2024 – 2020 Taki Rua Theatre : Breaking Barriers
Feature documentary
Taki Rua Theatre: Breaking Barriers tells the story of our unofficial Māori national theatre. As we watch a new production go through rehearsals, we witness the deeply personal, politically visionary story of the thirty-year struggle to create a truly bicultural force in the world of live theatre, and society. From humble beginnings, Taki Rua presents a depth of talent forceful enough to take the voice of Māori to Aotearoa and the world. (Edmund Eramiha, Scotty Cotter Image: Bruce Mckay :Whanganui Bason Botanic Gardens 2021)
Writer/Director/Producer : Whetū Fala
Executive Producers: Gaylene Preston, Reikura Kahi
Producers: Selina Joe, Whetū Fala
Supporting director : Christina Asher
Jeanine Clarkin Māori Fashion Activist
Jeanine Clarkin unplugged and personal on life as a fashion designer in Aōtearoa. Better known as the fashion designer that brought the Māori motif maro short and long aprons on the catwalks of NZ Fashion Week and found on the best dressed workers in offices from downtown Christchurch to upmarket Tamaki.Today there are many copycats but the first was Jeanine Clarkin.
Her next major venture was to work in wool blanket Māori design activism and that also sparked a new industry of wool blanket copycats. Meanwhile Jeanines wool designs and ventures into sustainable haute couture has seen her designs grace London Fashion Week with regular fashion activations prior COVID in Paris, Madrid, Melbourne and Waiheke Island.
Jeanine Clarkin Māori Fashion Activist.
Ngā Aho Whakaari Shorts
When Merata Mita challenged a Ngā Aho Whakaari hui to create film opportunities for Māori stories from the heartland the first Ngā Aho Whakaari shorts series was born in 2015, now in its 5th year the series has continued to expand and grow Māori talent.
In 2015 the first four short films were completed from Māori communities of Hokianga “Pumanawa: the Gift” Writers Wayne Te Tai Director Poata Eruera Producer Tui Ruwhiu, Waiariki “Elevator” Writer/Director Tihini Grant Producer Lara Northcroft,”Ow What” Writer/Director Mike Jonathon Producers Lara Northcroft, Mike Jonathan and “Te Ukaipo Whenua” Writer/Director Kararaina Rangihau Producer Hineani Melbourne, Waikaremoana.
All four films have screened nationally Wairoa Māori Film Festival, Māorilands Film Festival, Ngā Whanaungā Shorts NZ International Film Festival and internationally including ImagiNative Toronto, Canada.
Executive Producers: Whetu Fala for Fala Media and Karen Sidney
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SIVA
Siva dance track is composed by Fonoti Pati Umaga for his band Kabasa. Released in 2016.
Director/Composer: Fonoti Pati Umaga Producer: Whetu Fala
2013 Fale Matariki – July 20, 21
Te Wai o Horotiu Marae, Auckland University of Technology
Māori and Pasifika filmmakers team up in the Fale/Whare/Meeting house of AUT marae to bring screenings, workshops, stalls and all things creative for Matariki in beautiful Tamaki city.
Sponsored by Commonwealth Foundation, Te Ara Poutama AUT, Auckland Council Matariki team .
Producer: Whetu Fala for Fala Media
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2013 Waiheke Waiata Mai!
Māori songs sung by Waiheke Islanders.
Favourite Māori songs by Waiheke Islanders.
2013 Matariki Screenings:
June 2013 Waiheke Community Cinema
July 2013 Fale Matariki Festival, AUT marae
Director/Producer: Whetu Fala
Featuring: Waiheke Islanders
2013 Matariki Shorts Waiheke – Sunday 9 June
Waiheke Community Cinema, Oceanview Road
Waiheke based Māori filmmakers present their short films in celebration of the start of Matariki (the rise of the Pleiades star constellation in the Southern Hemisphere.)
Produced by Fala Media
