Auckland, April 2 NZPA - Two youngsters have been selected to star in the new feature of an Oscar-nominated New Zealand filmmaker.

James Rolleston and Te Aho Eketone Whitu have been cast to star as brothers in The Volcano, following auditions throughout the Bay of Plenty and Eastland regions.

They will play Boy and Rocky, brothers trying to find their potential in the shadow of their larger than life father, Alamein.

The Volcano is written and directed by Taika Waititi, who earned an Oscar nomination for best short film for Two Cars, One Night.

Since then he has directed his first feature, Eagle vs Shark, and he also four episodes from the two Flight Of The Conchords television series.

Waititi has been a friend for some years of Flight Of The Conchords duo Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, and Clement was one of the stars of Eagle vs Shark.

Shooting for The Volcano has begun in and around Raukokore and Waihau Bay on the East Coast, an area where Waititi grew up. It is the same setting used for Two Cars, One Night, the inspiration behind this feature.

The Volcano script had been selected for the 2005 Sundance writers lab.

Shooting is due to finish in May.

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