Kavinda Herath

Actor Rima Te Wiata, Director Matt Murphy, Producer Tom Hern and Actors Dean O'Gorman and James Rolleston after the unveiling of the exhibition.

Actor James Rolleston is planning on stepping back and focusing on his recovery now that Pork Pie promotions have wrapped up.

Rolleston, along with other cast members and director Matt Murphy were in Invercargill this week to showcase the film to the south.

Kavinda Herath

Producer Tom Hern shouts the famous catchcry from the film one last time.

On Wednesday, a premiere was held in the city and on Thursday a meet-the-stars breakfast event was held at Transport World.

Actor James Rolleston said now the film had been finished and the promotional tour was over he was going to take the time to focus on himself and his recovery.

He was in a car accident that nearly killed him five months ago. 

Kavinda Herath

Actors Dean O'Gorman and James Rolleston sign autographs for fans.

"I'm probably just going to relax, just focus on myself and recover from my car accident."

Hopefully, he would be back into it at the end of the year, Rolleston said.

It took a lot for him to get back out in the community after his accident, he said.

Kavinda Herath

Producer Tom Hern checks out the Pork Pie exhibit on display at Transport World

"For a while there I was just in hospital in the rehab centre with only a few people, and I actually got used to it."

On July 26, a car crash outside Rolleston's home town of Opotiki left him in a five-week coma

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Kavinda Herath

Pork Pie director Matt Murphy.

Director Matt Murphy said it had been a long journey and it felt good to be at the end of the tour in Invercargill. The promotion had spanned from Kaitaia to Invercargill.

"Up till now it's been all about making the film and getting it as great as we can do it, and now it's out there in the world."

The cast and crew had 39 shoot days and every day was a big one, Murphy said.

Kavinda Herath

Actor James Rolleston signs the original Mini on display at Transport World.

"One of the things I was conscious of with this movie was to make something very Kiwi, but make it a good standard, like an international standard with a Kiwi heart."

Actor Dean Dean O'Gorman said the tour had been a nice way to send the film off out into the wilderness.

"We had a really wonderful reception last night from the people in Invercargill and had a really good time meeting everybody."

Kavinda Herath

A T-shirt signed by the cast of the Pork Pie film

Producer Tom Hern said, with a hoarse voice, the experience had been bloody awesome.

"I've been shouting that catchcry from the movie all the way from Kaitaia, so I've almost lost the voice."

It was special to bring the film back to Southland, he said.

Kavinda Herath

Ashleigh Williams and Katie Herman got their toy Minis signed by the cast of the Pork Pie film.

"Southland really is like the spiritual home of the Blondini gang. This is where the magic happens down here."

HW Richardson Group managing director Scott O'Donnell said Pork Pie exhibition at Transport World came about as a deal where they provided funding for the film in return for some of the props.

Invercargill already had the Burt Munro film and Pork Pie was the other great movie to feature the city, he said.

"This worked in two ways: It was local and it gave us something to go on display."

Southland had the potential to be a great place to shoot films, O'Donnell said.

With a lower population it was easier to organise people and control things like traffic and crowds, O'Donnell said.

"We've got to try, if we can, to make Invercargill a great place to shoot movies."

There was the potential for the HW Richardson Group to become involved in future productions, he said.

"If it's something we like, we wouldn't mind being involved, but we wouldn't be ongoing movie funders, that's not really what we're about."

 - Stuff