Torchlight Films Launch Into New Project

Following their recent success with Taking the Waewae Express, Torchlight Films are launching into their new project – Hook, Line and Sinker.
Hook, Line & Sinker is about a truck driver in his late fifties with a workingman’s pride in his job. His family, singing at his local pub, and fishing with his mates form the backbone of his modest existence. But when he fails a routine health check and loses his job, his life unravels. His task is to renegotiate a place for himself in the world, and with the love and laughter of his family and friends, he finds the courage to embark on the journey.

The film stars Rangimoana Taylor (Taking the Waewae Express) and Carmel McGlone (Predicament and former Chapman Tripp Best Actress winner) in the lead roles; Geraldine Brophy (Second Hand Wedding); Alan Palmer (Shortland Street); Matt Chamberlain, fresh from Jonathan King’s Under the Mountain; K.C. Kelly, former Senior Acting tutor at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and two time Chapman Tripp nominee; Eli Kent (Black Sheep) and newcomer Elizabeth McMenamin.

Torchlight’s films are developed using British director Mike Leigh’s approach to scriptwriting, where the script emerges from a basic premise and is developed through improvisation by the actors.

For the past four weeks the cast have been on improvisation camp – only interacting with one another as their character. The dialogue is recorded and is currently being fed back into the script. “It’s a process with really surprising outcomes - you never know what the characters might say or where they might lead the story” says co-director Andrea Bosshard.

Filmmakers Shane Loader and Andrea Bosshard are committed to producing quality, independent feature films that deliver stories sourced in our communities to broad local audiences, sustainably and economically.

The independent nature of the film, calls for some novel ways of generating finance for the project. Among other events, an art auction will be hosted in February 2010 featuring many well-known New Zealand artists including Gretchen Albrecht, James Ross, Grahame Sydney, Robin White, Barry Cleavin, Russell Moses, Michael Armstrong, Philip Trusttum, Inge Doesburg, Billy Apple, Peter McKay, Kobi Bosshard, and Warwick Freeman who have all donated works to the film. The film has also received some Creative New Zealand assistance.

ENDS