Hawera becomes tinseltown for film

The searchlight lit up Hawera skies, as the Predicament film cast and crew hit the red carpet in South Taranaki last night.

Months of waiting finally came to an end as the film's stars joined the locals to enjoy the film at the charity gala premiere.

Arriving in vintage cars fitting for the film's 1930s setting, the stars were then mixed and mingled at the pre-party in a marquee outside Cinema 2.

Inside both theatres were linked for those attending to hear speeches before the screenings.

Director Jason Stutter apologised for Jemaine Clement (of Flight of the Conchords) and Tim Finn who could not make it.

But Stutter decided to phone him anyway, despite it being the wee small hours in New York.

Although bleary from an interrupted sleep, Clement still made the audience laugh, just as he did almost every time he spoke throughout the film.

Stutter said he was rapt to have been able create the Predicament film to match the book and in the home town of its author, Ronald Hugh Morrieson.

"He sat in his home in Hawera, dreamed up this story that he struggled to get published and now it's going to Hollywood. It's a shame he can't be here to see everyone loving his work."

Co-producer Vincent Burke congratulated Taranaki for putting up money and hosting the film and he acknowledged Morrieson for being the only New Zealand author who has had every novel written made into a film.

"It was so important to have it filmed where he lived and wrote it," he said.

Producer Sue Rogers said loved being back in Taranaki.

"This is its launch and hopefully lots of people in New Zealand want to see it. The event, the team here is world class."

Predicament is due to be released into cinemas nationwide on Thursday.

By KELLY LONEY - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 21/08/2010