Kia hiwa ra! Kia hiwa ra!
Kia hiwa rā ki tēnēi tuku, kia hiwa rā ki tērā tuku, kia tū kia mātara!
Congratulations to the three teams selected to receive funding from the inaugural He Ara development scheme:
Blacklands - $50,000
Blacklands Development is a joint venture between Ainsley Gardiner of Whenua Films (Boy, The Pā Boys) and Bailey Mackey of Pango (Happy Hour, CODE, The GC). Focussing on collaboration between experienced and emerging writers adopting a Māori approach of tuakana and teina working collectively on producer-driven projects for Film, TV and Digital media.
“In traditional times Māori engaged in story-telling through whaikorero and wananga. Blacklands intends to use both as a means of rooting our story development process in a traditional manner. Creativity and productivity in a specifically Māori context.” Bailey Mackey
Blacklands have committed to adding $25,000 to the funding offered by the NZFC.
Piki - $100,000
Piki brings together a group of New Zealand’s funniest storytellers: Taika Waititi, Oscar Kightley, Louis Sutherland, Tusi Tamasese and Madeleine Sami.
Piki means to jump physically in Māori but it also means to lift up, energise, encourage, hype up, and spring forth. This speaks to the slate of films in development - they are entertaining, positive, up-lifting and comedic. "Piki also sounds like "picky" which is appropriate because we are particular about who we work with. We aim to be selective with a focus on motivated writers who show commitment to the craft and bring with them finished or near finished works that are original, marketable, and of a high standard. More important to us than developing ideas is developing talent... and making movies." Taika Waititi.
Piki is creatively led by Executive Producer Taika Waititi (What We Do In The Shadows, Boy, Eagle vs Shark) and supported by Executive Producing team Carthew Neal and Leanne Saunders.
Piki are now looking for a final project from a new writer or writing team to join the development process. See www.pikifilms.com for more information.
South Pacific Pictures - $50,000
“South Pacific Pictures are excited to be trying out a new development process with a talented crew of experienced and emerging Pacific Island writers. It is a process that focusses on the idea of support.” Rachel Jean
Writers Damon Fepulea’i, Teuila Blakely, Malo Luafutu, Oscar Kightley and Arnette Arapai and developers Rachel Jean and Elizabeth Mitchell will all meet together in a number of round table script meetings to spend hours on each project , developing characters, discussing stumbling blocks, and working through structure together.
South Pacific Pictures have committed to adding a further $23,000 to the funds offered by the NZFC.
He Ara was set up earlier this year to assist established New Zealand writers, producers and directors of Māori and/or Pasifika heritage to express authentic Māori and Pasifika film perspectives.
Applications for the second round of He Ara are now being accepted until 19th September 2014.