over a period of 14 months, using a process involving yoga and emotional warmups. Casting Over 200 actors auditioned in Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, and Wellington for the lead roles. The cast includes first-time film performers Courtney Hale (Moana), Hayley Fielding (Eva), and Richard Adams (Matt). Amelia Shankley plays the cult leader Star. As a child actor, she won the Best Actress award of the Paris Film Festival for the feature film Dreamchild, as Alice Liddell, the girl who inspired Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Locations The film is set in Sydney. Exteriors were shot there in December 2009, with scenes set at Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, and Kings Cross. All the interior scenes were shot in Wanganui, New Zealand. Awards Accolade Award of Excellence, Best Supporting Actor – Amelia Shankley Anthem Film Festival, Best International Narrative Feature award Indie Gathering International Film Festival, Best Feature Drama Reel Independent Film Extravaganza, Best Feature Drama Release The film was released in New Zealand in 2010, and in Australia in April 2012. It was distributed in North American on DVD and TV by Vanguard Cinema and Video On Demand by Indie Rights. References External links Artmedia Productions Films shot in New Zealand New Zealand independent films Australian musical drama films Films shot in Sydney Films set in Australia Films based on New Zealand novels 2010 films 2010s English-language films 2010s musical drama films New Zealand musical drama films 2010 independent films