Premier soon after film completion

Press, 26 February 1986, Page 24

Premier soon after film completion

Only three hours after it was finished, a Christchurch amateur film had its premier performance earlier this week.

On Sunday morning the director of “The Deadly Stone,” Mr Michael Jones, was still making alterations to the soundtrack of the film which was due to be shown to an invited audience at 2 p.m. It was one of two films which had its first screening.

The other film, “Eyes of the Beholder,” was the culmination of more than nine years work by a projectionist at the Westend Theatre, Mr Andrew Fairhurst.

It is a religious film which was shot in New Zealand sites, ranging from Whangarei to Dunedin. Part of the 33minute movie was shot at St Barnabas’ Anglican Church, Fendalton. Mr Fairhurst said he was pleased with the re-

action of the audience at the first screening. “It’s a very deep story,” he said. “Comments from people (at the screening) were that I had attempted something hard.”

Mr Fairhurst had no idea how much the movie had cost to make. “It has been years of little bits of spending here and there.” “The Deadly Stone” is a 20-minute horror movie about a young woman who is subject to supernatural forces.

It was made by a group called Cine-Co . Productions who spent nine months making it. The lead role is played by Cindy Elwood who portrays Amanda.

It was set in Waipara and Springston. A big part of the film was shot in the Springston cemetery. Both directors plan to enter their films in the 1987 London International Amateur Film Festival.