NZ Film's Backers Want Your Lotto WinningsRSS

NZ Film's Backers Want Your Lotto Winnings

31st Aug 2009
By Andrew Hedley, Flicks.co.nz

Backers of a New Zealand film declined funding by the Film Commission are asking people to donate Lotto tickets to help finance the project.

The Insatiable Moon is a film adaptation of the 1997 New Zealand novel written by Mike Riddell. It will be shot in Ponsonby, Auckland in November and December.

To raise money the produces opted to adopt one of the story threads of the script, in which Arthur, the hero, buys a Lotto ticket in an attempt to save his boarding house, which is threatened with closure.

"We're inviting ordinary New Zealanders to get a little crazy with us, and buy a Lotto ticket in support of the film," said writer-producer Mike Riddell.

"Any winnings from the tickets will be used to finance the film. It's an idea just about mad enough to sit alongside the theme of the movie."

The film stars Whale Rider's Rawiri Paratene as Arthur, a charismatic psychiatric patient who announces himself as the second son of God.

The cast includes international stars such as Timothy Spall, James Nesbitt and John Rhys Davies. The film will be helmed by Scottish director Gillies Mackinnon (Hideous Kinky, Pure, Tara Road).

Strangely, there are no details about how to contact these people, so the stunt seems like a dud at this early stage. Any ideas or contact details (we can hear you clamouring to give your lotto tickets away), let us know.

This is a promo that British producers have put together for the film: