This documentary captures a key moment in the rebirth of Kiwi cinema: director Roger Donaldson and his small crew shooting breakthrough 1977 film Sleeping Dogs. A trip to the Cannes Film Festival inspired Donaldson and mate Ian Mune to take the bull by the horns. They adapted CK Stead novel Smith's Dream, chose the Coromandel as their main location and assembled a team including Sam Neill and American veteran Warren Oates. The action-packed script required stunts and explosives on a tiny budget. Special effects man Geoff Murphy is interviewed while painting a machine gun made out of four-by-two.