Gorilla Pictures

So after not being able to get money from the NZ Film Commision for the short film Jack’s War we decided to fund it out of our pockets (which aren’t exactly deep).  Then I got a Facebook message from Hera (who I did photo’s of a few weeks back) – she suggested to look at IndieGoGo.

In their words: “IndieGoGo offers anyone with an idea – creative, cause-related, or entrepreneurial – the tools to effectively build a campaign and ultimately raise money.”

Brilliant – exactly what we are after.  So I have set up a page for Jack’s War here.  On the page you can make a contribution, or simply follow updates.  $100 NZD gets you an official title as ‘Executive Producer’ :)

(Yes the top picture is of a german paratrooper – it’s the coolest pic I could find for our temp logo type thingy!)

A casting call has gone out on StarNow – for any interested actors!  Check it out here.

Katie O’Brien (producer) and myself applied to the New Zealand Film Commission for funding to shoot a kiwi WW2 short film called “Jack’s War”. We got a big no.

So now we’re moving ahead to self fund it and get it shot this summer.  Pretty much meaning – we have to be creative about how we get it made on a shoestring budget.  My aim is to document as much of the process as possible.

The screenplay was written by Edwin McRae (a writer for Shortland Street amongst other things) and myself and is based on a true story from the battle of Crete in 1941.

Crete’s landscape is quite similar to Banks Peninsula here in New Zealand – this is one of the main reasons I went with a story from that part of the war. The one thing we don’t have however is the Mediterranean style architecture like below:

So we’re going to build a couple of sets. Mark Hitge, a local artist / set builder is going to replicatie the above church out of polystyrene.  We’ll be able to then place that set wherever we want.

Another set Mark is helping with is turning these abandoned buildings in town…

…into this…

…a Crete village street.

We will repaint the walls and add doors, window shutters, dirt on the floor, live sheep & various other props to sell it as a 1941 Crete village.

Help us out by donating to the film – check out the details here.

Episode 1: Hulme.

Based on the true story of WW2 sniper Sgt. Clive Hulme. Hulme was awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts on the island of Crete.

The story takes place during May of 1941 when New Zealand troops were posted to defend Crete from invading German paratroopers.

Find out more about the battle here

Written / Shot / Directed / Editor: LOGAN McMILLAN Art Department: DAMIEN SHATFORD

Starring ROBERT FAITH
with NICK WHITE, SHANE PALMER & BRAD McMILLAN

Thanks to KEVIN McMILLAN, DAVE DUNLAY, JOHN McMILLAN, Christchurch RSA, Gun City, & Kiwi Disposals