26 year build up to Indian

Filmmaker Donaldson admits a story about an old guy from Invercargill is not at the top of Hollywood's list

12 October 2005
It may be a movie about world speed records - but it took a quarter of a century to arrive.

Roger Donaldson says tonight's premiere in Invercargill of "The World's Fastest Indian" has had a 26 year build-up.

The New Zealand director wrote the first script about Burt Munro in 1979, but after he finished his last project two years ago, he realised it was time to stop talking and get on with making it.

Donaldson admits a story about an old guy from Invercargill is not at the top of Hollywood's list.

However, he says the movies that often are the most successful are those which at the beginning look like an enormous gamble. Money to finance the film has come from Japanese investors, the New Zealand Film Fund, and Donaldson's own pocket.

Donaldson says he always knew Burt Munro's story would make a great movie but concedes not everyone was as enthusiastic about the idea as he was.

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