Matt Hicks has two newborn babies – Thomas who he left at home with wife Sarah and big sister Madeline, 2½, – and the movie Home Kills, which premiered in Waipā last week.
A bloodied lower arm movie prop hidden behind her seat won Raewyn Margan, second left, a meat pack at the Home Kills movie. From left writer, director, producer Hadyn Butler, mayor Susan O’Regan presenting the meat pack and producer Matt Hicks. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
The screenings in Cambridge on Thursday and Te Awamutu on Sunday wrapped up a gruelling tour which started in Matamata on September 2, four days after Thomas was born.
Question and answer screenings were also held in Putāruru, Hamilton, Whitianga, Thames and Raglan.
The movie was filmed over three weeks in Tīrau, Putāruru, Horahora, Leamington and Hautapu late 2022.
“I love my family, but they’ve really drained my filmmaking finances and the time I can spend on it,” joked Hicks, 37.
For the Cambridge born, Maungatautari Primary and Cambridge High School-educated part time DJ, marriage celebrant, actor and film producer, the Waipā screenings were special.
When the credits roll at the end of the movie, the names right at the end are worth waiting for as they are a who’s who of Hicks’ friends and friends of friends and the people of Maungatautari, where he grew up and even has a road named after his family.
Most of them turned up for the premieres and it was them he turned to when scouting locations.
“They’re genuine people. It was like ringing up my cousin or ringing up my old mate. When I said the places we needed, they were enthusiastic and they were like ‘oh, we’ve got a lead for you’.”
Having Maungatautari – Sanctuary Mountain – as the backdrop for so many scenes was inspiring.
And with a limited budget, there was no recompense in the way of money.
“So, we would give them, you know, a bottle of wine or a 12 pack of Waikato Draught.”
At the first film shoot, The Tavern actor Phil Palmer gets a touch-up from crew member Sarah Price. Photo – Michael Jeans.
Hicks has The Tavern, another film, in post-production. Shot in and around the Masonic Hotel in 2019, it also features lots of locals.
It will be released next year.
“That is the most Cambridge movie you can possibly imagine. We filmed at The Stables – we turned that into a strip club – and in the Masonic and at the racetrack. We actually filmed a horse race.”
There were heaps of celebrity cameos – jockeys, a famous sportsman and local identities.
It finishes with a blooper reel.
“I’ve worked too hard on it to drop it into the market now and try to release something around Christmas/New Year because that’s absolute chaos.”
Mayor Susan O’Regan loved Home Kills and seeing Waikato scenery featured.
“It was wonderful to see a locally shot and supported independent film on the big screen.
“Alongside a gritty script – complete with twists and turns – and brilliant acting, the moody landscapes of our region made this film a real must see experience.”
- ‘Home Kills’ is available now on streaming sites NEON, Amazon Prime, Google Play and You Tube.
- Tivoli Cinema has added new screenings.
Friends, friends of friends, family and mayor Susan O’Regan with husband John Hayward, watching Home Kills at the Tivoli Cinema in Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
