Couple plucked from shopping to star in film
Atrip to the supermarket turned into an invitation to play lead roles in newly-released short film
Cosmo Silvergreen.
Taupo¯ couple Lenore Bridgman-Toms and husband Gary Toms star in the short film, which premiered at Suncourt Hotel last Tuesday, along with Hugh De Lautour who plays Cosmo.
Lenore and Gary had previously caught the eye of director Jennifer Russell who spotted the couple at a weekend market and knew they had a dog called Baldrick.
“I wrote the play and saw these two at the supermarket and they just had the look about them to match the characters in Cosmo,” said Jennifer.
Set in a dystopian future,
Cosmo Silvergreen is about a singing storyteller who wanders from village to village but strange things are beginning to happen. Jennifer says for people viewing the film it could be set anywhere.
“It’s filmed in Taupo¯, at places like the rest area on the way to Wairakei, the Redwood Forest, a market garden on Broadlands Rd, Lilliput Farm and at the pub Mulligan’s.”
A younger Cosmo is played by Tristan Baynham and Jennifer says the film shows the same set of events two or three times through other
The Cosmo Silvergreen cast in the village scene. Hugh de Lautour (middle with hat), Gary Thom, Lenore BridgmanTom (to right of Gary).
people’s viewpoints.
“It’s funny, but Tristan actually looks a bit like Hugh,” said Jennifer.
Cosmo Silvergreen was filmed, edited and produced by Mike O’Connor, 67, and written, directed and produced by Jennifer Russell, over 65, going by her professional name of Jennifer Meadows.
“I also put together the costumes, did the casting, found the shooting locations, arranged for the transport, food and comforts of everyone while we were filming. It was exhausting,” said Jennifer.
Filming started before lockdown, and Jennifer says literally months went by between filming scenes. Intended to be the first in a series, Jennifer and Mike are going to vet audience reaction and may release Cosmo Silvergreen to social media after Tuesday’s premiere.
Creating the short film was a massive amount of work and she wants to thank all the people who were involved, especially Mike and the actors who volunteered.
Cosmo Silvergreen and Cultic have a dystopian theme, however Jennifer also makes documentaries and her work has been shown at festivals around New Zealand.
Slapping Trout Productions is looking for ‘techy people’, crew, actors, and monetary contributions. Get in touch with Jennifer Meadows at russetredfox@gmail.com and Mike O’Connor at mik —oco@hotmail.com
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A public viewing of Cosmo Silvergreen will be available at Lake Taupo¯ Hospice at a yetto-be announced date. Door sales will be donated to Lake Taupo¯ Hospice.