Shot at Awanui - again and again

There was a shooting in the main street at Awanui on Saturday - multiple shootings, in fact - but no one turned a hair.

It was all in the name of art, as film-maker Peter Vulinovich directed scenes for his independent movie No Cigar, loosely based on the fable The Scorpion and the Frog, about a newly-released criminal who is searching for the son he's never met.

The crew spent a long Saturday at Awanui, firstly filming in the street (while a crew member did his best to divert traffic) then in the Northland Riders' headquarters, which Peter Vulinovich declared to be ideal.

Bill Subritzky and fellow Riders had plenty to do too, although they weren't given a script.

"It was all ad lib. We had to die, fall over, scream and yell," Bill said, adding that the odd patch of skin had been lost. And they had to look mean, which wasn't as easy as it sounded.

"We're just some old blokes who used to play rugby for Awanui and Kaitaia but don't play any more," he added. "We do a bit of fishing, but mainly we like riding our bikes. Mind you, we're having trouble getting some of the guys out of character. I've told them, 'They said cut! but they're not hearing me."

The choice of Awanui as a location came about by pure chance, Peter asking a friend at Ahipara if she knew of any bikies in the area. The friend had seen a Trip To the Top (TTT) poster, and put him on to the Northland Riders.

Saturday was spent filming at Awanui, Sunday on Sandhills Road, inland from Ahipara, and Monday at Okaihau.

No Cigar is scheduled for release on the international film festival circuit early next year, possibly with an early screening at Oruru's Swamp Palace.