Kiwi filmmakers take their love story to the world

Today it has been announced that the world premiere of Same But Different: A True New Zealand Love Story, a movie about its real life filmmakers, Rachel Aneta Wills and Nikki Si’ulepa, will screen 28 March at the Civic Theatre in Auckland.

The pair announced the date of their debut feature film via a live video broadcast on their Facebook page, in front of the theatre they intend to pack out with budding movie-goers up for a great night of family-friendly Kiwi film entertainment, epic music, and feel-good vibes from this inspirational New Zealand love story.

The movie
Produced by RAW Productions and distributed by 36 PRESENTS, Same But Different: A True New Zealand Love Story, follows Rachel, a previously married Grey Lynn mum who breaks a three-year spell of singledom to pursue her escalating feelings for Nikki, whom she meets at a Māori film festival. Things don’t go according to plan, with Rachel’s awkward first romantic attempts fumbling into a sequence of embarrassing events and her ex-lover, Rob, turning up. With all hope gone, it’s Rachel’s humanitarian efforts that eventually grab Nikki’s attention and the two finally connect.

The music
Same But Different is underscored by a stunning soundtrack of talented Kiwi musicians, including songstress Helen Corry, whose single, “Hardly Breathe,” was written exclusively for the film. Guests attending the premiere will be treated to a pre-screening performance by the Modern Māori Quartet, whose songs also feature in the film, and Helen will delight audiences with her new single at the premiere’s after party.

The cast and film locations
Actors Robyn Paterson and Hannah Martin play the roles of Rachel and Nikki. Other actors include Rachel’s nine year old daughter, Jett Willem Morris, who plays herself in the movie, Nikki’s real life cousin, and ex-Shortland Streeter, Frankie Adams makes a cameo appearance. Shooting locations were primarily in and around Auckland central city suburbs and also include Matakana, Glendene, and Papakura Marae.

The filmmakers
Nikki, a Kiwi-Samoan director from West Auckland, says the film tells a true, romantic, universal love story: “Same But Different is a feel good movie that will resonate with anyone who’s stumbled through those awkward first steps of early love. Our story shows what happens when something inside tells you to go after what you truly want, even when you’re faced with setbacks”.

Rachel, founder of RAW Productions, says: “The film also offers a glimpse into the daily trials and tribulations of modern day love in a same-sex relationship which can be misconstrued and misunderstood. My hope for Same But Different is that the audience leaves the cinema with the realisation that it doesn’t matter if you’re a man, woman, gay or straight, when we fall in love we all fall the same way”.

The pair, who are independently funding the film, want to take Same But Different: A True New Zealand Love Story to overseas audiences, with screenings planned for Melbourne, Sydney, San Francisco and other cities.
Same But Different debuts in NZ cinemas 11 April, 2019.

View the trailer on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/samebutdifferentmovienz

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