Ka¯piti filmcould happen next year
A story about a girl with ‘‘a little bit extra’’ - the Down syndrome chromosome - is to be made into a film.
Writer-director Linda Niccol, of Raumati in Ka¯piti, says the ‘‘time has come’’ for her story Poppy, - a decade in the making.
Recently gaining support from the New Zealand Film Commission for development, it tells the story of a girl wanting to overcome the odds stacked against her, taking control of her independence and destiny.
Niccol believed it was an idea ahead of its time.
‘‘It’s always frustrating wondering if your film idea will ever be made, but I’m so glad that it has sat around for a while. Society has changed its attitude toward people with disabilities, so if it had been made years ago it may have been completely different - if at all.’’
In previous versions of the story, Poppy was the one rejected. However, time had allowed Niccol to develop the story with Poppy the one to reject those putting her in the ‘‘disability box’’.
Niccol had just returned from the United States where her screenplay was given a staged reading at the Lady Filmmakers Festival in Beverly Hills.
While it was still early days, Niccol said Poppy would be filmed in Ka¯piti and, all going to plan, by late next year. She was working with Auckland-based producer Susan Parker.
She looked forward to exploring the script further and rewriting as necessary, before nationwide casting and production continued. .’’ To have a film made in New Zealand, Niccol would also have one over on her younger brother Andrew Niccol, a Hollywoodbased screenwriter and director.
‘‘Andrew’s never made a film in New Zealand - he jumped ship early on. But while over there I caught up with him, which was nice. He’s right into his science fiction at the moment.’’
Released this year, his latest film Anon is a science fiction thriller starring Clive Owens and Amanda Seyfried. His earlier films included Good Kill, The Host, In Time, Lord of War, Simone, and Gattaca. He also wrote the screenplay for The Truman Show.
Linda Niccol’s own screen career began in 2006. Her work includes The Handkerchief, Second-Hand Wedding, Dangerous Ride, Lorraine, and The Book Lovers.