Existence

This ‘salvagepunk’ film is set in a desolate future where wind turbines power a vast electric fence that seemingly protects the survivors of environmental collapse, and keeps refugees out. A rare entry in the Kiwi sci-fi feature catalogue, Existence stars Loren Taylor (Eagle vs Shark) as Freya, a mother who dreams of the world beyond, and Matthew Sunderland (Out of the Blue) as a mysterious boundary rider. From a SWANZ award-winning script, the low budget film was shot on Wellington’s rugged south coast hills. It marked the feature debut of director Juliet Bergh.

In the film, some inhabitants had been isolated from the main population for several generations. The language was plausible because the film involved a catastrophe that could have an impact on speech, Dr [Martin] Paviour-Smith said.

– Massey University linguistics lecturer Martin Paviour-Smith talks about the dialect developed for the film, The Dominion Post, 27 April 2011

Key Cast & Crew

Jess Charlton

Writer, Story Concept, Cinematographer

Loren Taylor

As: Freya

Juliet Bergh

Writer, Story Concept, Director

Melissa Dodds

Producer

Mhairead Connor

Producer

Peter McCauley

As: Robert