Rhys Darby's Film Begins Shooting In AucklandRSS

Rhys Darby's Film Begins Shooting In Auckland

A local romantic-comedy called Love Birds began principal photography in Auckland on Sunday. It stars Rhys Darby (TV’s Flight of the Conchords, Yes Man) and British actress Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky), and is billed as a "charming, bitter-sweet romantic comedy". It's been made by the team who made Second Hand Wedding.

Doug (Rhys Darby) is an ordinary bloke whose life has fallen apart after Susan (Faye Smythe) leaves him. Pierre, an injured shelduck (a native New Zealand bird), literally crash lands into his life, igniting a much needed spark and adventure as he’s forced to nurse it back to health. Through Pierre, Doug meets sassy animal specialiast called Holly (Sally Hawkins).

Rhys Darby is also currently fronting a USD $80m rebranding campaign "Let's do Amazing…", for Hewlett Packard in a series of commercials featuring r Dr Dre and portrait photographer to the stars Annie Liebovitz.

Love Birds' ensemble cast of 12 actors includes Bryan Brown (Dean Spanley, Australia) as the vet Dr Buster; Emily Barclay (In My Father's Den) as Holly's best friend Brenda, Craig Hall (World's Fastest Indian, Outrageous Fortune) and Dave Fane (Sione's Wedding, Eagle vs Shark) as Doug's work-mates.

Love Birds brings together again the team of Director Paul Murphy and original screenwriter Nick Ward, following their first collaboration Second Hand Wedding (New Zealand’s 7th highest grossing film). Celebrated Kiwi cinematographer Alun Bollinger will be behind the camera.

Love Birds will film on several locations around Auckland.
 Production will conclude in mid May 2010.