No Petrol, No Diesel! fuels Temuka’s movie stardom
‘Red carpet’ gala will be a holiday weekend highlight at Theatre Royal

It might have No Petrol, No Diesel!, but Temuka is far from running on empty.

The picturesque South Canterbury town is preparing to celebrate alongside a proud Timaru District its brand new status in national and international movie stardom.

In what Timaru's Mayor Janie Annear promises will be a glittering red carpet celebration, the community has been invited to a gala screening of No Petrol, No Diesel! – the feature-length movie that is rapidly gaining national and international acclaim. Shot in Temuka and the surrounding district, the movie tells the story of a garage owner who dies in a suspicious car crash. Rumours circulate that he spent 30 years working on a water-powered car, and the search begins for his journals and the car.

The gala event on September 26 at the district's grand old lady of entertainment, Timaru's Theatre Royal, will bring national movie stars and an international director to town to mix and mingle with the community.

The event will also mark a movie homecoming for the stately theatre, which last screened a feature movie 45 years ago. Special preparations are being made for the temporary transformation of the Theatre Royal, including the installation of a six metre-wide screen and a state-of-the-art sound system.

Mrs Annear is urging the community to share in the special event that will have “the bells and whistles of a full-blown Hollywood premiere” – complete with the red carpet, drinks and nibbles and an opportunity to mix with the stars.

At the centre of Temuka’s transition to stardom is Christchurch-based policeman Stefen Harris, principal of Darkhorse Films and director of the widely-acclaimed The Waimate Conspiracy. Mr Harris approached the council last year seeking support for his 90-minute film, following on from the success of the Waimate film.

No Petrol, No Diesel! reunites The Waimate Conspiracy cast, including Jim Moriarty, Helen Pearse-Otene, Mark Hadlow and David McPhail.

“The Timaru gala screening on September 26 will offer the district a chance to celebrate local success, and will add a touch of class and true movie glitz to the South Canterbury holiday weekend,” Mrs Annear said.

Mr Harris said those attending the gala screening will have the opportunity to meet national entertainment icons David McPhail, aka (Sgt Elvis from Temuka police), Mark Hadlow (The evil Mr Bligh), Janice Gray (Stella the publican from the Temuka Hotel), Jim Moriarty (Oscar Devlin), Helen Pearse-Otene (Frankie), Jim Firth (the lawyer) and Sue Wells (the TV reporter).

Also present with the acclaimed director himself will be the sound designer Tane Upjohn-Beatson, film editor Richard Clark and producer Pegeen O'Rourke.

“I am also delighted to say that many of your local actors who appeared in the film are intending to come,” Mr Harris said.

“We had a fabulous time filming in Temuka and the local people were incredibly generous with time and help.

“The beautiful countryside around Temuka is nicely showcased throughout the film and especially in the big car chase around the Hanging Rock area,” Mr Harris said.

“All of us who were on the shoot are looking forward to returning to Temuka and Timaru to celebrate the film with the community and all the helpers and well wishers who contributed.”

Tickets for the gala event will be $20 for adults and $10 for children and will be available from the Timaru i-SITE, the council office in Timaru and the council library/service centres in Temuka and Geraldine.
The movie is rated M.

ENDS