RADIO PIRATES – An Iconic New Zealand Story to Hit the International Silver Screen
Tauranga, New Zealand, 4 May 2009 In an extraordinary partnership, Kiwi screenwriter and director Craig Newland has teamed up with highly regarded cinematographer David Gribble to bring the iconic Radio Hauraki story to the world. From a screenplay written by Craig Newland and Andrew Gunn, Radio Pirates is a drama feature based on the true story of a group of passionate twenty-somethings that took on the New Zealand Government to bring rock & roll to a nation from a dilapidated boat in international waters in the Hauraki Gulf during the 1960’s. In an unprecedented move, Craig Newland has produced a concept teaser trailer for Radio Pirates with an extremely high production value showing this period drama in a cinematic way. This month, Newland is taking the trailer to the Cannes Film Festival to attract international interest for worldwide distribution, and investment opportunities. “It is an exciting time to be heading to Cannes to show off one of New Zealand’s iconic stories which has already attracted international interest”, says Newland. The Radio Hauraki story is watershed era. “When Craig we had another Burt Munro the elements of the struggle a David and Goliath one with plenty of rock & roll from a first brought me the script for Radio Pirates, I quickly realised story to tell. Not knowing the Radio Hauraki story, it has all that the World’s Fastest Indian went through”, says Gribble.
From its inception to date, the Radio Pirates project has taken nine years. It has the full support of the New Zealand Film Commission, David Gapes, the Founder of Radio Hauraki and The Radio Network, the owners of Radio Hauraki. The film will go into production during the next 12 months. About Craig Newland For over 20 years, Craig Newland has been an independent entrepreneur with a strong business background in the media industry. Over the years, he has owned and operated different successful commercial radio companies in New Zealand. With well-rounded experience and expertise he delves into his first theatrical production, “Radio Pirates”, with the firm conviction that it will achieve a high level of commercial success. About David Gribble David Gribble, who is based in Sydney, was the Cinematographer for the World’s Fastest Indian, a film based on the life of New Zealand speed bike racer Burt Munro starring Anthony Hopkins. Gribble was awarded the Milli Award for Australian Cinematographer of the Year in 2007 for his work on the film. This was the highest grossing local film at the New Zealand box office taking in over $7 million. David Gribble’s blog on the Radio Pirates project is at http://gribsgoesredonradiopirates.blogspot.com/ For additional information, please contact: Craig Newland Email: yourstation@xtra.co.nz Phone: +61 432 473 899