Created and directed by Mīria George (Ngāti Kearoa, Ngāti Tuarā, Te Arawa; Te Tawera, Ngāti Awa; Tumutevarovaro; Enuamanu; Kūki ‘Āirani) Big Hair, Don't Care documents the contribution of award-winning theatre, film and television writer Riwia Brown who has worked across the arts industry for nearly four decades.
The series was crafted to share kōrero of equity and visibility for wāhine Māori, va’ine Pasifika and wāhine tauiwi while addressing systemic issues throughout the stage and screen industry.
Filmed in Te Whanganui-a-Tara in February 2020, Big Hair, Don’t Care features playwright, screenwriter and director Dianna Fuemana (Mutalau, Niue; Pago Pago, American Samoa), and was shot by award-winning Director of Photography Elise Lanigan (fire in the water, fire in the sky). Production featured an all wāhine Māori camera crew including Pikihuia Haenga, Jamie Berry and Waimahana Paku.
The first two episodes are available to stream for free on Moana Nui, a specialist Indigenous-led digital theatre. Episode 3 will be available from tomorrow.
Access Moana Nui here. It is free to watch but you will still need to click 'Buy' or 'Rent' to access the documentaries, and then set up an account.
Image: Riwia Brown