German film crew finds Paradise in New Zealand
04 Mar 2009
Akaroa, a small peninsula town on the South Island’s east coast, is doubling as Paradise in a joint Kiwi-German film production.
A 60-member team of German and Kiwi cast and crew is in Akaroa filming the telemovie Paradise which tells the story of a German woman falling in love with New Zealand.
Akaroa was chosen as location for the 90-minute film because the producers thought it "stunningly beautiful". Filming is expected to take about four weeks.
Seven million viewers
Paradise is based on a book by American Emilie Richards called ‘From Glowing Embers’. Earlier this year, another film Longing for New Zealand - based on another Richards novel ‘Smokescreen’ - was also shot in New Zealand.
Both telemovies will screen on Germany’s ZDF channel in May 2009 to a potential seven million viewers.
New Zealand producer Matthew Metcalfe said that while two of Richards’ novels had been commissioned so far, it was hoped that eventually the series would include as many as 13 episodes.
The project was "massive" for the country's tourism industry, he said.
The co-production uses actors and crew from both countries and was funded offshore.
Paradise Found
Filming for Paradise has centred on Decanter Bay near Akaroa - an historic settlement on Banks Peninsula about 75km from Christchurch city.
Akaroa is renowned for its harbour and colonial village influenced by early French and British immigration. The region is also home to the Hector’s dolphin, the smallest and most rare dolphin species in the world.
Idyllic and romantic
Metcalfe says Paradise is a continuum of beautiful shots showing an idyllic and romantic view of New Zealand. He says the German crew working on Paradise had been stunned by the beauty of New Zealand and were "stoked with everything so far".
He said the visiting crew had not only enjoyed the location but also become fond of the local food and wine.
"The Germans have definitely been enjoying the best that New Zealand offers and have spent many nights out doing their bit for the NZ wine industry. They all seem to be pretty keen on Steinlager Pure [beer] too - they’re big fans and drink a lot of it," said Metcalfe.
Two romances
Paradise is the story of marine biologist Julia Whitman who travels to New Zealand with her daughter Jody and discovers a sick penguin.
Through working in a wildlife maritime centre, Julia meets the introverted Matthew Haley. The couple share a past they would like to forget and the hope of a common future.
Apart from the Akaroa location, Paradise was also shot in and around Dunedin.
The earlier production - Longing for New Zealand - is about a New York publisher who inherits a piece of New Zealand land she didn’t know existed. She faces resistance from Māori when she attempts to sell the property, and falls for a local man which further complicates her feeling of belonging.
Longing for New Zealand was shot on location in Rotorua and Auckland.
More information:
Akaroa: the French connection
These topics may also be of interest to you
|
