Porirua children hit the big-time

Agroup of Porirua schoolchildren have made their film debut. International director Mark Albiston has created a series of short film clips to tell the story of the One Percent Collective, an organisation that encourages New Zealanders to give 1 per cent of their income to charity.

The clips portray an unconventional take on generosity, using the children to inspire a giving evolution.

Rangikura School student Memphis Patafilo, 6, was one of the children in the film.

She said she was nervous in front of the cameras, but very proud of her work.

‘‘I might video it and ask Mum to put it on Facebook,’’ she said.

Memphis said she was chosen because she was a ‘‘ sensible’’ person. ‘‘I was sitting up nicely and listening.’’

Casting director and Eagle vs Shark star Loren Horsley said she and Albiston held auditions at local schools to uncover talent.

‘‘Mark and I love working with kids, and we’ve learnt from years of casting that it’s always worth looking further afield than just those with acting agents.

‘‘The Porirua kids just stood out – they were natural and warm and imaginative,’’ she said.

‘‘ The kids we chose were shining from the moment they walked in the door.’’

Horsley said the children were very professional on set.

‘‘They were absolutely magic. They quickly learnt that you do more ‘ waiting’ than you do ‘filming’ on set.’’

Horsley said the message of the films was, ‘‘together we can make a change’’.

She got involved in the project after meeting One Percent founder Pat Shepard while filming Eagle vs Shark.

‘‘We got on like a house on fire and I’ve been a keen supporter of his work ever since.’’

The production would have cost more than $120,000, but because of the generosity of the people involved, it cost nothing.

Albiston is a Kapiti resident and his films have won awards at Cannes, Sundance and Berlin film festivals.