The New Zealand musical feature film based on the much-loved and critically acclaimed stage play Daffodils begins shooting in this week.
Daffodils is a bittersweet love story told with beautiful re-imaginings of the most iconic New Zealand songs ever written, including tracks by Crowded House, LIPS, Bic Runga, Chris Knox, The Mint Chicks, Dave Dobbyn, The Clean, The Exponents, Darcy Clay, Mutton Birds, Th’Dudes, The Senators/Ray Columbus and the Invaders, The Swingers and Blam Blam Blam.
Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter Kimbra will be making her big screen debut in a musical and acting role alongside international kiwi actors Rose McIver (iZombie, The Lovely Bones) and George Mason (Home & Away, Go Girls). All three are returning home to star in the lead roles.
The film, based on the Bullet Heart Club play which has sold out theatres in Australia and New Zealand and won a Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, is written by the playwright Rochelle Bright, directed by David Stubbs (Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses, Reservoir Hill) and produced by Richard Fletcher (The Changeover, Walking with Dinosaurs 3D, Boy). Silver Scroll winner Stephanie Brown and Fen Ikner of electro-pop duo LIPS are Music Directors and Composers.
Emmy® Award-winning director David Stubbs is thrilled to be helming this unique feature film. He says, “When I first saw Daffodils the play I thought it was a piece of work so beautiful, so powerful and so inherently cinematic, that I knew this was an endeavour I could pour my heart and soul into. Daffodils proves how rich and powerful our song writing heritage is and that, when we can’t find the words, through music we can express ourselves in the most breathtaking of ways.”
Producer Richard Fletcher says: “Daffodils is an emotionally engaging journey through a slice of New Zealand history but at the same time it’s a love story that is universal. It’s cinema that will entertain, engage, and leave an imprint on our hearts and our conscience that will last long after the lights come up.”
Daffodils is being filmed in the Waikato, Wairarapa and Wellington with principal photography commencing on Wednesday February 21. The film is produced by Libertine Pictures and KHF Media with investment from the New Zealand Film Commission, NZ on Air, TVNZ, The Kelly Entertainment Co, Park Rd Post Production, Avalon Studios and financing from Kiwibank. Transmission Films will distribute the film in New Zealand and Australia in 2019.