We're on countdown guys – four weeks until our premiere in the Bay, 6 weeks until it hits the Coromandel, and 7 until it's available in cities and towns throughout New Zealand!

So, how have we got this far?  
Connect, Create, Celebrate has been our kaupapa from the outside and it helped us gain serious momentum.

• Connect – with community, with each other, with individuals, businesses & organisations.  Putting relationships first.
  
• Create – enabling a space where people have an outlet for their creative strengths and get to fully utilise their creative gifts.
  
• Celebrate – focus on what we do have: assets, resources, skills and talent.  Appreciating everyone's contribution, small or large.  We see and celebrate the gold in the community around us.
  

By connecting, creating and celebrating we have created a film that is huge. It cost a maximum of $30,000 to produce, yet it looks, feels and represents millions of production value dollars.  This is not your average low-budget film with a simple story and small cast, this is a highly-resourced production with a huge message, a community worth of principal cast, limos, helicopters, drill rigs, night scenes, choreographed stunt sequences, 20+ locations and hundreds of extras.  I'd say this is the biggest low budget film ever to hit NZ cinemas – and this is an achievement certainly worth celebrating!

So gang, let's celebrate this with the rest of New Zealand – by making sure people have heard about it, talk about it, get out and see it!  

We're already booked in cinemas across the country: Auckland, Christchurch, Coromandel, Hawkes Bay, Palmerston North, Levin, Motukea, Akaroa... the list is increasing everyday. We need people in all of these locations to be excited about this film before it arrives. 

LET'S TAKE IT NATIONAL
To do this with our limited budget, we all need to go back to the same model that proved so successful during our production phase:

• Connect – identify the strengths in your networks and find places to share the story that connects you to the film, whatever that may be!
  
• Create – let's get creative with how we can connect with people. Let's use our skills and creative strength to get the word out
  
• Celebrate – how are you spreading the word, how are you encouraging people to join the gang?  Anyone running around in Santa suits? or even Z-nailing a few tyres? (joking) Have fun with the process and share it with us. Let's celebrate this community achievement from start to finish!
  

Many groups and organisations supported this film:

• Scouts, Rotary, Lions, Red Hats, Wetlands, Book clubs, Iwi groups – remember, all of these groups are in pretty much every community around the country
  
• There are local activist groups who want to know about this film, your family & friends, neighbours, sports clubs, political groups, businesses.  Who can you connect us to?
  

HOW FAR CAN WE REACH?
We already have the potential to make this big, but we want to make it HUGE!

1. When we first released our trailer it was shared by over 200 people on Facebook and had a post reach of over 20,000 people! We are now sitting at over 5,000 'direct' views on Youtube, but as views on Facebook don't add to that click rate, we can only assume that our trailer has probably been viewed a lot more than that!
   
2. When we released the date of our premiere the story was in the top four most read stories in the Bay of Plenty Times all weekend.  It received over 180 Facebook shares.  
   

Let's share it again, let's share the trailer and reach thousands more, let's encourage people to 'Like' the Facebook page and join the gang.  Let's prove community is not just an ideological concept but one of the strongest forces on earth, with the power to unite and the power to create momentum!

Meet Tom and Fred our two Australian prospectors.  Some may think that those attributes alone
would make them the most obvious of characters to dislike in the film, but on the contrary – these two are probably in the 'most loved' section! 

Actors Mike Lowe and Phil Brown brought so much to the table that in our initial edits we had to cut them back because they stole so much of the show! However, even after being trimmed our test screening audience still rated them as true highlights.

In the actual script they were fairly minor characters, with not too many lines. But once on set, their superbly witty and often ridiculous improvisation immediately drew fans.  The fact that they spent hours in the car together driving to and from the Bay of Plenty gave them plenty of time to plot, scheme and perfect their new roles.

Aside from their amazing acting skills, they are also incredibly nice guys, happily helping crew at the drop of a hat and often making creative suggestions for our art department. They were more than happy to help unload the truck or get someone a coffee and when Mike asked you how your day was going – you knew he really wanted to know.  Even during those rare occasions (ahem) when the hangovers were 'hanging over', they were still "churrpy as chiiips" – with an Australian twang, obviously.

