TAUIHU SHORTS is writer/director Poata Eruera, producer/writer Brad Haami, and producer Tui Ruwhiu.
We are Māori who are passionate about Māori stories, but as film makers we also embrace real talent that comes from all cultures and all walks of life. In short, it doesn’t matter who you are, it’s the story that counts. What we do care about is an original, distinctive cinematic voice. We want great talent to tell great stories.
TAUIHU SHORTS is looking for auteurs (writer/directors or writer and director teams) to show their talent, ability and vision, and their unwavering desire to see that vision on the big screen.
We are seeking directors with powerful stories they need to tell and who can impose their own world view in a short film. Experienced film makers who can let their imaginations fly. Auteurs with distinctive, original ideas that will push the boundaries of what cinematic storytelling can do.
We are very open to new approaches, new technologies and new ways of telling stories.
We want anyone with passion, clarity of vision, absolute commitment and the talent to craft a unique idea into an award winning short film to submit their scripts for consideration.
If we think you’ve got what it takes and you have the resume and showreel to truly qualify for funding through Premiere Shorts, Tauihu Shorts will support you every step of the way.
Tauihu Shorts Greenlights Two Films for 2010/2011 Premiere Shorts
Tena koutou e nga rangatira,
Tauihu Shorts takes great pleasure in announcing the two projects it will greenlight for Premiere Shorts funding for 2010/2011:
INORGANIC
D: Maria Elena Doyle, W: Nick Ward, P: Donna Pearman & Angela da Silva
JUBJUB BIRD
D: Dylan Pharazyn, W: Paul Stanley Ward, P: Claire Kelly
We acknowledge the efforts of all seven teams on our shortlist for the hard work they put into their final submissions. While the decision was difficult, the two selected projects stood out.
First and foremost, the films we have chosen have unique premises and finely crafted scripts, which were further honed as the final deadline approached.
Second, as an auteur POD with a director focus, we were impressed with the directors’ visions for their films—working as a tight knit team with their writers, the directors took the skeletons their writers provided and fleshed them out, making the films truly their own.
Third, each of the teams had an enthusiastic producer/s who contributed both creatively and practically as an integral member of the team.
Tauihu Shorts celebrates the passion, commitment, dedication and film making talent the INORGANIC and JUBJUB BIRD teams bring to their projects. And we are excited at the prospect of assisting these teams in any way we can as they take their films from the page to the screen.
Nga mihi nui atu, na
Poata Eruera, Bradford Haami, Tui Ruwhiu
Tauihu Shorts Short List Announcement
7 December 2010
Tauihu whakatere waka
Tauihu whakaeke ngaru
Tauihu kawe kaupapa ki tua
The prow that steers the canoe
The prow that rides the crest of the wave
The prow that leads its cargo into the future
Tihei Mauri Ora
To our fellow filmmakers and storytellers we thank you for sharing your craft with us. Each of the eighty-eight scripts we received took us on a journey into many new worlds with intriguing characters. It was often thrilling, joyous, profound, sad or hilarious.
It was difficult enough to select the twelve scripts for our first list and you would expect that after meeting with the successful twelve teams the selection of six for our shortlist would be easier. This was not the case.
That is why our final six has grown into our final seven.
All of us know that the road to getting funded for a film project is judder-barred with frustration and pot-holed with disappointment yet we still persevere because of our passion for the medium of filmic storytelling. To have reached any shortlist is an acknowledgement by and encouragement from your peers.
Our film industry is one of collaboration. Those listed below understand and embrace this. When the writer, director and producer share the same vision the strength of that team is undeniable. They will attract people to share their enthusiasm to create that vision. This is the backbone of our film industry.
The Tauihu Short List (in alphabetical order) is:
HINE
(a drama) |
INORGANIC
(a black comedy) |
LARD BOY
(a drama/fantasy/comedy) |
NEXT
(a comedy) |
NIGHT SHIFT
(a drama) |
SPARROW
(a drama/thriller) |
THE JUBJUB BIRD
(a drama/science-fiction/horror) |
Congratulations!
Nga mihi nui atu, na
Poata Eruera, Bradford Haami, Tui Ruwhiu
Tauihu Shorts Long List
3 December 2010
Poata Eruera, Brad Haami and Tui Ruwhiu of Tauihu Shorts would like to thank and acknowledge each of the 88 teams who applied to us in the 2010 Round of Premiere Shorts. Congratulations to the 12 projects we have long listed to meet with us and discuss their projects in more detail:
‘Night Shift’
W/D: Zia Mandviwalla |
79’
D: Angela Bloomfield |
‘Marry Me’
W/D: Michael Beren’ |
‘Next’
W/D: Miles Murphy |
‘The Jubjub Bird’
D: Dylan Pharazyn |
‘Hine’
D: Rachel House |
‘Inorganic’
D: Maria-Elena Doyle |
‘Egg’D: Gary John W: Stuart Broughton P: Alex Cole Baker |
‘Maul’
D: Colin Hodson |
‘Sparrow’
W/D: Karyn Childs |
‘Lard Boy’
W/D: Miki Magasiva |
‘Back Country’W/D: Michael Humphrey |
TAUIHU SHORTS Call for Applications for PREMIERE SHORTS—NZ FILM COMMISSION 2011/2012
TAUIHU SHORTS is a team consisting of producer Tui Ruwhiu, writer/director Poata Eruera and writer/producer Bradford Haami.
TAUIHU SHORTS will again executive produce two short films in 2011/2012 with a budget of up to $90k each.
While we are all Māori we want stories and applicants from any cultural background.
We are looking for experienced auteurs (writers/directors) with the talent, ability and vision to tell powerful New Zealand stories in a distinctively original way that will push the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. You will already have a body of work that showcases your talents.
We welcome new approaches, new technologies and new ways of telling stories.
Anyone with the passion, the clarity of vision, and the absolute commitment to craft a unique idea into an award-winning short film should submit their script for consideration.
If this is you then TAUIHU SHORTS will support you every step of the way to help realise your vision.
The deadline for applications is 5pm Wednesday 31 August 2011. At this point you will need to submit the following:
- 3 unbound copies of the script
- CV's for key personnel
- Director's notes
- Visual material which demonstrates the director's experience on a single DVD to support your application
- A completed TAUIHU SHORTS Application Form. (Download PDF Here) (Download Word Doc Here)
Up to twelve applicants will be selected for discussions with the executive producers. On Friday 30 September 2011 a short list of six projects will be asked to submit budgets, directors' and producers' notes, production methodologies and finalised scripts by 31 October 2011.
On 05 December 2011 two projects will be announced to receive production funding.
Criteria
We are calling for:
- Screenplays from talented, experienced auteurs who have already made at least one well-received short film or who have a quality show-reel of drama, documentaries, TVCs or self-funded projects.
- Screenplays of any genre that exhibit strong, original and recognisable New Zealand themes.
- Applicants with a burning passion for their short film project and the ambition, commitment and plan to pursue a career in feature film.
- Fresh, artistic ideas and approaches.
- An experienced core team (a single writer/director or a writer and a director team, with or without a producer) attached to the submission. We will take applications without a producer attached, but a complete team with a producer is preferred.
Requirements
We require:
- Three unbound, well developed screenplays in industry standard format with title page including contact details. Do NOT include the names of the applicant or the team in the header or footer of the screenplay.
- A completed TAUIHU SHORTS Application Form. (Download PDF Here) (Download Word Doc Here)
- CVs for key personnel (writer/director/producer)
- Director's notes (a maximum of two pages)
- Visual material that demonstrates the director’s experience on a single DVD to support your application.
Notes
- Screenplay duration no longer than 15 minutes.
- A maximum of two separate applications per individual/team.
- All projects to comply with NZ Film Commission Act Section 18 – Significant NZ Content. (Download here)
- As this is a New Zealand film the 'significant NZ content' is a must. For example, some sci-fi scripts submitted had no recognizable NZ characters, cultural references or landmarks so could have been anywhere in the galaxy—these were immediately disqualified.
- Tauihu Shorts reads the scripts 'blind', i.e. not knowing who wrote the script or who submitted it. The script is therefore your first calling card so care in the clarity of the story and its presentation is essential.
- Email-only applications will NOT be accepted.
- Scripts or applications will NOT be reviewed prior to the deadline.
Submissions
Please post your applications to TAUIHU SHORTS, Tauihu Media Ltd, P.O. Box 104174, Lincoln Nth 0654, Waitakere; or courier to TAUIHU SHORTS, C/- Wave Communications, Level 1, 7 Owens Road, Epsom, Auckland.
Deadline for receipt is NO LATER than 5PM Wednesday 31 August 2011. Late applications will NOT be considered.
Submitted material will NOT be returned.
The three copies of the scripts are read independently by the three of us without knowing who wrote it and placed in YES, NO, MAYBE piles. (Two scripts can end up in the NO pile and one in the YES pile as happened to a couple of last rounds shortlisted projects)
We then discuss each script until we all agree on a YES pile of twenty.
The YES pile applications are scrutinized and discussed until we have a long list of twelve scripts.
We review the remainder of the application documents, learning who the team members are and reading the directors’ and producers’ notes.
We meet with the twelve teams individually and discuss what they need to help their project progress to the short list of six. They may need producer assistance, a clearer director vision or a script revision.
When the final six are selected we then call for first draft budgets, final script submissions, casting preferences, production methodology and an updated director’s vision.
The two projects that fulfill all expectations are then green-lighted for funding and production.
We don’t start reading with any preconceived ideas or expectations. The script will tell us the story that it wants us to hear. It will use words that trigger images and emotions it wants us to see and feel. One of the two scripts green lit last round was six pages and sparse while the other successful script was seventeen pages and dense yet both provoked us into taking their intended journey.
We are looking for scripts that:
- Have a distinct ‘voice’, reflecting the auteur’s vision of what they seek to say cinematically.
- Are clearly Aotearoa New Zealand stories with international appeal and A-List Festival potential.
- Are exceedingly well crafted, where every word carries its weight well.
- The quality of your idea and the quality of your script is paramount. If it doesn’t speak to us when we read it ‘blind’, that will be the end of your project’s journey.
- If the script is not written by a single writer/director, then the writer and director team must have a shared vision for the project.
- While we will accept projects without a producer attached, having a producer attached who already shares the vision of the project will put you ahead of the game.
- If we short list you, we will offer you constructive feedback and examine whether or not your next draft takes into account the notes we gave.
Read our requirements for submissions carefully and make sure you follow them. For example, when we ask for THREE copies of the script, we mean THREE not one. Or when we say we want a director attached if the writer is a separate person, we mean attach a director as we are director driven. And please, send scripts in industry standard format. If you don’t know what that is Premiere Shorts is not for you.
If your submission doesn’t conform to the guidelines, it will be disregarded.
- A great script.
- A team that had the talent and experience to be able to execute the project to the high standard required for a Premiere Short.
- A writer/director or a writer and director team who could articulate their vision for the film to us in an interview.
- The ability of the teams to clearly demonstrate to us their passion for the project, their willingness to hone the script relentlessly, and to build in us an absolute confidence that they could pull their project off well.
- A clear plan by the writer/director or director as to how this film fits into their feature filmmaking future.
Premiere Shorts Announcement 2011-12
Tui, Poata and Brad would like to thank everyone who applied to the last round of Premiere Shorts with Tauihu Shorts. We have been greatly encouraged by the scripts and talent we have encountered along this journey. We wish the best for all of you in your future endeavours.
It is our pleasure to announce the Tauihu Shorts selections for this current round of Premiere Shorts.
They are:
| RIDE written by Karyn Childs | Director – Karyn Childs, Producer – Leela Menon for Piwakawaka Films Ltd |
| DIVE written by Mathew Saville. | Director - Mathew Saville, Producer - Julia Parnell for Notable Pictures Ltd |
Ngā mihi atu ki a koutou ngā rangatira i roto i te rangimārie.
Tauihu Shorts would like to thank all those who submitted applications to us for Premieres Shorts for 2011/2012.
We appreciate the significant effort each and every filmmaking team made with their projects.
Congratulations to those teams who have made our shortlist this year:
| ABOMINATION (Horror) | W/D: Jeremy Wadzinski, P: Jo Dawson |
| BURN THE FARM (Drama) | W/D: Rollo Wenlock, P: Gemma Freeman |
| MR BERNSTEIN (Drama) | W: Guy Hamling/Deb Filler, D: Lance Kelleher, P: Jackie Dennis |
| NEXT (Drama/Comedy) | W/D: Miles Murphy, P: Tanya Haitoua-Cathro |
| ORION RETURNS (Drama/Comedy) | W/D: Karyn Childs, P: Leela Menon |
| STAGE FRIGHT (Animation) | W: Lisa A. Lewis, D: Christina Cesares, P: Liz DiFiore |
| THE UNTITLED MAN (Comedy/Fantasy) | W/D: Matthew Saville, P: Julia Parnell |
Ngā mihi nui atu, na
Poata Eruera, Brad Haami, Tui Ruwhiu
Poata Eruera
Poata Eruera (Ngapuhi, Ngatiwhatua, Te Aupouri) has an extensive career in radio, film and theatre as a presenter, stage manager, technical supervisor, 1st AD, writer and director.
As a writer Poata has written a number of low-budget, independent and other features including The Guardian, Stringer, Nothing Personal, Wild Pork & Watercress, and Barking at the Moon.
In February 2004, Poata completed the six-month Post Graduate Director’s Film Course at the Binger Institute in Amsterdam.
Brad Haami
Brad (Ngāti Awa) is an expert in Māori culture with a passion for modern stories inspired by traditional ones. Brad’s recent credits have included Mataku, the innovative 20-part Māori drama thriller series, of which he was co-creator, writer, and producer. He recently co-wrote and directed Po Raruraru as part of the recent Aroha drama series, and is producer of Waimarie, a long-term Māori drama series in development for MTS.
Brad has been Māori script consultant and editor on many TV dramas and features including; Shortland Street, Mercy Peak, Matariki, The Man Who Lost His Head, Behind The Tattooed Face, and Tracker.
Brad was the Michael King Māori Writer in Residence 2010, writing a book on Whale Traditions of the Māori.
Tui Ruwhiu
Tui (Nga Puhi) is an experienced producer with a focus on creating unique New Zealand films with international appeal.
Based in Japan for 11 years, Tui worked for Entertainment Tonight, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, and The Playboy Channel, as well as line producing commercials shot in New Zealand for the Japanese market. He was also executive producer for the financial news service Reuters TV.
Back in New Zealand, Tui produced programming for Communicado before going on to make broadcast documentaries, factual programmes, and commercials. His current focus is on developing a slate of feature film and TV drama projects.
Tauihu Shorts 2011/2012 video call
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ob3hB1wcn8
Premiere Shorts Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Premiere-Shorts/151576518244028
A Collective Intake of Breath Executive Producer Pod
www.acollectiveintakeofbreath.co.nz
Tom Thumb Shorts Executive Producer Pod
www.tomthumbshorts.co.nz
New Zealand Film Commission website
www.nzfilm.co.nz