District to feature in new film
Canterbury has more going for it than Auckland and Wellington for filming but needs a studio, says the producer of a major production shot in the region.
Five weeks of shooting for the adaptation of Margaret Mahy’s The Changeover wrapped up on Sunday after a series of night shoots. The supernatural thriller is set in Christchurch and features such well known actors as Timothy Spall and Lucy Lawless with the lead role taken by newcomer Erana James.
Shooting locations included Pegasus, Rangiora’s aquatic centre and a morgue in Princess Margaret Hospital.
Fire Fly Films’ producer Emma Slade said the money spent while filming a movie was ‘‘quite lucrative’’ for the city, and could help with the economic regeneration.
Originally the indoor shots were going to be done in Wellington, but the ‘‘generosity’’ of the Christchurch City Council and locals meant the production could afford to stay in Canterbury.
The council was hugely supportive and understood the importance of the region in the story, Slade said. ’’That’s been a significant part of our decision to be here.’’
All extras used during shooting were Canterbury residents, as were some actors and crew members.
The local talent was terrific and ‘‘went out of their way’’ to facilitate the project, leaving the crew wanting to come back. Fire Fly Films had other projects ‘‘on the horizon’’ for filming in Canterbury.
Slade said adapting the book to the modern, post–earthquake setting was easy and it was ‘‘quite bizarre’’ that the late 80s book had an earthquake reference. ’’It seemed like a natural thing to do considering the theme of the story is the theme of what is going on in the city. It really resonated.’’
Christchurch-born director Stuart McKenzie directed along with wife Miranda Harcourt. The pair ‘‘fell in love’’ with the story in 1984.
‘‘I was lucky enough to narrate it [the book] on the radio when it was first published. Now nearly 30 years later we are making it as a movie,’’ said Harcourt.