The world of drones, terrorism and espionage will come to Dunedin's Fortune Theatre next month thanks in part to the work of two Otago Polytechnic students.
Third-year design communication students Joshua Hunter (23) and Christopher Clapham (21) and their lecturer Jon Wilson estimate they have spent about 100 hours creating immersive digital content for Grounded, a play which explores themes of modern day warfare and motherhood.
Mr Wilson said the collaboration between the polytechnic and the Fortune Theatre arose after Grounded director Jonathon Hendry approached the department seeking people with skills to create interactive technologies and sets.
Mr Clapham said content for the 120-minute play was predominantly filmed in Central Otago because it resembled Nevada, where the play is set.
"We created a combination of stuff using drones and after effects, car rigs, camera monitors on cars and aerial footage.''
Last week the students filmed in the studio with lead actor Claire Chitham (Waverley in Shortland Street), he said.
Mr Wilson said he was "amazed'' by the way the students had approached the workload.
"The quality of the shots, and the work they have wrapped up, the shots that they have created are ones in my normal working life I would be very happy with.''
He estimated about 90 clips had been created for the "hefty'' but "amazing'' project.
He hoped the project would be the first of many collaborations with the theatre.
Mr Hunter said the collaboration had given him the opportunity to immerse himself in the Dunedin film industry.
"It's not often you get an opportunity when you are studying to be able to do real-life work and apply the skills as you learn them.''
He hoped the addition of animation and film footage would attract more students to the play, Mr Hunter said.
