Red carpet premier in Te Aroha

Te Aroha is gearing up for the New Zealand red carpet premier of the short film Heavy Metal this Wednesday night, January 18.

The premier will take place at Austins Bar and Bristo starting at 7.30pm.

It is a short horror film based on the story Heavy Metal, written by award winning author, Betty Dravis from her book Six – Pack of blood, coauthored by Barbara Watkins.

This is the first film in an anthology of seven films.

The film details what happens when you don’t listen to your parents about Heavy Metal music and the dangers it can cause.

Heavy Metal was filmed is Arkansas in the United States last year and Te Aroha man Phill Palmer is one of the actors in the film.

Palmer, an electrician by trade, started his acting debut in the Te Aroha Little Theatre in 2008.

Since then he branched out to theatres in Hamilton including his first musical Oliver with Hamilton Operatic Society starring Richard O’Brien.

‘‘Heavy Metal was filmed is Arkansas, United States last year and Te Aroha man Phill Palmer is one of the actors in the film.’’

In 2012, Palmer began film work and since then he has done a series of short films, web series and six feature films in various roles.

His hobby very quickly became a passion, then obsession.

‘‘I joined Muse talent agency and became a professional actor part time while continuing in my current full time job as an electrician in Te Aroha, ‘‘ he said.

‘‘This was an amazing opportunity as I acted along side other actors from California and Florida including Katherine Koven Pacino (Step mother of Al Pacino).’’

This Wednesday’s red carpet event in Te Aroha is being hosted by FTP-NZ, which is the New Zealand subsidiary of the American film company Forbidden Tears Productions, owned by Jennifer Dawn.

The New Zealand Company was opened with Dawn, Kevin Luck and Palmer in September 2016 after Palmer returned from filming in the United States.

‘‘This film premier is the first event for FTP-NZ and we know there will be more in the future as New Zealnd films their own films too,’’ Palmer said.

‘‘Come and join us as we celebrate this film, different countries coming together, working alongside one another and following their passions.’’