Four Pasifika Writers Among 'Script To Screen's South Shorts Mentorship Programme
Script to Screen welcomes eight new filmmakers who have been selected for the tenth South Shorts Mentorship Programme!
Over the next six months, the participants will embark on an incredible journey of development led by acclaimed screenwriter and director Briar Grace-Smith (Rūrangi, Cousins, Waru).
During this time, the participants will take part in five group workshops that will include script read-throughs, group discussions, writing exercises, and insightful sessions with guest filmmakers. By the end of the Programme, the filmmakers will have produced a polished script.
Four of the eight selected filmmakers are of Pasifika descent, get to know them here!
Claire Patolo
Claire Patolo (Lauli’i, Faleapuna, Safune) is of Samoan descent. She is an emerging filmmaker from Tāmaki Makaurau. She has mostly worked in the production team on music videos and short films and is currently working on finishing her first short film script. She has a Master’s degree in Communications from Auckland University of Technology and is currently completing her PhD.
Feenuu Lefono
Feenuu Lefono is an emerging Samoan writer and filmmaker from Otara, South Auckland. She graduated from South Seas film school specializing in directing and screenwriting. She is a storyteller whose original writing is imbued with humour, accessibility, and truthfulness. She excels at shaping a story, creating recognisable characters, and writing on-point dialogue with subtext, humour, and truth. Her dream is to create ‘slice of life’ genre films and narratives around her Samoan culture and upbringing in South Auckland.
Tulia Thompson
Tulia Thompson is of Fijian, Tongan and Pākehā descent. She has a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Auckland University and a PhD in Sociology. Her book Josefa and the Vu, a fantasy-adventure for 8-12 year olds was published by Huia in 2007. She is a
journalist, writer of short stories and an essayist. Her writing has been published in JAAM, Overland, Pantograph Punch, The Spinoff, Blackmail Press and Metro Magazine.
Michel Mulipola
Michel Mulipola is an experienced Sāmoan multi-hyphenate storyteller who is world renowned for being a comic book artist, illustrator, radio personality, professional wrestler and activist based in Māngere. He’s illustrated work for WWE, Marvel and NZ School Journals. He co-created the first-ever Sāmoan language comic, O Le Aiga Sāmoa. He worked as a story artist and cultural consultant for Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming Moana 2 feature film. As a pro wrestler, Michel aka Liger, is a veteran of the NZ wrestling scene. He has been a multiple-time NZ Heavyweight champion and Aotearoa Tag Team champion. Michel appeared in the Legend of Baron To’a as BBQ Wrestler #1 and was a wrestling consultant for the film. He also designed the Baron To’a t-shirt prop that appears in the climax of the film. Michel can be heard every Thursday morning on ABC Pacific’s radio show, Nesia Daily, as their pop culture expert for the Pop Off weekly segment.