Current Slate


 
Last updated April 2010.

COMPLETED
Home by Christmas - director Gaylene Preston
Boy - director Taika Waititi
After the Waterfall - director Simone Horrocks
Matariki - director Michael Bennett
Predicament - director Jason Stutter
The Hopes & Dreams of Gazza Snell - director Brendan Donovan


POST-PRODUCTION


ALSO AVAILABLE
The Vintner's Luck - director Niki Caro.  World premiere Toronto 2009
Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls - director Leanne Pooley. NZ box office hit.  North America premiere Toronto 2009. Under the Mountain - director Jonathan King.  North American premiere Toronto 2009.


HOME BY CHRISTMAS
Writer/Director      Gaylene Preston
Producers              Nigel Hutchinson, Sue Rodgers and Gaylene Preston
Cast                       Martin Henderson, Tony Barry and Chelsie Preston-Crayford
Status                    Private Invitation Only Screening in Cannes.
 
A true story of love, war and secrets.
 
A true story of romance, secrets and terrible adventure in which Ed Preston, on his way home from rugby practice in 1940, joins the New Zealand Army to go to World War II. His new wife, Tui is pregnant and distraught, but he tells her not to worry, he’ll be home by Christmas. And so he is – four and a half years later – after defeat in battle in the Egyptian desert, two years in Italian prisioner-of-war camps and a risky escape through the Alps into Switzerland.  But while Ed is away, Tui has falled in love with another man.  A remarkable story of resilence, determination and love.

A film memoir by acclaimed director Gaylene Preston, based on interviews with her father.  Her most personal film to date.

BOY 
Writer/Director         Taika Waititi
Producers                 Ainsley Gardiner, Cliff Curtis and Emanuel Michael
Cast                          James Rolleston, Te Aho Eketone-Whitu, Taika Waititi
Status                       Winner Best Feature Generation Kplus Berlinale 2010. World Premiere Sundance 2010.  
                                 NZ box sensation.  This film is breaking NZ box office records for a NZ film. 
                                 Screening in the market at Cannes.

Its 1984 and Michael Jackson's Thriller is changing lives on the rural East Coast of New Zealand. 

Boy is a dreamer who loves Michael Jackson and dreams of some day meeting him.
Rocky is his younger brother who has imaginary super powers.
Alamein is the president of The Crazy Horses.  Members 3.

Alamein is Boy and Rocky's dad.  Boy imagines him as a deep sea diver, rugby legenf, war hero and close relation of Michael Jackson.  In reality Alamein is an inept, wannabe gangster who has been in jail for robbery.

Inspired by Taika Waititi's Oscar-nominated short Two Cars, One Night, Boy is the ehartfelt and hilarious coming of age tale about heroes, magic and Michael Jackson. 


AFTER THE WATERFALL
Writer/Director        Simone Horrocks
Producer                 Trevor Haysom
Cast                         Antony Starr, Cohen Holloway, Sally Stockwell
Status                      Screening in the market at Cannes.
 
Based on the novel The Paraffin Child by Stephen Blanchard.
 
Still grieving three years after the disappearance of his four-year-old daughter, John has separated from his wife Ana and seems trapped forever in the pain and anger. When Ana becomes pregnant to John's best friend, tensions boil to the surface.  A compelling story played out within the confines of an isolated community where everyone knows your business, but few can understand your heart.
 
MATARIKI
Writer/Director        Michael Bennett
Producer                 Fiona Copland
Cast                        Jason Wu, Susana Tang, Sara Wiseman, Mark Rukam Jarod Rawiri, Iaheto Ah Hi
Status                     Screening in the market in Cannes.
 
A tragic late night scuffle takes place in a deserted car park on the eve of Matariki - the Maori New Year.  In the days and nights that follow, stars and lives align, bringing redemption, hope and new beginnings.

Michael Bennett's acclaimed short films Cow and Kerosene Creek have screened at A list international festivals, including Critics Week at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival (Cow).


PREDICAMENT
Writer/Directgor      Jason Stutter
Producer                 Sue Rogers
Co-Producer            Vincent Burke
Cast                         Hayden Frost, Heath Flanklin, Jemaine Clement, Tim Finn, Rose McIver
Status                      Post Production.

Based on the novel by Ronald Hugh Morrieson.

Naive teenager, Cedric Williamson, conspires with two misfits to photograph and blackmail adulterous couples,  When the scam goes wrong they end up with blood on their hands.  Tortured by lust, roped into blackmail and possible an accessory to murder, Cedric is in a predicament.


THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF GAZZA SNELL
Writer/Director         Brendan Donovan
Co-Writer                 David Brechin-Smith
Producer                  Robin Scholes
Cast                          Robyn Malcolm, William McInnes
Status                       Post Production.

Gary "Gazza" Snell is obsessive to the point of tunnel vision about his boys making the big time inthe world of motorsport.  Over the years he and his two teenage sons have spent most of their spare time racing sport karts - the kind that cost thousands to fund.

Both boys are talented drivers and a lucrative career in Formula One is a real possibility.  Gazza has borrowed big money and is hopeful the next race will get Marc a spot with the elite Italian training team.  And it looks good.  Then the boys' crash during a race, leaving one in a coma, and Gazza's life is turned upside down.

An uplifting tale about the hopes and dreams of an ordinary, infuriating, charming, obsessive, suburban dad.