Roger Donaldson's powerful action thriller Sleeping dogs was a landmark in New Zealand cinema when it premiered in 1977. The film launched the acting career of its star, Sam Neill, previously a novice director with the National Film Unit, who went on to an international career. His co-star, Ian Mune, who also co-wrote the film script, adapted from C. K. Stead's novel Smith's dream, later became a noted film director. The director of Sleeping dogs, Roger Donaldson, had learned his craft making television commercials. Funding a feature proved so demanding that Donaldson once gave the entire cast and crew an unexpected two-day break in the middle of shooting. He then went and made a television advertisement to ensure that everyone got paid that week.