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Home / Whanganui Chronicle

River Queen cameras roll in remote Ruatiti

Laurel Stowell
By Laurel Stowell
Reporter·Whanganui Chronicle·
6 Oct, 2004 11:05 AM4 mins to read

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Trucks, trailers, caravans, buses, tents and cars spill down a hill in the remote Ruatiti Valley near Raetihi, where filming of River Queen has resumed.
"Basically, wherever you see film crew, you see trucks," the film's publicist, Sue May, said.
Most of the activity centred around a paddock on private property across the Manganui-a-te-ao River from Ruatiti Domain, a popular camping spot 25km from Raetihi.
It was the area known as "base camp" to the film crew. The on-site crew numbered about 100, and there were about 20 cast and extras.
Security people stayed at the site overnight, while cast and crew dispersed to accommodation in the Ruatiti Valley, Raetihi and Ohakune.
Ms May said filming, which resumed on Monday after a two-month break, took place for about 12 hours a day.
The cameras were usually only rolling for eight to 10 hours, because there was a lot of setting up to do as well.
The weather had varied, but filming had continued through Tuesday's showers and air temperatures had warmed a lot since July.
"We've done cold," Ms May said.
Wellington caterers Ministry of Food served breakfast and lunch for the cast and crew, and they found their own evening meals.
Film crew had agreed to keep vehicle speed down to 20kph on the sometimes tortuous road through the Ruatiti Valley, and their base camp was off the road and out of sight.
Ms May said contact with valley residents was mainly from the odd car on the road and there had been few rubber neckers: "and we would like to keep it that way".
Set construction at the site was fairly minimal, because much of the filming was at the river's edge or on the river in waka (canoes).
""There are fewer scenes in the water than people might think. Samantha (Morton) hasn't been in the water yet," Ms May said.
Morale among the group was excellent, with new crew members excited about working with well known New Zealand director Vincent Ward.
"Everybody is very happy to be back. People really want to complete this film. There's a horrible thing about leaving something creative unfinished."
Especially pleased was director of cinematography Alun Bollinger, whose health had improved.
"He is so pleased to be able to complete this movie, because he has a big creative role." Extras who were still waiting to be contacted should not despair, Ms May said, because they could still be asked to take part.
There had been no shortage of authentic looking applicants. They seemed to be enjoying their work and there was lots of humour.
The crew was scheduled to stay in the Ruatiti area for about a month, filming mainly near the domain but also at other sites nearby.
The Conservation Department's guardian of endangered whio (blue ducks) on the Manganui-a-te-ao, Rufus Bristol, was keeping a close watch on the situation to make sure nesting ducks were not disturbed by the activity.
When it left the Ruatiti, filming would shift to the Rangitikei River, Patea and the Parapara area between Wanganui and Raetihi.
The film's art department of about 40 people was back at its Wicksteed St, Wanganui, base and the wardrobe department had returned to the former Sacred Heart College, also in Wanganui.
Ms May said the crew had patronised a range of restaurants while in Wanganui in July, including Vega and the Bollywood Star.
"And I'm sure we have got a whole crowd of KFC people as well."
Filming was due to finish at the end of November.
After that came the longer post-production phase, of editing the picture, sound and music, and re-recording pieces of dialogue.
"That takes a whole other bunch of people, except for the producers and Vincent."
Ms May said very minimal use would be made of computer visual effects and there would be "no trickery" in the movie.

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