Chief Gary began principal photography this week in Rarotonga.
The comedy feature film is the directorial debut of Jarrod Holt, Nigel McCulloch and Ryan Hutchings, collectively known as thedownlowconcept, creators of the hilarious local TV series 7 Days, Hounds and Coverband.
The film, about a loser real estate agent who becomes chief of a sinking Pacific island, features local and international talent including Josh Thomson (Hounds, Short Poppies), David Fane (Outrageous Fortune, Sione’s Wedding), Matt Whelan (Go Girls, 3 Mile Limit) and Megan Stevenson, the US star of Comedy Central’s Review.
The film is produced by Fiona Copland, of Field Theory, with downlowconcept producer Matt McPhail.
Holt says the first week of shooting has been excellent. “We’ve been quite busy whale watching, renting scooters and snorkeling, but after lunch we got some great stuff before the nightly BBQ at the Edgewater Resort.”
Producer Fiona Copland is quick to praise the crew working hard on the shoot. “The team is humming and there’s a lot of laughs. I’m delighted”
The film is shooting in Rarotonga for four weeks before returning to Auckland for an additional week.
Chief Gary is the first film from newly formed production company Field Theory, which brings together three of New Zealand’s leading producers, Fiona Copland (Matariki, Topless Women Talk About Their Lives), Philippa Campbell (Top of the Lake) and Tim Sanders (Kiwi Flyer, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring).
Chief Gary was made with investment from the New Zealand Film Commission, NZ On Air, Whale Watching Rarotonga and the Rarotonga Meat Board. Production partners include ImageZone, Blockhead, Fulcrum Media, Rialto Distribution and NZME.