Pasifika Playwrights Group - Auckland

[dfmamea]

Last Thursday, 28 August, fifteen or so Pasifika writers ascended to Playmarket's office in the Auckland CBD for some free food and networking opportunities.

As this was the inaugural meeting, most of the discussion was of the where do we go from here variety.  Ideas were thrown up onto a handy whiteboard.  These ideas will be discussed, discarded, and/or agreed at the next meeting.

Attendees included Pos and Tania from Pacific Underground, Michelle and Vua from The Blackfriars group, the one and only Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua, and the indomitable Louise Tu'u.  (If you were there and I haven't name-dropped you, what can I say?  My room-working sucks.)

Props to Jenni Heka, Maori and Pasifika Playwright Development Coordinator at Playmarket for organising the night, and Vela Manusaute, Killa Kokonut Krew Chief, for facilitating the meeting.

Want to know more?  Email Jenni or call her on 09 365 2648.

Want to come to the next meeting?  Mark this date in your diary: Thursday, 25 September from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, at the Playmarket offices (Level 11, 44-52 Wellesley Street, Auckland CBD).

[dfmamea]

Oookay, this is a gentle reminder that the next meeting is on THURSDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER from 7:00PM to 9:00PM.

A quick and tentative agenda for the evening is as follows:
-  Show and Tell with A Real Playwright (TBA);
-  Housekeeping with Jenni and Dave (complete with a vision for the group to be discussed, negotiated, ratified, formalised, etc);
-  and Let's Get Writing!

Bring yourself.  And some paper.  And a pen.  Or pencil.  And a friend.

But most importantly, be there.

Questions?  Ask Jenni.  Requests?  Try David.

[dfmamea]

CHANGE OF VENUE for Thursday 25 September:

Lower NZI Room at THE EDGE,
Aotea Centre

If you get as easily lost in that damned building as I do (or it's your first visit), email Jenni right now, preferably en masse, so that signs and arrows are placed at all entry points.

Be there or be... watching cartoon night on C4.

[dfmamea]

The second meeting on Thursday, 25 September, was a great success.  Highlights included:

• Tarisi Vunidilo from Creative New Zealand (CNZ) gave us a talk on increasing the chances of getting CNZ funding, as well as about changes to the funding rounds to be implemented in 2009;
• Jenni Heka from Playmarket challenged the group to come up with three production-ready plays, and three reading-ready plays by September 2009 (see below for her Agenda);
• facilitator David Mamea laid down some ground rules for the group like "Thou shalt check thine ego at the door" and "Critique the work, not the writer";
• Stan Wolfgramm of Drum Productions provided a producer's insight into getting Pasifika stories Out There;
• Arnette Arapai told everyone to get off their arses and Just Do It;
• all of which was discussed, digested and enjoyed by Fasitua Amosa, Fiona Collins, Glen Compain, Michelle Johansson, Bronwyn Judd, Chetan Patel, Jonathan Riley, Eric Smith, Nina Tapu and Victoria Schmidt

It was agreed - in principle, and to be formalised at the next meeting - that the Pasifika Playwrights Group will develop members' writing, with the goal of putting on The Banana Boat Season - a season of Pasifika plays and readings in late 2009.

How will the group do this?  Through monthly meetings where the following will happen:
-  a practitioner will talk to the group about their experience, give advice and - most importantly - provide inspiration;
-  general discussion of what the guest speaker had to say;
-  and workshopping and/or exercises to stimulate, develop and inspire our own writing.

Sounds like a motto for the group:  Develop - Support - Inspire.  All we need now is a cooler name than 'Pasifika Playwrights Group' - all suggestions welcome, to be tossed about and voted on in the next couple of meetings.

Next meeting will be on Thursday, 23 October from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.  The location will be advised closer to the date.

And now for a word from our sponsor:

JENNI'S WORD!

Wow, did I leave the meeting last week motivated and inspired. I even started writing! Which is no small feat for me as I normally find every excuse under the sun to not even get started!

Things really got animated when David bravely put the opening scene for his play on the table for the group to discuss!  Fiona and Jonathan have both offered to bring in their work to be discussed and/or workshopped for the next meeting on the 23rd October!

I have been filling in the rest of the Playmarket team about what we have been up to here in Auckland, and they are excited and can’t wait to see what we produce for the Banana Boat Season.

