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Shooting Stars With Taika Waititi

For Immediate Release – Monday 25th May 2009

Shooting Stars…With Taika Waititi – A First Look At ‘The Volcano’ (Working Title)


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Te Aho Eketone- Whitu (8), James Rolleston (11), Taika Waititi

Principle photography for THE VOLCANO, written and directed by Taika Waititi, has wrapped in beautiful Waihau Bay and post production is now underway in Auckland.

This is the first image released from the film and introduces the three stars – James Rolleston, Te Aho Eketone-Whitu and Taika Waititi. The two boys play brothers Boy and Rocky, who are trying to find their potential whilst living in the shadow of their larger-than-life father Alamein, played by Waititi.

Waititi is already a seasoned actor of film (Scarfies, Snakeskin), theatre and television, but THE VOLCANO is the first acting venture for Rolleston and Eketone-Whitu. Eketone-Whitu (8), from the small town of Minginui near Rotorua, had just what was needed in the role of Rocky with his unusual mix of wary shyness and lively imagination. Rolleston (11), of Opotiki, was auditioned as an extra, but took on one of the lead roles in the final weeks before production began, surprising everyone with his sense of innocence yet depth of maturity.

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Waititi has been involved in the film industry for many years, first as an actor, and more recently as a writer and director. Waititi also grew up in Waihau Bay, which provided much inspiration for THE VOLCANO. Set in the 1980’s, THE VOLCANO is a heart-breaking and hilarious coming-of-age story, and is inspired by Waititi’s short film Two Cars, One Night, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Short Film in 2005. THE VOLCANO will be released through Transmission Films in the first quarter of 2010 and has been licensed for subsequent TV broadcast by Maori Television.

On shooting THE VOLCANO, Waititi comments, “It was a special experience taking my story home and making it with my friends and Whanau. The kids were great in their auditions, but their performances on set were groundbreaking. Nothing went wrong; the universe conspired to make this the most stress free shoot since River Queen. I’m still amazed nobody found out I’ve been winging it this whole time, I know absolutely nothing about film!”

*THE VOLCANO is financed by the NZ Film Fund, NZ Film Commission, Unison Films, NZ On Air, Maori Television Station and Te Mangai Paho.

ENDS

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