Writer/director Fiona Samuel's A Piece of My Heart is an adoption drama that deals with reconciliation between mother and child, husband and wife, past and present.

It will shoot primarily in Auckland, with a few days in Dunedin, and is being produced by Michele Fantl, of MF Films.

Casting is continuing but Fantl is "thrilled" to have signed Rena Owen in one of the lead roles.

She says casting is a challenge because two of the chief characters need to appear as teenagers in flashbacks, "so trying to find matches is hard".

In addition to casting director Christina Asher, the crew includes costume designer Kirsty Cameron, 1st AD Robyn Grace, editor Margot Francis, and DoP Dave Cameron.

Fantl says Cameron and Samuel worked together on a short film she recently wrote and directed for the NZ Drama School.

"She loved the experience so much she convinced me to give him this break. He's previously worked on Karaoke High and Amazing Extraordinary Friends but this is his first primetime film/drama."

A Piece of My Heart will screen next year, along with two other Sunday Drama commissions, Life's a Riot and Until Proven Innocent.

[Rain of the Children]

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