Starring Ian Mune & Mark Mitchinson, PULLING UP STUMPS is a 13-minute comic drama that’s set in the Central Otago area—a place of hard farming, stalwart neighbours, and dry as dust humour. It’s a Kiwi short film full of pathos, understanding, and laughter. Watch the teaser. Get the key facts. Read the synopsis. Explore useful links & press coverage. Or download the film stills.
TEASER
KEY FACTS

- TITLE: Pulling Up Stumps
- LENGTH: 13 Minutes
- GENRE: Comic Drama
- COMPLETION DATE: June 1, 2023
- COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Aotearoa New Zealand
- TEAM STUMPS: View Cast Bios and Team Bios
- CAST: Ian Mune, Mark Mitchinson & Giovanni
- WRITER/DIRECTOR: Elinor Teele
- CINEMATOGRAPHER: Alun Bollinger NZCS (AlBol)
- CO-PRODUCERS: Phillida Perry & Emma Martini
- EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Brett Mills & Elinor Teele
- TEAM STUMPS: View Cast Bios and Team Bios
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TECHNICAL SPECS
- FORMAT: Digital
- ASPECT RATIO: 1.85:1
- SOUND MIX: 5.1 Theatrical
- SHOT ON: Arri Alexa Mini
- AVAILABLE SCREENING FORMATS: DCP; H.264; Pro Res
STORY

LOGLINE: Amidst the dust & shadows of a Central Otago woolshed, a grumpy old man is obliged to listen to a humorous tale from a meddlesome stranger.
SYNOPSIS: On a dusty day in Central Otago, a man in his 80s enters his workshop. His mission? To fix a broken kitchen appliance.
His task is interrupted by the arrival of a chatty stranger and an irksome rooster. After several attempts to get rid of distractions, the old man is forced to listen to the tales of his visitor, including the saga of an obstinate stump.
Gradually, it becomes clear that the stranger may not be so strange. And the story may have more meaning than first meets the ear.
READ THE DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
In 2021, I moved back to Otago after a long stint in the States. It was a wonderful choice, but it was bittersweet to see how much the Lakes District and Central areas had changed.
Sheep stations had vanished. Adventure tourism, golf courses, and sprawling housing developments were now the order of the day.
You can’t stop progress, but you can honour the past. So I decided to write a story about people I knew. Through my parents, I have been privileged to meet men & women who remember Central as it was—a place of hard farming, stalwart neighbours, and dry as dust humour.
PULLING UP STUMPS is a tribute to these Southerners. Through this short film, I hope to preserve a family story and the character of a world that’s fading fast.
USEFUL LINKS

- PRINT VERSION: Press Kit PDF
- WEBSITE: pullingupstumps.com
- SOCIAL: Instagram
- SPONSORS: AVIS Queenstown | Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel | Queenstown Camera Company
- SUPPORTERS: Film Queenstown Lakes
- CONTACT: Elinor Teele (Writer/Director)
- COPYRIGHT INFO: © Pulling Up Stumps Ltd. 2023
READ PRESS COVERAGE
- MOUNTAIN SCENE: Ian Mune starring in local short film (Nov. 10, 2022); Short film’s all go (March 9, 2023); Two good old roosters (March 23, 2023)
- CRUX: Locals and veteran stars shine in ‘sensitive, emotional, and nuanced’ Arrowtown movie (March 24, 2023)
- WIFT NZ: Female-helmed comedy drama seeks financial support (Nov. 30, 2022)
FILM STILLS
Photo Credit: Still Vision Photography
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Photo Credit: The Jack’s
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Photo Credit: George Cassells
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Photo Credit: Elinor Teele
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