Whangamomona: Hollywood of the south

The tiny East Taranaki settlement is the location for the region's latest film venture, a locally-produced comedy called Waiting for the Big Fat One.
And while the film might not have a multi-million-dollar budget, it's got plenty of local ingenuity.
Created by New Plymouth man Tony Williams, the 90-minute feature film - described as a cross between Whale Rider and Blazing Saddles - stars a presidential goat, a Grey Power gangster on a mobility scooter, the worst teacher in the world, a prince, the noble knight Sir Useless and the Big Fat One.
Filming starts in Whangawood next weekend.
While he didn't want to give too much away, Williams revealed the film is a story about a small country school facing closure and the fight by locals to keep it open.
As well as writing the script and working as producer and director, Williams plays the idiot relief teacher in the movie.
"It's going to be great fun, a lot of laughs," Williams says.
Williams has written a number of books, including 101 Ingenious Kiwis and Hard Case Kiwis, and currently works performing comedy in schools as part of the Alan Duff charity Books in Homes.
It is his time spent in schools that inspired the film script.
"I've done 226 comedy shows in schools and many of those were in small country schools facing threat and that got me thinking."
Waiting for the Big Fat One has a cast of 80 and includes 40 children who are performing in the play Rhubarb. While Rhubarb is being filmed to become part of the story in the movie, the play is also a stand-alone production being performed at Devon Intermediate School tomorrow and Saturday.
"When I go to the schools kids come up to me and tell me I'm funny, or crazy.
"It's great to hear the sound of children laughing."
The movie is being filmed by New Plymouth cameraman and photographer Mark Bellringer and it is hoped to be released in cinemas before the end of the year.
Williams says after the theatre release, the plan is to get it on DVD, New Zealand television and overseas cinemas.
"This is a story that will work. From my work in schools I know people will enjoy this."
Filming is expected to take 10 days.