Juliette Hamilton is keen for her Te Aute College students to perform a haka and powhiri if the film, This Town, has a premiere in CHB. Photo/Warren Buckland
Juliette Hamilton is keen for her Te Aute College students to perform a haka and powhiri if the film, This Town, has a premiere in CHB. Photo/Warren Buckland
Juliette Hamilton might be right at home in front of a classroom, but confesses she's slightly unnerved about her transformation to silver-screen performer.
"I am a bit nervous about being on the big screen. It is always odd to watch yourself on film - and by that I mean home-made videos," grinned the Central Hawke's Bay high school teacher.
She makes her feature film debut in This Town, a movie shot by Takapau director David White in and around CHB.
A long-time member of staff at CHB College and now an English teacher at Te Aute College, Hamilton said she landed the movie part because of her daughter and aspiring actress, Nellie, 12.
At her daughter's insistence, she emailed the film's producers after they called for people to register for open auditions.
"My daughter was desperate to audition so I sent in her profile and also a wee blurb about me. But the night before the audition she got into a spot of bother and I was very disappointed with her and quite angry."
When the solo mum and her daughter attended the casting call the next day, Hamilton recounted the story to director David White and his creative team.
"They thought I was hilarious. David asked me if he could take my photo and then if I could tell some more stories and channel gossipy women I had met over my life."
After she and daughter Nellie had auditioned, Hamilton had to go to Te Aute to prepare for exams starting the next day.
She received a phone call about 2pm asking if they could send her a script so she could return for a second audition.
"Unfortunately they sent the wrong script through, but I went in at 5pm and did another impromptu audition for about 10 minutes.
"Two weeks later, they rang me to say I had the part."
Written, produced and directed by White, who also plays the lead role, the comedy pits his character, Sean, accused and acquitted of a crime, against ex-cop turned petting zoo and adventure park owner, Pam. She is trying to prove his guilt.
Hamilton appears in a few scenes alongside Pam, played by Robyn Malcolm from Outrageous Fortune.
The scenes were filmed at the Patangata Tavern in CHB and also feature Jonny Brough from Hunt for the Wilderpeople and actor and Radio Hauraki presenter Jason Hoyte.
hooting the film The Town in Patangata Pub, Waipawa. From left: Central Hawke's Bay director David White talks with cast members Jason Hoyte, Robyn Malcolm, Juliette Hamilton and Jonny Brough.
"I am a secondary character and am in two scenes shot over a couple of days. I have quite a lot to say for someone who has never been in a film before," said Hamilton.
Despite a lack of acting experience, White has praised Hamilton for "holding her own" against Malcolm, which was "no small feat". In turn, Hamilton was full of praise for Malcolm and the other cast members.
"It was fabulous working alongside these experienced actors who really put me at ease, particularly Robyn, who was a warm, funny, very professional woman."
Though it will be her feature film debut, Hamilton said she did not quite fit the bill of "untrained" actor.
"I was really interested in acting when I was younger and attended the Guildford School of Acting [in the UK] for a short period of time.
"I also did several acting workshops in my 30s in Auckland. When Nellie was born, I had to give up all extra-curricular activity as it was too hard with her being so little."
Hamilton was now looking forward to seeing the movie and "finally finding out the full story" created by White.
"David is an amazing person. He instantly puts you at ease, makes you feel welcome and is really encouraging.
