The cast of the short film with the crew at the end of the shoot day in Rotorua. Photo / Leah Tebbutt
The cast of the short film with the crew at the end of the shoot day in Rotorua. Photo / Leah Tebbutt
It may have been a hot and tiring day for the girls involved in the production of All Children Have The Right To Art but their smiles at the end of the day hadn't faltered.
Tutus and stockings filled the Anne Samson School of Ballet on Wednesday, but no air-conditioning was allowed to ensure the recorded sound for the short film was perfect.
Lighting manager Graham Lauder said it was a privilege to film at the Rotorua dance studio as locations like this were hard to find in the regions.
"We often have to suffer because we are a small production company and we don't have large studios so you have to deal with ambient light which can create a lot of hassles."
He said although filming never went smoothly, the film crew were progressing to the end which was music to his ears.
Lights, camera, action! Ballerinas adorning tutus were front and centre in this film shoot. Photo / Leah Tebbutt
All Children Have The Right To Art is a short film by an Alaska-based film-maker Fred Potts.
It is about a young girl who dreams of becoming a dancer. One day while running errands she comes across a dance studio where she sees multiple dancing styles.
Tatianna Curits, 9, who travelled from Tauranga for the day, was performing the part of Rain.
She was pleased with her effort during the seven-hour day but admitted she hadn't done much dancing, more waiting for her turn.
"I think we are on track and everything [went] really good."
The "once in a life-time opportunity" was 12-year-old Mya Pritchard's dream come true.
She enjoyed the day and learnt that it could be exhausting waiting for her time to dance.
"It's been really fun seeing how movies are produced and how much work is actually put into it."
Maia Salesa, 13, didn't just dance but played a more technical role where her character had to morph into another through the magic of film.
"I want to dance for my whole life. I'd really like to be a professional dancer."
Anne Samson said she was more than happy to offer her studio to the film crew and although it had been an exhausting day she would do it again in a heartbeat.
"I think it will give the girls a lift for themselves. That will really help them for their exams this year, give them an incentive and some more confidence."
There are six main dancers in the film and about 40 extras.
The crew will be filming in Gisborne until today. Producer Danielle Hegarty told the Rotorua Daily Post earlier this week that the film was expected to be released in the next few months.
"We're hoping to really show this to the world. We think this has a really good message."
