Movie puts actors on the map
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A couple of North Shore faces are being shown to prime audiences around the world through new Kiwi film The Map Reader.
The movie has already featured at film festivals in Austin, Texas, as well as Hollywood, Santa Cruz, Australia, Tiburon in California and has won the Spirit of Independents Feature at Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival 2008.
The film tells the story of 16-year-old Michael who escapes the realities of small-town New Zealand by immersing himself with maps.
But his isolation is broken by his peers Alison and Mary. The film looks at how he is influenced by these new women in his life.
North Shore 19-year-olds Jordan Selwyn and Mikaila Hutchison star as Michael and Alison.
The film crew spent just five weeks shooting around the Auckland region and some days didn’t wrap up until 4am before starting again at 7am, Jordan says.
"You’re running on adrenaline. I just want to do more now."
But at the same time the relaxed nature of the film was reflected by those making it and it was an enjoyable experience, he says.
Director Harold Brodie agrees.
"We would always try playing scenes out in different ways. I think this helped us all relax, rather than feeling we had to hit everything on the head all the time.
"One of the most rewarding experiences for me is in editing when you see moments come alive, little gestures or glances that carry more meaning than anything you’ve written. You realise just what a good actor can bring to your story."
Mikaila and Jordan both enjoyed working on the positive New Zealand movie.
"New Zealand has so many dark stories about New Zealanders. This is a light story, it’s positive and optimistic," Mikaila says.
While she has had a role in the 2005 film River Queen, The Map Reader was Jordan’s first movie.
Both actors are looking forward to getting their faces out there and continuing their love of performing.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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