Coco Talanoa — Entertainment / Page 24

Tēnā koutou te whānau, The Walt Disney Animation Studios and Matewa Media are proud to announce that we will be dubbing a reo Māori version of the movie Moana. 

Now on the search for our very own reo Māori speaking Moana! If you love singing and acting and think this might be the part for you, please send us your audition. There's not a lot of time, so be quick!

Check out more info here

The Vodafone Pacific Music Awards went down last night celebrating the best in Pacific Music over the last year & the artists that brought us the music.

Check out some of the well known faces who were on the Red Carpet at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau.

And here are the full list of the 2017 winners:

Best Pacific Group - Three Houses Down 

Best Pacific Male Artist - KINGS 

Best Pacific Female Artist - Aaradhna 

Best Pacific Urban Artist - KINGS 

Best Pacific Song - 'Brown Girl' by Aaradhna 

Best Pacific Language Song - 'Tulou Tagaloa' by Olivia Foa'i 

Best Pacific Gospel Artist - Annie Grace 

Best Pacific Music Video - 'Welcome to the Jungle' - Aaradhna.…more

For 48 hours, TVNZ have unlocked the geo block on Shortland Streets 25 year anniversary so their global fans can watch and enjoy!

Check it out now .....

The Common Kings were back in town for their "Lost in Paradise" NZ/Aus tour on Saturday night where they played to a full house at the Power Station.

Earlier in the day they were also presented with their Best International Pacific Artist Award from the Vodafone Pacific Music Awards which they'd won at last years VPMAs.

We've got a few highlights from the night below and look out for them hosting Fresh some time this season.

And check out their latest music video for 'Mary Wanna' here ...

The boys are currently in Rarotonga where they'll be playing at Rehab before continuing on with the rest of the tour in Australia.

Go Behind The Scenes with The Star of 'The Bodyguard Musical' on now in Australia

With her incredible voice, stunning looks and engaging personality, Paulini is one of Australia’s most uniquely talented performers. The Fijian-born singer songwriter first enthralled the nation on the inaugural series of Australian Idol. Audiences instantly fell in love with Paulini’s impressive five octave range – a voice still unrivalled and like no other in this country. Since then Paulini has forged a hugely successful career. Her debut album ‘One Determined Heart’ and smash single ‘Angel Eyes’ achieved double platinum status, both hitting the #1 spot. She is still one of only 10 Australian female solo artists to have a #1 album on the Australian ARIA Charts.

More on Paulini

Shimpal Lelisi on performing in the Shortland Street musical, being a Poly in the industry, and how theatre has shaped his life. 

Recently I took part in workshopping Shortland St – the musical, for the Auckland Arts festival RAW season. The fact I would be playing four separate characters, have to learn five full musical numbers with choreography, with only eight days rehearsal for two showings to an already sold out audience, didn’t faze me in the slightest! I love this sh*t!

This year marks Shortland Streets 25 birthday and most people under the age of 30 will not know a New Zealand without Shortland St on its TV screens. The musical I would be workshopping was hoping to cash in on this familiarity and its birthday commemorations to realise a fully staged production. The fact the director of the workshop would be Simon Bennet, one of the tv series original directors and producers; encouraged not only me but the many involved, that this would be a work of merit.…more

The new Jason Derulo vid is fiiiiirrrrrrre and it must be cause of that Aotearoa touch. Choreographed by dancing queen Parris Gobel and starring RQ girls Kaea Pearce and Kirsten Dodgen

Suggested Links

Go behind the scenes with Parris Goebel

Interview with Dance Queen Parris Goebel

Written and directed by Tusi Tamasese, ‘One Thousand Ropes’ had its world premiere last week at the Berlin International Film Festival.

The second much awaited feature from the director of 'The Orator', 'One Thousand Ropes' is a haunting and emotional Samoan film about navigating relationships and redemption. Tamasese tells the story of a Samoan father attempting to redeem his violent past and rebuild a relationship with his daughter. The film stars Uelese Petaia as the main character and Frankie Adams as his daughter. 

In the same way that ‘The Orator’ (also written and directed by Tamasese) was specific in its cinematic aesthetic and pace, One Thousand Ropes is also extremely visually unique. It's difficult to assign one particular genre to this film, as it feels like a mixture of drama, horror and thriller. Tamasese's approach to storytelling tends not to conform to typical styles of filmmaking. The predominant use of Samoan language makes One Thousand Ropes an especially unique film.…more

"Tofa My Feleni" tribute to Sione Lauaki by Nick Afoa & Lasalo Elia

Sione Lauaki passed away on February the 12th, 2017 in Auckland at the age of 35.

He had played 17 tests for the All Blacks and over 70 caps for the Waikato Chiefs over 7 seasons before moving to France to play for Clermont and Bayonne before his kidney problems were picked up.  Earlier in his career he had also played for the Pacific Islands test team & NPC for Auckland.

He had lived in Rarotonga with his wife Stephanie & their children for the last few years.

Enjoy this beautiful tribute by Nick & Lasalo and a highlights video below of his rugby career

#RIPWax 

Suggested Links:  

Tonga's 1st All Black

Manu Samoa tribute to terminally ill rugby legend Joost Van Der Westhuizen