Yes, I have an agenda. My role as Maori and Pasifika Playwright Development Coordinator is to encourage and help our playwrights develop their skills.  The Pasifika Playwrights Group has been formed to motivate, inspire and give playwrights the opportunity to develop. I also threw down the challenge for the group to have three fully developed works for production by September 2009.  The first step is bring in your work so we can start workshopping. Tell me what you need and I will try to get those experts in to help.

I am currently talking to The Edge to have our meetings permanently hosted there. Watch this space for confirmation.

Look forward to seeing you at the next meeting on the 23rd October 2008!

  Jenni Heka
  Maori and Pasifika Playwright Development Coordinator
  Playmarket

Thanks, Jenni!

If you have any questions, requests or suggestions, please don't hesitate to email david or call Jenni on 09 365 2648 (Mondays, Thursday-Fridays, business hours).

[Playmarket]

Warm Pasifika Greetings!

Some up and coming opportunities that might be of some interest:

Young and Hungry Playwrights' Initiative

The Young and Hungry Arts Trust is currently seeking to commission playwrights to create theatre works that will be acted, designed and appeal to 15 -25 year olds. They are currently calling for submissions for 60-minute play ideas based around the theme of 'DAILY BREAD'. Deadline for submissions is 16th November 2008.  For detailed information on how to make a submission go to here.  Any further enquires please email the Executive Officer at young.hungry@gmail.com.

New Zealand Young Playwrights Competition 2009

If you’re aged between 16 and 24 (on December 1st 2008) or know any great young writers the deadline for plays for the tenth New Zealand Young Playwrights Competition is the 1st December, 2008. Please spread the word, and become a NZYPC Facebook friend. For more information go here.

... And one for us who don’t quite fit the age criteria above!

The Playmarket New Play Award

This is the second year of our annual award, open to ANY new unproduced New Zealand play. Submissions now open and the deadline is December 5th 2008. This year we would like to encourage you to imagine and write your absolutely ideal theatre. It has no cast restrictions, attracts only brilliant actors, designers and directors, is physically magically flexible, and has a huge loyal intelligent audience who are longing to see a play exactly like yours. Please see our website here for more details.

... You need to get along to this to hear how you can get your work in this fabulous new festival.

Auckland Fringe – Info Night

Find out more about Auckland Fringe and meet the team
When: Tue 7 October 6pm 
Where: The Basement, Lower Greys Avenue

So you want to be in the Auckland Fringe or just Fringe curious?
Come along to the first of these informal Auckland Fringe info sessions.  Meet the Fringe team ask questions and find out how you can be a part of the first ever Auckland Fringe.  This is your opportunity to get a handle on the Fringe and the application process.
If you are thinking about presenting a Fringe show or just want more information come along!

Please RSVP to registrations@aucklandfringe.org.nz

Auckland Fringe February 27 to March 22, 2009

... And finally, some News!

* Some big ups to Vela Manusaute for his script “Cold Son” being developed in The NZ Film Commission First Writers Initiative.

* Congratulations to David Mamea for having his Radio drama script  selected by Radio New Zealand. This was a result of David taking part in the ‘Writing for Radio’ workshop run by Jason Te Kare, and organised by Playmarket and Radio New Zealand in July.

* Congrats to Jonathan Riley for entering in ‘Flip the Script’  on Friday 26th Sept, good to see you out there bro!

 * Niue Playwright Maree Webster and the ‘Uli Vao’ crew head off to Niue for a week long season 17th –24 October! 

* Keep your ears and eyes open for Sandra Kailahi’s play ‘On a Different Shelf ‘  Season starts at the Herald Theatre, 25th – 29th November. Playmarket’s very own Katrina Chandra will be directing. Book your tickets now!

* Kila Kokonut Krew will be presenting ‘Once Were Samoans’ as part of the Manukau City Arts Festival on 12th and 13th November at the Metro Theatre in Mangere East, 8pm. Entry by donation. See you there.

... And that's it!

If you have any news or  enquires please call or email jenni@playmarket.org.nz or 09 365 2648 (Mon, Thurs, Fri).

Look forward to seeing you at the next meeting on the 23rd October 2008!

[dfmamea]

 This is a gentle reminder that the next meeting is on Thursday 23 October, 7:00pm to 9:00 pm at the Toi Ora Live Art Trust Studio, 19 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn.  Rug up for warmth.

