Crew - Independent Feature - Te Taipo

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Othello as one of Shakespeare’s most well loved tragedies has been produced in many different forms, genres, languages and cultures the world over.  The classic Othello is the story of a black general in the Venetian army who is betrayed by his trusted ensign Iago into believing his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful.  He kills her before being told she was faithful only to him.   It is a story driven by the themes of love, jealousy, racism and betrayal.    Our version Othello is set in Te Ao Maori of Aotearoa circa 1796, nearly 50 years after initial Pakeha Maori contact (Tasman).   Here Othello is portrayed as a Pakeha Maori living in a Māori tribal society.   While the original universal themes and through-line of Othello are still very much central to this version, Maori symbolism and tikanga of the early period of Pakeha Maori interaction have reshaped the story to fit a traditional Maori World View.  Te Taipo will be performed in approximately 90% Te Reo Maori and 10% Elizabethan English accompanied throughout by modern English subtitles.  The landscape, costumes, make-up, language, ceremonies, dialogue and world view of the characters will reflect Maori of 1796.    This production will be unique in New Zealand’s Arts history as a professional film work that is not only performed in Te Reo Maori but is reinterpreted and embedded in Te Ao Maori.  

Through this production of Te Taipo our larger objectives are to:

• Develop and engage the Maori audience making a Shakespearean Classic more accessible
• Develop intercultural awareness, reflecting the treaty relationship with tauiwi and Maori working together to ensure self determination of things precious for both Pākeha and Māori
• Transmit and teach Te Reo Māori to a wide, diverse audience
• Depict Mātauranga Maori ensuring its preservation, revitalisation and reclamation
• Help to make Te Reo Māori more mainstream on screen  and develop the knowledge of Matauranga Maori within the cast and crew 
• Allow Maori actors, crew and creatives to work within their own cultural context, while producing a work of significance that reflects values from their culture
• Working with Te Hana Te Ao Marama Charitable Trust to offer opportunities for their rangitahi to participate in a project that offers an insight into film and television production as a possible career path
• Mentoring young Maori and non-Maori graduates of film in a professional environment within tikanga Maori to create this as a normal way of working

We are looking for expressions of interest from interested crew. While ideal but not essential, a knowledge of good te reo would be great. A demonstration of good pronunciation and a willing to learn as well as work in a Maori context is essential. 

Filming will commence in March 2011. There will be an intensive rehearsal period prior to learning reflecting the directors desire for strong, committed performances. This is a dialogue drama and as such requires competency on set on arrival.   

This production has attracted a strong team committed to the kaupapa and requires the same of the crew. 

Please send a one page CV and headshot

Key positions paid. Some internships available