Point Chevalier resident and film maker Richard Green has had outstanding recent success with his short film Te Whare.  The film, described by Richard as a ‘modern parable’, has been shown at several local and international film festivals including this month’s Wairoa Maori Film Festival.

In May Te Whare won a Special Commendation and a prize of £200 at the University of Northampton’s International Community Film Festival, and it was recently shown at the Denver Indigenous Film Festival and the Metro International Film Festival.

The film uses the metaphor of flatmates sharing a house to explore the relationships involved in the Treaty of Waitangi.  It aims to help people understand the treaty relationship in a way that is accessible and understandable to them.

“I’m a Treaty educator and a film maker,” says Richard, who graduated from South Seas in 1993 after majoring in Directing and Production.  “This film has allowed me to combine my love of film-making and my passion for Treaty issues. “

Richard says he feels lucky that he has been able to tell a story that is important to him, rather than simply telling someone else’s story.  “Since I graduated form South Seas Film and Television School I have been a freelance writer and director, and established a charitable trust with the aim of reaching people through the mediums of stage and film.” The trust administers

Having received funding through the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), Richard is now proud to see Te Whare being used as an educational resource.  Richard points out that, despite the funding, this was still a low budget film and a lot of people were involved because they believe in the kaupapa (the underlying philosophy) of the project.

Richard is currently working on several other projects including a documentary about his 96-year-old grandfather that includes four generations of men in the Green family.  He is also developing a script for a feature film and is in negotiations with a well-known New Zealand actor to play the lead role.

“This is a wonderful industry to be involved in,” he says.  “At times I still get very excited about it and I say ‘Wow! I get paid to do this!’  There aren’t many jobs where you get paid to follow your passions.”

Contact Richard Green

021655633

Photos and Screen Grabs available