Urban Mermaids Head to Big Screen

Urban Mermaids Head to Big Screen

Auckland Water Ballet Troupe inspires feature film

2 May, 2014

Production Company Libertine Pictures is to develop a feature film about a group of women who decide to shun book groups and cooking circles and form their own synchronised swimming troupe. The film has been inspired by the fantasticalAuckland water ballet group Wet Hot Beauties .Libertine has commissioned Pip Hall, one of the troupe’s co-creators, to write the screenplay.

“We feel this is great material for an inspiring, heart-warming and uplifting film that can be delivered in a fresh, fun way," says Libertine Pictures Joint Managing Director Richard Fletcher. "Above all, it’s about how one small apparently silly idea can bloom into something truly inspiring and life changing.”.

The film's working title is The Urban Mermaids. Fletcher says production dates and locations have yet to be set, but at the earliest it could be filming is towards the end of summer next year.

Writer Pip Hall, says “I am really excited about this opportunity. Wet Hot Beauties has been an amazing, joyful and at times, profound, experience for all of us involved. It is a very special group and it's this spirit that I plan to tap into when creating the story.”

Emily Anderton, Libertine’s Head of Development, brought the project to the company and will work closely with Hall on the development of the original screenplay.

The Wet Hot Beauties most recently performed at Pt Chevalier, Takapuna and Mission Bay beaches in February and were the subject of Pip Hall's Ted Talk in Sydney, selected as part of the TED Global Talent search in 2012.

Based in Auckland and Wellington, Libertine Pictures was formed last year by internationally experienced film makers, with backing from the New Zealand Film Commission’s new Business Development Scheme, to produce feature film and television for audiences here and internationally.

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