The tentative agenda for the October meeting is:
-  a talk about structure from acclaimed playwright Kirk Torrance;
-  workshopping and discussion of participants' scenes.

If you volunteered to share your scene/s with the group, please send it to me and Jenni by Thursday 16 October.  Readable and printable formats are Word, RTF, Open Document Format (ODF), Celtx and PDF.

Those who requested meetings that focus on marketing/PR and producing, we have not forgotten - they are in the pipeline.

If you have any questions, requests or suggestions, please don't hesitate to email david, or call Jenni on 09 365 2648 (Mondays, Thursday-Fridays, business hours).

[dfmamea]

Our third meeting was held on Thursday, 23 October in the Toi Ora Live Art Trust Studio, and was another brilliant meeting of minds.

Highlights:
-  Chapman-Tripp award-winning playwright Kirk Torrance, talked about his approaches to structure, and very generously answered heaps of questions on his work and craft; check out his next play, Flintlock Musket, being read at Double Shot at The Edge on 6 December 2008;
-  a cooler name for the group was discussed and the front-runners are:  Niu Voices, Niu Ink; Niu Blood; The Banana Boat; more suggestions welcome between now and the next meeting when all names will be put to a vote;
-  a questionnaire was handed out for members' perusal and optional completion;
-  after a brief discussion, Jenni Heka, Michelle Johansson and David Mamea will look at putting together a funding proposal for the inaugural 2009 Banana Boat season;
-  Jonathan Riley's scene, a romantic romp in Auckland Zoo, was read by the group with much hilarity, with Mark Amery gamely reading the part of a lavalava- and beanie-wearing Samoan fairy called Makigi;
-  Eric Smith's scene, an intense cross-cultural family drama, provided the group with an excellent change of pace and tone, provoking in-depth discussion followed by Eric having to put up with demands of "What happens next?!";
-  all of the above was done with Bayley Johansson, Bronwen Judd, Sandra Kailahi and Child, Ollie Maiava, Chetan Patel, Phoenix Seve, and Stan Wolfgramm also in attendance;
-  and apologies were received from Fasitua Amosa, Tarisi Vunidilo, Louise Tu'u, Nina Tapu and Fiona Collins.

If you want to share your scene/s with the group, please send it/them to David by Thursday, 27 November 2008.

NEXT MEETING will be on THURSDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2008 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - this is not the fourth Thursday of November; this will be the last meeting for 2008.  It will be held at the funky Toi Ora Live Art Trust Studio, 19 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn.

And since this will be the last meeting for 2008, please bring a plate for some after-meeting eating and drinking.

Usually there'd be a word from our sponsor Playmarket, by way of Jenni, but she's pretty busy - but I'm sure she'd say something like...
-  big ups to Chetan and Eric, whose script was chosen for development as part of Playmarket's Pasifika Playwright Development Forum for 2009; Ali Foa'i was the other playwright to be chosen for development;
-  look at the Manukau Festival of Arts for some great free opportunities to learn and share and be inspired;
-  and see you at the next meeting!

Thanks, ah, Jenni!

If you have any questions, suggestions or requests, please don't hesitate to email david, or call Jenni on 09 365 2648 (Mondays, Thursday-Fridays, business hours).

[dfmamea]

This is a gentle reminder that the next meeting is on Thursday, 4 December 2008 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm; this will be the last meeting for 2008.  It will be held at the funky Toi Ora Live Art Trust Studio, 19 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn.

Please bring a plate of food for some end-of-year after-meeting eating and drinking.

The agenda for the November meeting is:
-  a talk from a theatre producer on what producers do, how they do it, and what they look for;
-  housekeeping - a cool name for the group; and
-  workshopping and discussion of participants' scenes.

Speaking of which, those of you wanting to share your scene/s with the group - and you know who you are - please email it/them to david by Thursday, 27 November 2008.

[dfmamea]

AMENDED AGENDA for Thursday 4 December:

• Housekeeping - group name; ten months until September 2009;
• Reading - participants' scenes read out loud, then discussed;
• Eating!  Drinking!  Gossiping!

Yes, there was going to be a talk from a theatre producer but that is being saved for early next year.

Don't forget to bring a plate of food to share.

[dfmamea]

Housekeeping here:  this thread will now be continued on the BANANA BOAT thread.