Los Angeles, CA (WFN) -- One way to visit a country you've never seen is to film a movie there.

That's the tactic film director Mark Gordon used after several unsuccessful attempts to travel to New Zealand.

He decided that the only way to get there was to, as he puts it, "write my way back there," and that's just what he did when he wrote and directed the film "Her Majesty," about a New Zealand girl realizing her life-long dream when Queen Elizabeth visits her hometown in 1953.

Constant rain during the filming didn't damper the spirits of Gordon, who says New Zealand was beautiful and a "wonderful country to shoot."

Gordon says the locals embraced him, which isn't too common because many film companies have also realized the beauty of the country, but have tried to pass it off as Northern California on the big screen.

"Her Majesty" opens today (Oct. 15) in San Diego and select U.S. cities in the future.

Appease an angry Great Volcano by winning 10 Tribal Challenges in SKIP-BO Castaway Caper! Take advantage of this incredible bargain and get two hit puzzle games for one low price!

More Weird News From 2004-10-15 The day's offbeat stories from around the world. • Porn Stars Shave To Support 'No More Bush' Campaign • Flash Lites: Rip 'N' Read Pop Culture Recap • Giant Pumpkin Records Keep Getting Smashed • Wardrobe Choices Chap Phyllis Diller's Hide • Host Of 'I'd Do Anything' Show Proves He's Do Everything For Team • Number Of Visitors Attending Shania Centre Opening Can 'Only Go Up From Here' • Director Turns Travel Plans Into Film • There's No Slowing Down Bush's Verbal Blunders • Psychic Infomercials Come Back • She Sickened Me With Science • Around The Weird: Bizarre News Briefs   « Current Weird News Stories