A comedy about life in Samoa has paved the way for local actors to feature in movies overseas after its success in Australia and New Zealand.
The road though for the Director/ Producer of Three Wise Cousins Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa.
He said the risky move to self-fund the production of the island based feature has been a legitimate success.
"I have no more money in my wallet, I put up $80,000 dollars to putting together this film," he said.
"And at one point, I had to go back to work to make up some, and along with the help of families and friends we made this possible," Ioasa added.
The movie’s revenue at the New Zealand box office racked up $510,000 dollars, five times more than the amount spent on the movie by the producer.
"If I was to create the film the way I wanted it, I had to use my own money, I wasn’t about to put up with any more opinions and ideas added into it, I needed to make it look the way I wanted," said Ioase.
The director though was asked whether he was worried about the principles of being an actual Samoan living in Samoa, possibly being portrayed differently than they actually are in the movie.
"There is a line on things we know we work on, and working with these two locals, they knew where the line was, and I think we kept to the safe side of things," he added.
For Neil Amituanai, the message portrayed in the movie of tracing his roots and knowing the life of a true Samoan, has really helped him get in touch with his island beginnings.
"It was the first time being in Samoa, and the character I’m acting is struggling to learn the Samoan life, and I am glad I learned it the way I did," he said.
So would he trade the spotlight on movie theaters for a life in the plantation?
"Absolutely, there’s no problem for me to come here and live here," he added.
The movie's premiere has attracted a lot of interest with prominent people from all over the island expected to attend the screening at Apollo Cinemas tonight.
Caretaker Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is also likely to be in the audience.