Photo: Supplied
Shrek, one of Dreamworks' most famous franchise films, has been reimagined and redubbed in te reo Māori as part of a collaboration between Māoriland Productions and the American studio Dreamworks.
The world premiere will be held as part of the Māoriland Film Festival in Ōtaki running from 26-30 March.
Actor Tuakoi Ohia, who voices Princess Fiona, told Morning Report the re-imagined version has a te ao Māori flavour.
"I think a lot of the lines and a lot of the jokes that were translated fit really well with the way that fluent speakers would understand, so it kind of speaks in a real te ao Māori perspective and it is really hilarious."
Ohia said she was helped by her knowledge of the original film, even if it was a new experience to be a voice actor.
"There was a big screen in front of me, that really helped. I know Shrek, so Shrek is a movie I've grown up with my whole entire life. It is one of my favourite movies. So knowing it, almost every word for it helped.
"I just had a lot of fun with it. Our director Tainui Stephens was awesome and he really helped steer myself into making sure I was getting things right."
During the voicing of the film, Ohia said the cast and crew tried out different ways of saying lines.
"We had our reo advisors with us. So we were able to have a play around with different versions because there's so many different ways you could say any kind of line in te reo Māori.
"We would just have a play with it, see which one would fit. We had to think about what would fit right for the lips and the timing. It's a really technical process."
Ohia is excited for the film to premiere at the Māoriland Film Festival, which she described as "a wonderful festival, very indigenous-focused, community-focused."
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