AMY STREET: more than meets the eye

A documentary web series www.amystreet.net

Amy Street is an eight-part web documentary series that brings to life entertaining and heartwarming stories that aim to bridge the divide between people with intellectual disabilities, and mainstream society.

The series centers around the lives of the residents of The Supported Life Style Hauraki Trust. This charitable trust supports people with differing abilities within the small-town of Thames, on the Coromandel Peninsula.

In a world where the self-called ‘Life Stylers’ are sometimes labeled by their disability, Amy Street turns the spotlight on the people instead of the label. Taking a real look at the colourful lives of the residents, and  their larger than life personalities, each of the eight documentaries focuses on the different residents of Amy Street. It explores their hopes, dreams, challenges and relationships as they navigate a complex world.

Filmmakers Kirsty Griffin and Viv Kernick have developed Amy Street as a follow-up to their celebrated 2014 documentary Wayne, which focuses on a resident of The Supported Life Style Hauraki Trust for which the film is named.  Wayne has garnered three laurels including an Award of Recognition at the Best Shorts Competition in Los Angeles.

It is the way in which Griffin and Kernick explore the humanness of these individuals and their lives that make Amy Street such compelling viewing. Take Topsy, whose story follows her excitement and preparation to marry fellow Amy Street resident Dave. She proudly states that she wants to get married 'because my cousin is married. I want to give it a go. And just be normal.'

It is in these moments of unbridled honesty, where Griffin and Kernick make it so easy to emotionally connect with the characters and build incredibly empathetic responses in their viewers.

Amy Street is available to view online at www.amystreet.nz, with the support of the NZ on Air Digital Fund.

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Additional Information:

Kirsty Griffin

Kirsty began her photographic career in 2002 as a unit stills photographer for New Zealand and international feature films. During this period she pursued her documentary career working for the NGO’s Child Fund in East Timor, World Vision in Cambodia and South Africa, The Doe Fund in New York City and the NZ Aids Foundation in Tonga. In 2010 she relocated to New York to attend the Photojournalism and Documentary Photography School at the International Centre of Photography, where she received the Helen M Stummer scholarship.

http://kirstygriffin.com/

Viv Kernick

Viv started working in the NZ film and TV industry in the mid 80’s, with a successful 20-year career  from prop buyer to set decorator as a part of the art departments on local and international feature films, TV commercials and television shows. In 2010 the opportunity came to accompany Kirsty on her Photojournalist studies in NYC. By pooling their talents and experience in the film industry they started ‘Bella Pacific Media’ in 2011.

The Supported Life Style Hauraki Trust

The Supported Life Style Hauraki Trust is a community-based assisted living program for adults with intellectual disabilities, based in Thames.  In total there are 60 residents or ‘Lifestylers’ who live in refurbished miners cottages within the community, giving them the opportunity to live relatively independent lives. Some live alone, others flat together. Their support workers care for them and guide them to make the right decisions for themselves, supporting community interaction at each individual need.

The fundamental philosophy of the trust is based on being human, accepting diversity, and recognizing each individual with respect and love towards others.

For more information on The Supported Life Style Hauraki Trust, visit their website: http://www.suplife.org.nz/.