A taste of Wellywood will descend on Te Puke tonight as miniature orcs, hobbits and other Middle Earth inhabitants pay a visit to town.
Fairhaven Primary School is set to stage the must-see film of the year - their version of the Peter Jackson fantasy films Lord of the Rings.
The red
carpet will be rolled out as the school hall is transformed into a slick cinema.
The school's computer teacher Lisa Stowell said the 56-minute film is a Lord of the Rings trilogy spoof with a twist.
"We use the school bell and that's what rings," she said. "That's why it's called Lord of the Ring Rings."
The storyline centres around a group of hobbits who live in Fairhavenshire and was filmed in various "exotic" locations around the school and district.
The 180 senior pupils who were involved in the movie have spent the entire year producing it.
"The script writing began in term one, casting, costuming and filming got under way in term two, while the last scenes were filmed last week. It was a very tight schedule" Mrs Stowell laughed.
The story also includes the antics of an evil school secretary who wants to take over the school, Ms Stowell said.
"She realised the bell holds all the power in the school so she's after it," she said. "By chance our hobbits discover she's after it."
Also featured in the film are scenes from the Fires of Mount Maunganui and other local landmarks. The young stars will be chauffeur-driven in a Rolls Royce and delivered to the premier.
Kurtis Smyth, 10, who plays one of the hobbits in the film, said it was fun to make.
"The costume made me look weird," he laughed. "It's been heaps of fun."
When asked if he had plans to be a movie star, Kurtis modestly replied: "Um, I don't know, I suppose so."
Tickets can be purchased from the school for sceeenings tonight and tomorrow at 6.30pm and cost $3 for adults, $2 for kids and $10 for a family.
