Madeleine Chapman

Editor of The Spinoff

Samoan, Tuvaluan, Chinese, American

My father was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, smack bang in the middle of America. All the rest of his family still live over there. My Mum is Samoan, with a Tuvaluan father and Chinese grandfather, and grew up in Elisefou. I have nine siblings and we were all raised under one roof until I was about eight years old. Growing up was...loud. Home was never empty and if you were fighting with one sibling there was always another one in the next room who'd be nice to you.

Can you share a bit about your journey to becoming a writer?  Was it something you always knew you wanted to do?

I was a big reader as a kid, mainly because Mum hated the TV so reading was a safe alternative. It also looked like homework so I got out of doing housework sometimes if I was reading. But even then I didn't think I was much of a writer.…more

SAM PUEFUA 

Actor 

Samoan 

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Talofa lava.
My name is Sam Puefua and I'm an Actor. I currently live in Long Beach, CA., but I'm originally from American Samoan, specifically from the village of Pava'ia'i. I was raised there until the age of 9yrs and than moved to United States and here in the State of California is where I've been ever since.

How long have you been in the entertainment industry and do you have a highlight or favourite experience in your career so far?

I have been in the industry for a little over 10yrs now. Started pursuing my acting career right after High School and ever since, I never looked back!
I actually have a few favorite highlights in which one of those highlights I got to work with my uso (Taylor Wily) and my sis (Sisa Grey) on my very first TV show, Hawaii Five-O! Traveling, Exploring Hawaii, visiting my aiga and all the while doing what I love? I couldn't have asked for a better first experience.…more

Lucy Tupu

Samoan

Furniture, Rug & Lighting Designer.

Born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand.  My father is from the village of Falelima, Samoa.  I studied industrial design at RMIT in Melbourne and have been in the design industry for over 20 years. I was fortunate enough to open my own design studio in October 2016. We design custom rugs/carpets, furniture and lighting.  Living in NYC for the past 14 years with my husband and two beautiful girls.

When did you first realise designing was more than a hobbie?

I have always enjoyed art and have sketched and drawn my entire life. I first discovered industrial design at Wellington Polytechnic 1992 where I completed a 6 month foundation course. I loved every minute of it and I knew as soon as I finished the course this was what I wanted to pursue.

What spurred your initial move to New York?

I came to visit my older brother who is a landscape architect and had been living and working in NYC for 10 years.…more

With Samoan and Australian heritage, NZ-born Angela Tiatia is an award winning Multimedia artist. 

This year Tiatia was included in the Harper's Bazaar Visionary Women portfolio and will be speaking at the Harper's Bazaar Visionary Women event panellist discussion.

What's cool about being a video artist?  

It's exciting and challenging as each new work needs to be approached differently each time. The process is dependant on being very social - so I get to meet and work with lots of amazing people.  

Tell us about some of the themes in your work? 

Wow... a big question... in short... I look at how the Pacific body/place/experience has been stereotyped through images/media/popular culture/art over the last 150 years.  Within this time frame, I explore ways in which I can challenge these stereotypes and create new narratives and imagery. As well as this, I also look at the universality of the human experience and the human condition that binds us all.…more

"Vea Mafile’o is an artist of Tongan, Māori and Scottish descent who
works primarily in moving image and installation...Mafile’o continues to work as
a filmmaker and is co-founder of the company Malosi Pictures"

Recently, Tongan filmmaker Vea Mafile’o took the Sundance Film Festival by storm with her short film “Lea Tupu’anga / Mother Tongue.” This film was selected out of an outstanding 17,000 applications.

“Lea Tupu’anga / Mother Tongue” follows the journey of a young Tongan speech-language therapist. This unique tale unfolds the dynamic between the therapist, fluent in English only, and her client, who exclusively communicates in Tongan.

