Kia Ora to Debut to Los Angeles Audiences

Kia Ora to Debut to Los Angeles Audiences
Press Release: MT Media

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Filmed over a two-week period in 2014, Kia Ora brought American actor and filmmaker Russell Nauman to New Zealand to draw upon local talent as characters in the film. Set against the picturesque NZ landscape, the film follows the journey of Ryan, a fish out of water, who journeys abroad to find closure from a painful moment in his past.

Nauman provides his reasoning for choosing New Zealand as his film location.

“I was drawn to the country for its geographical diversity and reputation for being a place with hospitable people. Casting was done while I was on location. I felt confident in making the trip knowing I could find people willing to support this independent film endeavor.”

Kia Ora brought Nauman from Auckland to Queenstown, featuring 15 different cities throughout New Zealand.

“Because I couldn’t scout my locations beforehand, I needed the story to be flexible enough to accommodate wherever I was or whatever challenges I encountered. I also needed to be considerate of local laws regarding filming in public areas. The result was a mostly improvised way of storytelling that brought a great naturalism to the film. I was lucky that Kiwis were enthusiastic about participating in the project.”

The story was a very personal journey for the filmmaker. The semi-autobiographical story was a way for him to cope with loss in his life.

“Creating Kia Ora was about healing for me. I chose the name because of its meaning of ‘be well/healthy.’ The final film serves as my love letter to the people of New Zealand. It was with their support that I made this film happen. The memories of this experience are something I will carry with me forever.”

After returning to the states, post production began on the film. Kia Ora will debut for audiences in June at the Los Angeles Actors Center. Admission is free and open to the public.

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