Haven: A NZ Feature Film Made Within a Year

If you’ve ever wanted to make a feature film but didn’t have the funds, cast, time, crew or previous feature filmmaking experience... This is your sign to do it anyway.

BoddyBag presents Haven - a gory, dark comedy whodunnit feature film.

The idea was planned out in a three hour car journey.
Written within three weeks.
100 pages shot within 10 days.
The whole project is expected to be completed within 12 months from conception.

“We didn’t have a handbrake,” Julia Boddy, actor and filmmaker explained. “In order to create art, with full control, you have to find a way to make it yourself.”

‍ So yeah. These guys just did it. They made it work despite the odds, and it looks like they absolutely smashed it out of the park.

Haven follows Megan, who escapes to a remote lodge on Mount Ruapehu for a week of solitude and relaxation. Not far from there, a religious commune called Haven descends into total chaos following a deadly incident. The survivors flee for their lives and take refuge at the very same lodge.

‍ When a murder rocks the isolated retreat, tensions rise and trust quickly unravels. Trapped with a group of strangers, Megan finds herself caught in a deadly game where anyone could be the killer - unless she figures it out before the next killing.

‍ I am a total sucker for an Agatha Christie mind-twisting murder mystery, so I’m already sold tbh. But what really sets this movie apart is their gung-ho, guerrilla style way of filmmaking.

And, from what I’ve seen of Haven so far, I’d say quality wasn’t compromised on either.

“You just gotta go with the flow, and when you find something has gone wrong when you’re back in post, you say ‘damn’, kick yourself for half a second, and then you find a way to fix it,” Julia said.

“Instead, embrace the mistakes, learn from them, and turn them into something out of the box.”

In other words, mistakes weren’t avoided; they were embraced and evolved into a more creative version.

‍ What I loved about this process of filmmaking was that they worked totally within their means. They had a lodge at their disposal, so the storyline was based around a lodge.

While a cheesy action movie was preferred, limited funds meant a genre change was required. Keeping costs down, they also needed a multi- tasking cast and crew.

“We knew we would all be lodging and living together for a couple of weeks, so needing to be nimble, curious and accepting was a massive factor. We even sent that out when casting to agents,” Julia said.

This passion project had everyone 100% on board, with most people wearing more than one hat on set. Actors were also sound operators, and the chef Matthew Pesce even stepped in as an actor.

“This was every actor and crew member’s first feature film. It was the first ‘yes’ they’d been given so we were all so grateful of one another.”

The crew list also included John Mulvey - AKA Nick Frost’s stunt double - who planned out the stunts. Julia highlighted Arno Retief as central to the crew. He was camera operator, sound operator, gimbal operator, gaffer, grip, armourer, bullet stunt co-ordinator, and all-round good guy.

“He’s always wanted to make a movie, so we said ‘here’s your chance!’”

New Zealand actor and acting coach Miranda Harcourt tuned in from Europe too, sending well wishes and sharing advice.

With Haven set to be completed by December 2026, Julia is now putting on her producer’s hat to pitch it to distributors. I have no doubt we’ll see this film on our screens by next year.

Their attitude of not letting anything stand in their way makes Haven feel like more than just a film. It’s an ode to not only following your dreams, but actually getting sh*t done.

Unapologetic, and not asking for permission. This is Kiwi creative ingenuity at its peak. Love it.

Follow their progress on Instagram @boddybagmovingpictures, and stay tuned to watch Haven!

Everyone deserves a shout out on this project:

Cast:
Julia Boddy - Megan
Emma Campbell - Caitlin Samantha MacGillivray - Victoria Sylvie Pease - Francesca
Zara Gilbert- Rose
Gracie Cullen - Charlotte
David Capstick- Christopher Chris Turnbull - D.S. Bully

‍ ‍

Crew:
Julia Boddy - Producer
James Boddy - Writer/Director/Camera/Editor
Chris Brokensha - Camera/Technical Director
Rowan Asmundson - Camera/Technical Director
Arno Retief - Camera/Sound/Whole Lot Of Other Stuff Matthew Pesce - Chef
John Mulvey - Stunt Co-ordinator
Paul Vary - Camp Dad
Miranda Harcourt - Acting coach
Martin Boddy - Graphics

Want to see your project featured here and filmfreak.co.nz? Get in touch! jodie@beachmarketing.co.nz