Canterbury on parade at LA movie premiere

Lisa Abbott had no idea how famous Carlos Ponce and Eduardo Verastegui were when she took over the production of Meet Me In Miami.

"It was quite fortunate really, otherwise I would have been completely intimidated."

Despite no experience in film (her background is investment), she had no qualms about launching herself into movie-making when the opportunity presented itself in 2002.

Her daughter was asked to be an extra in the film by friends in Los Angeles.

Ponce and Verastegui, two of the hottest stars in the Latino film world, were already cast, and filming was under way.

But while the Abbotts were in LA, the Italian production company collapsed.

"I always had a passion to see more wholesome, family friendly films being made, so I phoned my husband and bank manager, and set up a production company [Palm Tree Productions]," Abbott says.

"The film was set in Italy, and I thought, 'Why not set it in New Zealand instead and showcase beautiful Christchurch?' So I moved the production to New Zealand."

The romantic comedy is the story of Miami's most eligible bachelor, Luis Montero (Ponce), who has inherited a lucrative chain of hotels.

But Montero is still pining for the perfect girl he lost 10 years earlier at the age of 12, Lisa Abbott.

Determined to find his lost love, he decides to fly to Abbott's native New Zealand with his best friend and self-proclaimed relationships expert, Eduardo (Verastegui), in tow.

The pair arrive in the middle of frenetic wedding preparations, find themselves mistaken for gardeners and arrested for armed robbery.

Despite the fact sweet little Lisa has grown into a punk tattoo artist with a scary boyfriend, Montero knows he has found the girl of his dreams.

The film was shot in nine weeks, seven of those in Christchurch, two on the Californian coast.

Abbott's love story would make a great movie, too Originally from L.A., she woke up one morning with "a really strong feeling" she should go to New Zealand.

She chose Christchurch because of her Christian faith and within days she was buying a house in the city.

"The agent asked why I came to New Zealand, and I joked I had come to find a husband. She introduced me to David, and we got married 33 days later."

Sixteen years and four kids later, she says he is still "the most incredible man" she knows.

Abbott admits it making the movie was "a steep learning curve. I thought it was going to cost a certain amount and, of course, it ended up costing a whole lot more," she says.

The investment looks well-justified judging by the positive reception the movie has received from audiences and media.

The organisers of the 2005 LA Latino International Film Festival, which attracts about 2000 entries a year, have selected the film for competition and are showing it in one of the top venues, the Egyptian Theatre.

Guests are likely to include actors Andy Garcia and Angelica Huston, both of whom are on the festival board, actor Lindsay Lohan, singer/actor Jennifer Lopez and representatives from a number of American television networks.

Abbott is blown away by the amount of attention the film has received.

She is presently developing The Rachel Scott Story about one of the victims of the Columbine High School tragedy, in partnership with Eric Hannah and Servant Productions.

- NZPA