Living treasure

Beth Allen plays Ellie in Daybreak Pacific's film Treasure Island Kids - The Monster of Treasure Island. The film is the second in a trilogy loosely inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's book of a similar name. It is being shot at several Auckland locations including Piha, Green Bay, Bethells and Wenderholm.

The 19-year-old fell in love with acting when she was 11 and has appeared in television shows including The Tribe, Xena, Riding High, Twist in the Tale, The Legend of William Tell and films including The Ugly and Murder in Greenwich. Ms Allen is working on the film over summer while she is on a break from Auckland University where she is studying a bachelor of arts in film and history.

"It's just been a really neat time," the ex-Avondale College pupil says. "It's a really fun crew and a fun way to have a holiday."

The film is written by ex-pat New Zealander Gavin Scott who has worked on Steven Spielberg's Small Soldiers and The Borrowers. Auckland actor and director Michael Hurst is simultaneously directing the second and third movie in the trilogy.

The story revolves around a modern day summer camp on a remote South Pacific island where a group of youngsters unite in a bid to find hidden treasure. The 10-week shooting schedule is due to end on January 16 and producers predict the first film will be released here in mid-2004.

(Photo: Beth aboard the TIK 'Air Ship' being filmed at Green Bay's Motu Moana Scout Camp)