Iconic Film Screens in Hamilton

MEDIA RELEASE

July  15   2008

Iconic Film Screens in Hamilton

The Māori Merchant of Venice is to screen in Hamilton on Thursday July 24th.

The iconic feature film which had its premiere in Hamilton several years ago will be screened at  Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology) during Māori Language Week thanks to the generosity of Producer Ruth Kaupua Panapa. 

The Māori take on Shakespeare’s 400 year old play ‘pound of flesh’ drama

stars Māori actors speaking te reo and is subtitled in easy to-read English.  Directed by the late renowned Māori Shakespearean actor and director  Don C Selwyn, The Māori Merchant of Venice  began its World Premiere in the Waikato in 2002,

 with ticket sales going to a fund as part of the revitalisation of the language, a lifelong passion of Don Selwyn.  Wintec spokesperson Anna Carter said the institute was delighted to  have the opportunity to screen it in 2008 during  Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori: Māori Language Week.

The screening, at Wintec’s City Campus Hub will be free admission. Dozens of invitees in the community had  been eager to attend according to Wintec PR manager Anna Carter.  Seats were still available and anyone interested could contact her at anna.carter@wintec.ac.nz or 858 0217 to secure seats she said.  She said the film was part of the institute’s week long programme of events to celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori.  The institute was also publishing a newspaper, Pitoitoi in 

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori.

The cast is headed by Waihoroi Shortland as Shylock (in Maori: Hairoka) and introduces Ngarimu Daniels as Portia (Pohia) and Scott Morrison as Antonio (Anatonio). Te Rangihau Gilbert is Bassanio (Patanio), Veeshayne Armstrong is Nerissa (Nerita), Sonny Kirikiri is Gratiano (Karatiano), Reikura Morgan is Jessica (Tiehika) and Te Arepa Kahi is Lorenzo (Roroneto). Shakespeare’s play was translated into Maori in 1945 by Dr Pei Te Hurinui Jones, who wanted to make the beauty of Shakespeare’s language accessible to Maori. Don Selwyn staged it as a play in 1990 before  making it into a film.

The Executive producer/director of the film was the late Don Selwyn; associate producers: the late Sir Robert Mahuta and Selwyn Muru; producer: Ruth Kaupua

Panapa; director of photography: Davorin Fahn; production designer: Guy Moana;

costume designer: Gavin McLean; composer: Clive Cockburn; Maori music composer: Hirini Melbourne; editor: Bella Erickson.

Ends

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