These two will definitely require their own special feature on the DVD release – watch this space!

In celebration of reaching 1,000 likes on our Facebook page, we've decided to release the Z-Nail T-Shirt designs a little earlier!

There are two great designs:

1. "Te Maunga, No Mining"  which is the T-shirt worn by the cast and protestors in the film.  Te Maunga literally means 'The Mountain' and the silhouette we've used is the very special mountain Motutere (Castle Rock/The Giant) found in the Coromandel. Use of its image has been generously gifted to us by Ngati Huarere. This T-shirt comes in black or green.
2. "Some Things Really Are Worth More Than Gold" This T-shirt is a celebration of the strength of community, recognising how precious our people and environment are!  This T-shirt comes in blue, orange or purple (a special one made with our Red Hat Ladies in mind).

We are in the process of setting up an online shop here on the site, which will be available soon - so watch this space!

In the meantime we'd love to hear which style you'd be interested in pre-ordering – just comment on this blog or private message us on Facebook with your chosen colour, size (S, M, L, XL) and an email address so that we can sort out delivery.
(at this stage just tell us what you'd like so we can start producing and we'll sort out $$ and delivery once film is released)

"Make loads more" was one of the final comments from a questionnaire completed by a test screening audience on Sunday afternoon. 

A group of 14 gathered in Te Puna to view an almost complete version of The Z-Nail Gang (grade and sound mix still in process).  With a selection of wine and cheeses and no previous involvement or detailed knowledge of the film, the group watched with an unbiased perspective as the film unfolded before them.  From outside, the laughter could be heard throughout the screening and the silence was also evident for the more dramatic scenes.  When the viewing finished there was a sense of unabashed enthusiasm and celebration as people sat around to debrief.

Each participant filled in a questionnaire to help us understand their experience of the film. 
The feedback was unanimously positive and we've included some of it below...

The Z-Nail Gang was described as:
"exactly what Geoff Murphy said we should continue to make"
"moving, inspirational, funny"
"staunch kiwiana, fun & strong, very cool"
"thought provoking"
"a great home-grown movie, with current storyline and great humour as well"

On the way home we will be thinking about:
"everything that we remember growing up, old protest movements, a story that needs to be told"
"loved all the arms of community working together for the greater good"
"the capacity by large corporations to underestimate the power of community"
"the theme of community"

Favourite moments in the film:
Well, everyone had different moments so there were too many to name (you'll have to see it for yourself) but there was a resounding sense that people loved the humour – in fact, one comment actually  noted "funny moments - too many to count". Countless comedic scenes were noted as favourites. The beautiful NZ scenery also came up as a highlight, as did the music.  

Characters:
One of the things people had noted concerns about during the scripting phase was the number of characters represented in this film (not your average 'one-hero' movie), but largely the audience connected with all the characters. They loved the individual representation each of the characters brought to the community.  From staunch Aunty, to graceful good-cop Tipene, to the elusive Hunter, the cheek of the children and the quirks of Ned.  Even the baddies had a fanclub, in particular the Prospectors (who got a huge amount of laughs) and our great bad-cop Srgnt Smith.  A noted favorite overall was the development of the relationship between Dave & Mareeka and their growth not only individually but as a couple through the movie.

The highest scoring single component of the film was the idea/message. Our audience loved that it really celebrated Kiwi community.

So overall folks – we're happy to say we've got a movie that has a definite 'recommend to friends' tick and a definite 'must see NZ film' tick. A satirical comedy with serious undertones that will have you laughing, crying and walking away celebrating the strength of community!

To celebrate the official release of "The Z-Nail Gang" film poster, we're inviting you to get creative with us and be in to WIN an exclusive Z-Nail Prize Pack!

