Make My Movie

NZFC / NZ On Air / nzherald.co.nz present... the MAKE MY MOVIE project. Our proud history of profound, progressive & potty thinking: Splittng the Atom / Women Getting the Vote / the Zorb and now we have another world first: the MAKE MY MOVIE project

Project details

Billy Boxer fights The Power Poster View larger

Billy Boxer fights The Power

A “Super Ghetto Kid” FILM
WRITTEN BY Chris McDonald

Billy loves his BMX. It's not flash, or shiny, or even has all of its paint, but it's his and he loves riding it round town with his old table cloth cape and beanie with conveniently placed holes for him to look out of on. When you don't have much an imagination is a wonderful thing.

Until recently his Dad had a job, some guy overseas has it now as he can do it cheaper, so the factory management said. His Mum, well, she can't get one of the few jobs that are going around, tends to calm her nerves a little bit too much beforehand. It's looking pretty dire for the Boxer household.

But with the fluke discovery of methane venting in their backyard and a few singed eyebrows later the local power concern sets up a recovery depot in the backyard (and parts of the house). Dad thinks things are finally on the up, but Billy's not too sure, especially considering he is now roommates with a large flashing, beeping control unit and it's technician Kevin.

Any dream Dad had of getting out of his rundown state house for a flasher one up on a hill somewhere and the status symbol that is the Holden Commodore up the drive evaporate quicker than the methane as the power company decide they don't want to pay for the gas emanating from the Boxer's backyard and would rather take it for free, and the house too.

Billy retreats more in to his imagination as things get worse at home. Not even this is exempt from the power company's reach anymore, with the daily turmoil invading his imaginings.

And when he finds his bike has been sold to pay the debt to the power company, that is the final straw. Even if things weren't great beforehand, Billy needs to get his life back. The power company has a fight on its hands.