'River Queen' director replaced

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- New Zealand cinematographer Alun Bollinger has replaced Vincent Ward as director of the struggling film "River Queen."

The Wellington Dominion Post reported Bollinger, also the film's cinematographer, had been de facto director for the two weeks since Ward was fired.

Producer Don Reynolds confirmed the appointment, admitting there had been some friction between Ward and the film's star, British actress Samantha Morton.

But the differences were not out of the ordinary for a star and a director and had nothing to do with Ward's dismissal, he said.

Ward, who battled for years to get funding for the film and co-wrote it, was fired because Film Finances Ltd. was worried filming would not be completed by the end of November, Reynolds said.

Some crew members were unhappy over a pep talk that Morton gave after Ward's firing, because she failed to mention him. Insurers had to pay out $10 million after Morton became ill and filming was stopped for several weeks.

Ward said this week that he still supports the film despite being fired and he called Morton's filmed performance "extraordinary."