Written by Luciane Buchanan and directed by seasoned documentary director Vea Mafile’o, the two reflect on what it means to be Tongan women in the scripted space at Sundance. Mafile’o stated, “It’s pretty overwhelming and a super exciting space to be in… Previous Polynesian NZFC films that have screened here have been by a handful of Māori and Samoan directors. They really have paved the way for Luciane and I.…more

Joey "Q" Quenga 

Owner/Creative Director of Island Block Radio 

Chamorro 

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Tell us a bit about yourself 

My name is Joey Quenga but most people know me as “Q”.  I am co-owner of Island Block Radio where I have many hats, producer, creative director, on-air personality as well as program director.  

I grew up in Long Beach, CA., which is a city in Los Angeles County.  

My family is from the village of Talofofo on Guam.…more

SEPELINI MUA'AU 

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY TUTOR 

SAMOAN

My name is Sepelini Pati Mua’au and I am a New Zealand born Samoan. I am the youngest of 4, my mother is from the village of Falelatai and my father from Levi-Saleimoa. I was raised in Wainuiomata, completed my Secondary schooling at St. Bernard’s College in Lower Hutt and tertiary education at Victoria University of Wellington. I currently work at Victoria Univeristy in the School of English, Film, Theatre & Media Studies as a support tutor for 100-level Maori and Pasifika students, I also tutor for the theatre programme and write plays on the side.

You have a Master of Arts in Theatre - What did that degree entail and why do you think you were drawn to theatre?

Theatre definitely started off as an interest, like many Samoan parents, ideally they wanted me to be a lawyer or doctor. In 2010, my last year of College, I was fortunate enough to travel to London to perform on the Globe Theatre stage, so my family knew there was something there for me.…more

Chris Marco Alosio

Actor

Samoan

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Update since his interview with us below:

Chris stars in the newly released Netflix show 'Surviving Summer'  where he plays Manu Tetanui - coach of the Shorehaven surf team and older brother of Poppy and Prawnie.

He's also currently filming in Hawai'i with Uli Latukefu, Sisa Grey, Frankie Adams and others for Taika Waititi's 'Last Goal Wins'. 

Peep Chris speaking Samoan in one of the episodes of Surviving Summer below - 

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You may also recognise Chris from when he starred in the award winning video for SWIDT's "BUNGA" below 

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My name is Chris Marco Alosio and I'm an actor. I was born and raised in Wellington, NZ. I am of full Samoan descent. My Father is from Levi, Saleimoa and my Mother from Falefa, Anoama'a. 

How did you find yourself in the entertainment industry?

I've always loved being in the Arts but at the same time, have always been too afraid to admit it.…more

GORETTI CHADWICK 

Writer, Director & Actor 

Samoan 

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What do you love most, stage or screen acting and why? 
I love them all for various different reasons, but theatre is the genesis of my love of acting and I love it just that little bit more. With film and TV you can reshoot and edit out any mistakes. There is absolutely nowhere to hide with theatre... you are literally out there for the world to see, warts and all. 
 
Is this one of the first plays where you've been centre stage & the main character?
This is the first solo-ish show I've ever done. I say solo-ish as I'm on stage with a puppeteer. 

What's cool about it?
Ummm.... it's scary as all heck tbh.  I'm really testing myself to see how far I can go and thank goodness I added walking into my daily regime last year or else I'd have to stop every 5 minutes for an asthma pump.  I think the older I get the more I want to get out of doing the same old thing on stage.…more

New Zealand Champion Powerlifter

Samoan

Beauty & Brawn 

From competing for the crown on the catwalk of Miss Samoa to winning the gold on the Powerlifting stages of the world. Samoan champion Powerlifter, Barbra Auva’a, has flipped the switch on the abilities and strengths of your average dusky maiden pageant queen.

Beauty and brawn has taken her to global heights and she is a little known NZ Powerlifting multi-title winner, but hers is a story that comes with its own share of personal tragedy, trials and triumphs.

Still getting used to the Auckland cement opposed to the Samoan sand beneath her feet, Barbra began her journey on New Zealand soil at the age of 8. But it was at 16 that the ground was swept from under her when she was faced with the tragic loss of her mother who suddenly passed during the birth of her youngest sister.…more