Orphans and Kingdoms, is the debut feature film from local filmmakers Paolo Rotondo and Fraser Brown, funded from the NZ Film Commission's Escalator programme.
The crew has spent the past month shooting on Auckland's Waiheke Island, where Rotondo is a long time resident. He called on the local community to help get the intimate drama made for a total budget of $300,000.
To pull the film off with this budget the filmmakers developed a 'micro-budget methodology', with a 'whanau' based approach where jobs are shared, and less experienced crew members are given an opportunity to work with veterans of the industry.
Local Waiheke residents and business have been contributing all manner of services and plenty of Waihetians will be spotted in the film in minor roles and as extras.
To enhance this low budget approach, every cast and crew member is paid the same daily rate - from producer through to runner - with each getting a share of the profits at the other end.