Creative arts students at Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) have just wrapped filming for a short film, adapted from an award-winning story by local author Marilyn Diver-Dudfield. 

The award-winning short story is called The Fort (2019) and was turned into a short film, shot over three days, last week..

It is intended to be about five minutes long, when finished.

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Arts and Education programme manager Steve Woller said he first heard Ms Diver-Dudfield’s novel read at their writers’ group, and from first reading he knew the story needed to be made into a movie.

“When she brought the story to the group, everyone thought it would make a great short film, because of its visual nature. It contains a powerful message, it’s a big story but can be delivered in a small format,” he said.

“We knew it was a good story when we read it, and when it won the Dan Davin award, we knew we had to adapt it for the big screen.”

Mr Woller has written the screenplay and says the story is serious and poignant but told through a child’s eyes in a fun way. 

In the film, the child’s world would seem more important than reality.

“It’s a little bit like a short version of Life is Beautiful (1997) but without the war,” he said. 

Marilyn Diver-Dudfield and Steve Woller. PHOTO: Supplied.

Young actor Liam Templeton has been cast as the young child in the film, with his real-life mother Michelle Templeton playing his mother. 

Mr Woller said the project had tried to use as much local creative talent as possible, for the enrichment of the southern community as a whole. 

“It’s showcasing lots of different levels of talent in Southland” he said. 

“We’re also using a number of SIT students as interns in almost all departments”.

They would be mixing animation with live action, creating a steep learning curve and the opportunity to involve another class of SIT students in the production.

“I’ve never done it before and it will certainly keep us on our creative toes. The more elements there are to work with, the more complex it is fitting it all together”, Mr Woller said. 

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The final day of filming took place on Friday last week, with the film scheduled to screen for the first time in April 2021.

Ms Diver-Dudfield said she was honoured that her story was being brought to life by the crew at SIT. 

She said she drew her inspiration for writing from life around her and felt there was an untapped potential in Southland for telling stories about the tight-woven community. 

“I don’t think I could’ve been as inspired anywhere else for this story, as I have been here”, she said.