Peacock's Day is based on the 1917 Mansfield short story Mr Reginald Peacock's Day and is about a music teacher (Mr Tucker) and his three singing students: the sentimental diva Marian Morrow (Ms Leese), the eccentric countess (Goeknil Meryem Biner) and the shy ingenue Betty Brickle (Aislinn Furlong).
The 15-minute movie, set in 1918-20, is being filmed during five days in historic homes around Dunedin.
Mr Tucker said taking part in the film was very different to how he was used to performing.
"Doing it in such small segments and going over it so many times."
Ms Leese said she felt as if she had done it before and thought that was because it was a similar process to taking part in television interviews.
"It's a different way of thinking from how you would usually perform."
Director Quentin Furlong said the storyline was based around how Mr Peacock had difficulties reconciling his life's daily realities with his artistic sensibilities.
"It is a duet of drama and comedy with the action driven by the artistry of music."
Each lesson was an opportunity to feature the musicality of the cast, she said.
The film also featured Terry MacTavish as a devoted fan, Angela Band as Peacock's wife and Josh Meikle as his son.
The cast included students, musicians and established artists.
Music direction was by Anthony Ritchie and Tom McGrath and cinematography by Stephen Downes.
It was produced by PicturesQue Films, a newly formed charitable trust dedicated to fine art film projects with an emphasis on Dunedin talent and locations, Ms Furlong said.
