The screening was part of the DGA’s Director’s Finder Series, which was founded approximately five years ago by Guild’s Independent Directors Committee to spotlight undistributed low budget and/or independent feature films directed by Guild members. This series was recently expanded to include films directed by members of the International Association of English Speaking Directors Organizations.
No. 2 is based on Fraser’s award-winning stageplay about the matriarch of a family organizing a feast to name her successor. The film stars Ruby Dee, Tuva Novotny, Mia Blake, and Taungaroa Emile. No. 2 won the Dramatic Cinema Audience Award World at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Following an introduction by SDGNZ Executive Director Anna Cahill, Fraser discussed the making of the film with actress Rena Owen, a native of New Zealand who served as moderator. Fraser spoke about the difficulties involved in translating his work from stage to screen, and praised the New Zealand film community for assisting him. Fraser and Owen were joined by actor Xavier Horan, who plays Tyson in the film, and spoke of his collaboration with the director.
