New Zealand movie Second Hand Wedding has gained New Zealand Film Commission funding for post production.
The film is directed by Wellington-based Paul Murphy with a screenplay from Nick Ward, and is based on a true story. While it Murphy’s first feature, he comes from a family of film makers, including his father Geoff Murphy who made the iconic kiwi movie Goodbye Pork Pie.
‘We started shooting Second Hand Wedding last August with a lot of enthusiasm, determination and very little money. Everyone liked the script and things fell quickly into place allowing us to get the film in the can within four weeks’ said Paul Murphy. ‘We then showed the NZFC a ‘rough cut’ of the film, they liked what they saw and agreed to help us complete it. This is great as we can now do post production at Park Road giving the film a finish of the highest possible standard so it can be released in cinemas later this year’.
After viewing the film Dr Ruth Harley, CEO of the NZFC said that she ‘laughed and cried in all the right places. We think this intrinsically Kiwi film about families and friends has terrific appeal and is the kind of movie that New Zealanders will enjoy seeing on the big screen’.
Post production on the film is now underway at Peter Jackson’s Miramar studios. Head of Client Production at Park Road, Vicki Jackways commented ‘we’re absolutely delighted to be part of Paul Murphy’s first feature film. There are a lot of big productions coming our way and for many of us here it’s equally challenging and rewarding to work on New Zealand films which are often a lot smaller.’ She added ‘Paul has shown a great understanding of his craft and our team is looking forward to contributing to the film’s success’.
Second Hand Wedding tells the story of Cheryl Rose who has just become engaged and can’t tell her bargain hunting mother Jill for fear she will ruin her big day.