TBI Q&A: Sarah Hunter
Sarah Hunter’s music-filled documentary is a sharp and lively memento of the jazz-inflected Wellington reggae unit TrinityRoots.
Sarah answers The Big Idea community questions about making TrinityRoots, Music Is Choice. See the comment box below.
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Lead singer/guitarist Warren Maxwell, Rio Hunuki-Hemopo and Riki Gooch formed TrinityRoots in the early 90s and sang their last of their plaintive, drifting three-way harmonies at the Wellington Town Hall in February 2005 in a sellout concert to raise relief funds for the Boxing Day Tsunami.
In interviews shot soon after the break-up, the band members look back with unassuming pleasure and good humour on the way things usually came together for them – such things as two much appreciated albums, True and Home Land and Sea with its anthemic title track protesting the seabed and foreshore legislation and the purchase of land by overseas interests.
The film draws on generous footage of the band rehearsing, recording and performing, along with friendly testimony from critics, collaborators and their mums. — BG
Sarah Hunter
Sarah is a filmmaker and photographer who works in music marketing and promotion. She has worked on music videos and promos for Fat Freddy's Drop, Dallas Tamaira and Joe Dukie and DJ Fitchie amongst many others.
Director/Producer: Sarah Hunter
Year: 2010
Running time: 70 mins
Executive producers: Gareth Moon, Will Moore
Photography: Chris Hiles, Paul Wedel, William Moore, Chris Graham, Reuben Sutherland, Sarah Hunter, Sticky Pictures
Editor: Paul Wedel
Sound: James Dawson, Sam Spicer, Paul Wedel
Music: TrinityRoots
DigiBeta
With: Warren Maxwell, Rio Hunuki-Hemopo, Riki Gooch, Trace Brown, Toby Larmer, ‘Dr’ Lee Prebble, DJ MU aka Chris Faiumu, Chris Graham, Grant Smithies, Brian Ruawai
Comments
15 July 2010 - 14:42 PM
Thanks for your questions for Sarah Hunter about making TrinityRoots, Music Is Choice. The competition is now closed and her answers are below. Ticket winners have been contacted - check your email!
Kia Ora, Sarah. Why Trinity Roots? How was it to work with those guys? Thank you. Luiza Stay positive.
Kia Ora
The story is about TrinityRoots because of the 'bros' - the music - the inspiration. And we miss seeing them playing live!
shh
Hi Sarah
What's the story behind the title? It's choice... I wanna know more!
nga mihi
Eleanor
The title was a tag on the wall at the Surgery Studio in Wellington that TrinityRoots helped establish during the making of the album 'True'. Was doing some promo stills for their second album 'Home, Land and Sea' and got side tracked by this column of tags by various muso's and visitors - one of them being 'Music is Choice'. Seemed to fit the story really well and the bros do say 'choice' a few times.
Hi Sarah,
Making a Doco as opposed to a straight music video is quite different I imagine. Was it a personal challenge to get a more indepth story using dialogue with the Doco as opposed to only music in a music Video?
Yes making a doco is diff from a music video but at the heart is all about making a journey with music. The interviews with the Trinity bros were recorded in 2005 not long after the band split. Approached them almost with an oral history flavor, talking about the music and times of TrinityRoots - wanted to feel like a conversation with the bros. Did train originally as a journo and worked in print, radio and promo and enjoy the challenge of putting the story jigsaw together.
shh
Hi Sarah, I only found out about this film after it had already screened in Auckland!! Will there be any future opportunities to see it again in the Auckland region?? Also does it explain why they broke up?? I never really got the full story about it as I returned from a trip to the Uk to find my favourite band had disbanded ARRRGHHH!!!
Hi Dawn
Sorry to hear you missed Auckland screenings. No word yet on more screenings there but who knows. If there is deman be great to return. The break up - 1 waka has become 3 was the word on the day - we touch on the bros wanting to follow their own projects. And when you look at the results, the music of Little Bushman, Eru Dangerspiel and Rio Hunuki Hemopo is so awesome we cannot complain.
shh
Thanks. I agree they have all done great things since the split but do still miss their live shows!! hey I was wondering how you would feel about approaching Matakana cinema's re showing your film, they are a local small boutique cinema complex that have in the past featured local films. Over the years Trinity Roots played a few times at Leigh Sawmill and have a local following that still has many fond memories of the band and I'm sure that there would be enough interest for a showing. I'm not sure how the finances work for these things but also wondered whether perhaps the event could be a fundraiser for a charity perhaps close to the bro's hearts? I would think $20 - $25 would be affordable and maybe Matakana Cinemas may donate the use of their venue? I'm sure the local magazine would advertise for you and although this might not raise a great deal of money hopefully its the aroha that counts??
Anyway no pressure! just a little idea I had while washing the dishes!
actually just had another thought, perhaps it might be easier to show at Leigh Sawmill? I'm sure they would be keen and they have a projector. Just throwing it out there, of course I would be more than happy to help in anyway.
kia ora
Hi Dawn
If the Leigh Sawmill want a screening that would be awesome. Let us know
shh
hi, will do, will ask them about it. Also a little Katchafire birdie told me that Trinity Roots might be getting back together for a few gigs soon!! YAY
Kia ora Sarah
What was the experience / challenges for you as a film maker and friend to capture the essence of the emotions and feedback from the musicians and crew after the break up of Trinity Roots?
I am looking forward to viewing the screening and is there any plans for international film festival?
Regards
Maryann Tuao
Kia Ora Maryann
That is a big question - how long is a piece of string.
Ultimately like Dr Lee Prebble said in doco - the bros are so awesome at what they do you hit record and let the magic happen.
Being indy underground styles you are working a lot on goodwill and good nature of everyone involved. The bros themselves had a wicked collection that we dug through - videos by Chris Graham and Reuben Sutherland as well as the bros getting behind little handy camera, and some video pieces I had shot from side of stage. We also had a couple of live gigs that were shot at Welli Town Hall. Reading this you can see the challenge was when to stop adding content. So many choice choices.
shh
Kia ora Sarah,
How much time did you spend with the boys filming this and how long did it take you to edit it? Do you have plans to screen this offshore and will you be adding it to your Transmit website? CHUR!
native sista x
Kia Ora Suzanna
Took ages - well the interviews with bros were about an hour or so each back in 2005. Then we've been like little Miss Tutu ever since. Had a first up run in 2005 with first edit and put on a shelf. In 2009 got back to the project. Recorded some fresh interviews with music industry peeps in Feb 2010 and rolled to the finish line from there.
We'd love to go off-shore and spread the good music and inspiration. After that we'll look at online options too.
shh