
The community also stepped in and parent Annette O'Brien helped out by enticing her sister, Carolyn Fenton, who works at  Weta Workshop, to assist with concept sketches for costumes.
The actors will only see the full version of the movie for the first time tonight. The main characters Lola (Sam Lett), Tara (Mischa Ruegg), Johnny (Mason Yuraszek), Charlie (James Donaldson) and Evil King Alerick (Joe Scarrow) and Jo Jo (Phoebe Haley) have seen just snippets of film, as well as the bloopers.
The premiere is an exciting time and particularly special for Sam, who is  11 today. She said her grandfather had given her an early gift by paying for new shoes and a dress for her to wear tonight.
 
A memorable part of filming for her was when she had to  wade into the Aongatete River in the middle of winter and the Black Water Monster (clad comfortably in wetsuit) pulled her under.
Mason plans to wear a suit and Joe and James have been shopping at Farmers. "I only had one good top so had to go to Farmers and I had to get new shoes because mine were munted," James said.
Mischa said she was keeping her outfit a secret.
Getting dressed up and lavished with attention is the culmination of lots of hard work.
"It's been tiring and pretty long days," Joe said. "It's a big reward seeing ourselves up on the big screen and on TV."
When asked if any notable guests were coming for the premiere, the students mused on the question  before James replied: "my Dad's coming and he's a police officer".
 
DETAILS
What: The Great Stone of Isthgul: Upon stumbling across a boarded-up mine shaft, five unsuspecting children find themselves thrust into the fantasy lands of Isthgul, embroiled in troubled times. As darkness descends, the fate of Isthgul lies in the hands of one of these outsiders.
Where: Baycourt, Nov 5-6. Tickets sold out for tonight's premiere. Some tickets still left for tomorrow, adults $15, students, $8, senior citizens $8. Four matinees are being held for schools at $4 per student.