Film Commission gives details of 1982 productions

Press, 14 January 1982, Page 10

Film Commission gives details of 1982 productions

Bv

Wellington reporter

The Film Commission has released details of planned films and films already in production for 1982. Roger Donaldson. the Auckland producer-director, whose “Smash Palace” will have its world premier this month in Auckland, Wellington. and Christchurch, is completing the script for his next feature film — "The W'orld's Fastest Indian.” The story is based on the real life of a New Zealander who attempted world speed records at Bonneville Salt Flats in the United States when in his 60s and 70s.

The feature is likely to be a co-production between new Zealand and the United States and is planned for shooting in the second half of 1982. The Film Commission has given development investment for this feature, and also for another feature which Donaldson is to develop with the Auckland writer, Neil Illingworth. With the title “The Doomsday Machine,” this project, is based on New Zealand sightings of UFOs at Kaikoura three years ago. Rob Whitehouse and Lloyd Phillips, both of Auckland, have announced plans to. coproduce an- adventure feature set in the South Pacific in the 1880 s when piracy was rife. With the working title “Savage Island,” the feature has development investment from the Film Commission and is being developed to shoot in mid-1982. The leading character will be based on the legendary Bully Hayes, who helps a young Englishman to rescue a missionary’s daughter after she is captured by whiteslavers. The feature will include a fierce sea battle using ships of the period, and will be shot on location in New Zealand and in the South Pacific. Phase Three Films of Auckland, has announced plans to develop a feature

based on the life of Amy Bock. The directors. Geoff Steven, and Robert Williams, who collaborated on "Skin Deep,” are working on the feature to be produced by John Maynard, with plans for shooting in 1983. Amy Maud Bock was described in the 1900 s as “per haps the most fascinating character ever to appear before the New Zealand public.” This comment was made of . her masquerade as a man, when she courted and married a minor hieress. She was a strange mix of occasional lunatic, far-sighted criminal, and a woman of considerable talent and quality.

John O'Shea, of Pacific Films in Wellington, is developing a feature film based on the life of Seline Sutherland, whose life was dedicated to the less fortunate members of society in New Zealand and Australia century. The film is planned as a coproduction with Australia and has a Film Commission development grant.

Born in Scotland. Selina Sutherland came to New Zealand in the 1860 s and began work improving medical services in the Wairarapa. She was the first matron of Masterton's first hospital, and was later matron of Wellington Hospital where her unconventional attitudes caused conflict with the authorities of the day. In the 1890 s she moved to Melbourne, where she formed a nursing society to care for the poor. The Christchurch author, Graham Billing, is writing an original screenplay about the lives of a New Zealand family and its interlocking business interests and personal conflicts. He is working with the producer, John O’Shea, of Pacific Films, and the Film Commission has made a development grant. Auckland producer, Larry Parr, is developing two feature films based on New Zealand novels. Both have

Film Commission develop-: ment grants. ’ One of them is “Sydney: Bridge Upside Down.” by; David Ballantyne, which is' being scripted.by an Auck-: lander, Bill Baer. The story! is set at an isolated East: Coast beach town in the: 1930 s where a teen-age boy! — outwardly likeable and' normal — is driven to murder The other is based on “A Soldier's Tale” by M. K. Joseph, in which a young soldier falls in love with a young French woman during a break in the Normady campaign in the Second World War.

Bruce Morrison's first feature film. “Constance,” co-produced by Aucklanders. Larry Parr and Tom Finlayson. is now likely to be shot in the second half of 1982, with assistance from the Film Commission and Television New Zealand.

The script is by Jonathan Hardy. It is a tragic love story set in Auckland in the 1930 s and 1940 s in which the leading character is unduly affected by American movies of the period.

The Auckland director, Sam Pillsbury, is continuing work on two new feature films since he completed work on his first feature. “The Scarecrow,” which is due to be released in New Zealand this year. Pillsbury is adapting a new novel by Craig Harrison, “The Quiet Earth,” and a script from the Maurice Gee novel, “In My Father's Den.' both for the producer. Pat Cox. David Bly th, the director,' of Auckland, is about to shoot his first film since the innovative “Angle Mine” in 1978. The drama. “A Woman of Good Character,” has been written by a New Zealander, Elizabeth Gowans, who lives in London. It deals with the life of a young Englishwoman who emigrates to New Zealand in the 1860 s and becomes a domestic servant on an isolated Canterbury farm.