Film director Vincent Ward says he has assembled his best cast for River Queen - a cross-cultural story that had its genesis while he lived in a Maori community in the Urewera country.
He was also happy with the crew.
"A lot of people have turned down much higher-paying work to do
this film because they have a passion for New Zealand stories," he said as actors and producers were formally welcomed at Putiki Marae in Wanganui.
Getting British actor Samantha Morton to play the leading role was a major coup, and her availability was the reason filming was taking place in winter, Ward said.
The story was being filmed in the region because of its "extraordinary, unique and powerful" river and strong Maori culture.
Ward (Vigil, The Navigator, Map of the Human Heart, What Dreams May Come) said the River Queen story, set in the 1860s, had "greater extremes, greater divisions, with people trying to find ways to get along together and often really screwing it up".
A powhiri to welcome the cast and crew yesterday drew about 200.
The visitors were addressed by Maori leaders Heemi Takarangi and John Maihi and by Wanganui Mayor Chas Poynter.
Speakers for the visitors included actor Temuera Morrison and co-producer Tainui Stephens.
"The story is about an Irish woman and her Maori son, brought up in the wars. The son goes missing, and she's desperate to find him. It's about a mother's love for a child," Stephens said.
Producer Don Reynolds said the film had a $13 million production budget, similar to that for The Piano and Whale Rider, with financing from New Zealand and Britain.
Ward said shooting was due to start this week, possibly at the Ruatiti Domain, about 20km from Raetihi. At some stage the crew of 120 would jetboat 40 minutes up the Whanganui River from Pipiriki to film in a remote location for three days.
Otherwise, the actors would be based in Wanganui until mid-September.
Post-production could take a year but the film was due out in 2005.
Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland, who plays a family friend of Sarah, said when he worked on a shoot in New Zealand seven years ago he wanted to buy some land and half a dozen sheep and settle down.
Co-star Morton said: "I'm from Nottingham, and it's paradise here to me."
Morrison said he was glad to be back in New Zealand and playing a Maori for a change.
- NZPA
Film director Vincent Ward says he has assembled his best cast for River Queen - a cross-cultural story that had its genesis while he lived in a Maori community in the Urewera country.
He was also happy with the crew.
"A lot of people have turned down much higher-paying work to do
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