Wairarapa film-maker scoops $100,000 prize

A former Wairarapa College student has just had his big break - a $100,000 grant to make his first feature film.

Richard Falkner co-wrote and is acting in How To Meet Girls From a Distance, which beat 750 other entries to win the Make My Movie challenge.

An initiative funded by NZ On Air, the NZ Film Commission and the NZ Herald, Make My Movie offers a chance for novice film-makers to get their movies on the big screen.

Although $100,000 sounds like a lot of money and, grateful as he is, Falkner said it was still not enough. "It's more money than any of us have ever had, but in terms of film-making it's still the smell of an oily rag."

Falkner wrote the film with Dean Hewison and he said that, although they wrote a low-budget film, it was still an ambitious project with 20 locations, 25 characters and hundreds of props. "There's axes, there's blood and cars. It's not a one-room production."

He describes the film as a weird take on a romantic comedy, telling of 30-something Toby who, after a traumatic dating experience, takes to "researching" girls before he meets them. "The moral of the film is be honest and upfront, don't pretend to be something you're not."

Currently in the midst of a 17-day whirlwind shoot at various Wellington locations, the production team - Traces of Nut - are hoping to have the film on the market next year.

Falkner, who also attended Masterton Intermediate and West End School, began making films with friends when he was 12, starting with medieval themed short films and moving on to a sci-fi epic involving a giant slug in a sleeping bag.

He said it was drama teacher Marilyn Bouzaid who encouraged him to pursue acting.

The best advice he could give to others was to just try small, fun projects with your friends and get involved with competitions like such as 48 Hours. Traces of Nut are still looking for extras and bands for the soundtrack, so if you want to be a part of it go to www.stalking.co.nz.