POST THAT POSTER...
How to enter:

• Print out a colour A4 version of The Z-Nail Gang Poster (JPEG below)
• Post it up in a public place, where your community will see it
• Take a picture of where you've posted it – hopefully with you in the photo – maybe a landscape type shot showing the poster and where it has been placed
• Post the picture on your Facebook page with the text "The Z-Nail Gang – coming soon!" and share it with
  our Facebook page
• As soon as we see it on our Facebook page, you will automatically go in the draw!
  

How easy it that?


The Prize Pack includes:

• A cinema sized poster signed by the key cast
• An official Z-Nail Gang t-shirt
• PLUS a range of other goods c/o of our sponsors (more details to follow)

Terms & Conditions

• All eligible photos shared on the Z-Nail Facebook page between 8-22 June 2014 automatically go into the draw.
• Competition ends at 6pm on 22 June.
• The winner will be announced at 8pm on 22 June.
• Judges decision is final.
• Prizes can not be exchanged for the equal cash value.

Good luck and happy posting!

We are so privileged to have Erroll Shand playing "Dave" our lead protagonist in The Z-Nail Gang, who has brought real depth and spirit to his character. 

Dave is inspired by a one of the key campaigners in the Coromandel during the 1980's and 90's who fought tirelessly to protect the Peninsula, sometimes legally, sometimes not so much.  In real life he is a potter and a surfer, both passions reflected in the movie. In fact, the very pottery itself becomes a moving analogy, mirroring the forging of community spirit through fire.   

Reluctant at first, when Dave finally joins the protest, his irreverent actions infuriate and confound the prospectors, police and his wife alike, with entertaining results.

Erroll put a lot of research into his character's arc, motivation and journey and this really shows through in the film.  It's the small details that have really thrilled us during the editing process, the little gestures, subtle subtext and those engaging close-ups!

What we discovered working with Erroll, was his incredible passion for acting and his willingness to go well beyond the call of duty.  After two serious injuries during a major stunt sequence, he bravely battled on for the rest of the day. The best we could do was bring a St. Johns staff member to set to give him the once over.  Then there was the freezing cold swim at sunrise, which he again faced with valor (don't miss the pre-shoot money shot of this in the attached gallery).  


Erroll also really committed himself to the community spirit of the project, enjoying the hospitality of a few home stays (also pictured) while we were finalising permanent accommodation. He was also really encouraging and supportive of our two younger cast members Malachi and Jojo. Being first-time actors, Erroll took them under his wing.  

A massive thanks to Erroll and everything he gave to this film - it simply wouldn't be the same without him!

Another couple of great days on our mission round the Coromandel:
Got to meet up with Whitianga's Mercury Twin Cinema's owner and confirm another place The Z-Nail Gang will be showing...

...Had a lovely time discussing the progress of the film with Wanda from Ngati Huarere.  Her iwi have generously allowed us to film their sacred mountain and allow it to represent the mountain The Z-Nail Gang fight to protect.  It was a real privilege to spend time with her under the shadow of Moututere...

...Next up enjoyed meeting Augusta and Kale from Greenspot Guardians at Lukes Kitchen (a pizzeria too good to miss on a trip to Kuautunu!).  These are two fiercely committed women, who are enthusiastically informing people about and protecting their home communities of the Mercury Bay/Whitianga from mining.  They too have been involved in this battle since children and grew up on a lot of the stories represented in the movie (concrete toilets and bridge blockades to name a few)...So a big shout out to Greenspot...

...Then spent a fabulous evening staying with Mark, Nadilka and Brani and again reliving some of the hilarious stories of the 80's protests & celebrating how far we have come in the last 9 months.   We love these guys - their enthusiasm, encouragement and energy has given us the momentum to move this project forward.   PS - their coffee is great - Coffee Lala! ...

... coffee, surf, bush walk, hugs good bye ...

...And then back to Pauanui for some much needed family time and the usual make-shift edit suite so the post can go on - where-ever in the world we are!

That's some of the fun we've had in the Coromandel - tell us a bit about your favourite spots in that gorgeous corner of NZ ...