A New Role

As part of the new deal, I've taken up the position of NZ producer of the film, through my production company Holy Bucket Productions. It's unusual to have a writer as producer, though I have a little previous experience as producer of the play Jerusalem, Jerusalem which toured internationally, and also the short film Cake Tin which picked up an award at a Hollywood festival.

But being co-producer on a feature is a different ball game. Fortunately David Ball in Wales is doing the budgeting and scheduling, drawing on decades of experience. Tim Sanders, who has taken on production of a TV series which will demand his time for the next little while, has taken the role of Executive Producer and will help to keep me on the straight and narrow.

One of the major tasks I have is to raise NZ$500,000 for the film through equity investment. Not much if you say it quickly. But this is not the most opportune time in the world economy to be raising finance. I'm confident I'll get there. This is a substantial project, with good people and good prospects.

Currently I'm drawing up documents for potential investors, and planning an investor's meeting sometime in the next couple of months. We've retained Mr Film Legals, Matt Emery, to sort out the nuts and bolts for us.

The November shoot date certainly focuses the mind...