Whatta Beauty, RISE and The Turn of the Screw
I think we can all agree that the last 7 months have been a hell of a decade. While it has been and will continue to be a difficult time for the world, we can turn to art, in all its forms for solace, escape and some much needed laughter.
We are busy on projects that will be on screen and stage later this year but for now, here’s some of our current work.
Whatta Beauty, Thursdays 8.30pm on Māori Television. William Waiirua shows us his arsenal of quirky characters in a series of comedy skits. William meets everyday NZers who are inspiring through action.
First episode on demand here: https://www.maoritelevision.com/shows/whatta-beauty/S01E001/whatta-beauty-episode-1
The series was produced by Awa Films with POW Studios providing Sound Post services.
Fresh from its debut at the Shanghai International Film Festival, the latest feature from Alex Galvin, Turn of the Screw, premiered in Wellington last night to a full house.
This film adaptation of Henry James’ Victorian ghost story changes the location to present-day Wellington. Set in Wellington’s Opera House, Julia finds herself as a last-minute replacement for another actress at the dress rehearsal of a stage play version of The Turn of the Screw, set in 1890.
The film was shot entirely in Wellington and stars top New Zealand actors Greer Phillips and Jane Waddell (Send a Gorilla, Separation City), as well as Ben Fransham (What We Do In The Shadows) and Ralph Johnson (Eternity & Chronesthesia). POW Studios provided the Sound Design and Mix for the film.
Our in-house VFX and Picture Post suite has been very busy. It’s great to be working on a variety of projects, some straight-up hilarious and others quite challenging in tone.
Purea: Māori elder Hamo must bear the burden of carrying the spirits of her ancestors to their sacred mountain.
Director/Screenplay Kath Akuhata-Brown, Producers Julian Arahanga, Verity Mackintosh, Becs Arahanga and edited by Tim Hamilton at POW Studios.
You can watch Purea at the Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival as part of the Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts 2020. Here’s the link: https://www.nziff.co.nz/2020/at-home-online/nga-whanaunga-maori-pasifika-shorts-2020/
Tim also put some VFX work into DEAD The Movie. DEAD is the second feature from writer, director, producer and lead actor Hayden J. Weal, following the success of indie hit Chronesthesia (2016) which debuted at the New Zealand International Film Festival in 2016. DEAD The Movie has its premiere tonight in Auckland. Good luck team!
If you’re looking for something to watch on the bus making your way home today, then check out RISE: The school students leading New Zealand’s climate strikes. In the short doco, you meet the young organisers of one of New Zealand’s biggest protest marches of a generation, and hear what motivated them to take action.
Available on The Spinoff, Directed by Jess Feast and Produced by Ruth Korver, RISE was edited at POW Studios by Tim, who also put some time in behind the camera for the project.