"A room full of movie stars," someone commented from somewhere near the back at Kaitaia's Te Ahu cinema on Saturday, as everyone steeled themselves to watch a second run of the short film No Cigar. And he/she was right.
Peter De Verus, who wrote, produced, directed and acted in the film, hosted the screening for local cast members, the bulk of them drawn from Awanui's Northern Riders, who did a pretty good job of looking menacing and allowing themselves to be dispatched to meet their maker.
Bill Subritzky, who told the Northland Age some days after shooting in Awanui had been completed that some of his mates were having difficulty getting out of character, seemed to have reverted to his old self, and every one of those who contributed to the film had good reason to be pleased.
It's a short - 13 minutes 30 seconds - story about an ageing gang member seeking redemption, which Mr De Verus said was now being hawked around "underground" film festivals around the world, 'underground meaning those that didn't mind a bit of blood and swearing".
There's certainly plenty of both, and more jerk-upright-in-your-seat moments than many films these days can muster in 90 minutes or more.
