RIVER Queen director Vincent Ward remembers the Wanganui-based filming as difficult and sought to protect cast and crew from star Samantha Morton, who had "issues".
In an interview this week, Mr Ward reminisced about the troubled shoot, which he described as the most tricky film he had ever been involved with.
It
has its commercial premiere in Wanganui on January 24. River Queen follows the story of a woman caught between the lines during the land wars in the late 1860s and was beset with production problems.
Ward was, at one point, fired ? then rehired ? after differences with Morton.
At home in Wairarapa this week with his partner Yvette Thomas and son Ariel, Ward told the Wairarapa Times Age the project had been difficult.
"Samantha had issues from her background she had to deal with, but I had to protect the cast and crew, the investors' money and myself."
River Queen was unlike the big-screen fantasies of multiple academy award-winning fellow New Zealand director and "neighbour, I suppose ? when he's here", Peter Jackson.
"Rome recognises her own and gives rewards as such, but I don't care about the money," Ward said.
"My strongest connections are back here in Greytown, and I've discovered over the years that the industry is fine, but it's people that count. Films only give you so much back."
Ward regularly returns home to Greytown, even after living in Los Angeles for seven years during the 1990s.
He was instrumental in arranging the filming in Taranaki of The Last Samurai, a film starring Tom Cruise.
"There is a lot going for the place (New Zealand) in terms of location, and there's a good service industry here," he said.
"But if a film director is god, a film director in New Zealand is god without a budget."
There have been many stars he has daily worked alongside, but Ward seems untouched by the glamour and glory of Hollywood.
"But I still like to hang out here with my old schoolmates. Stars are great, but I wouldn't really want them as friends. "Most of us are out of work most of the time, much through our own doing.
"Loyalty and humour are the most important qualities to me. God knows if there's no loyalty you better have a good sense of humour."
