Taika Waititi and Carthew Neal’s production company Piki Films is to embark on three projects with Maori writers from New Zealand. They turn an indigenous eye on the effects of colonization.
The projects will be developed by Neal, and producer Morgan Waru who has taken a full-time position at the company, after having worked with Piki on several previous projects.
Tina Makereti’s novel “The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke,” is set for adaptation as a feature film. The story involves a curious Maori teen who adventures to London in the 1840s to appear as a live exhibit amongst Maori artefacts. Initially, he enjoys the attention and hedonism of London, but soon discovers he cannot get past being labelled as a savage.
“It seems strangely timely to see this story developed into a film, as we witness the toppling of colonial statues and attitudes,” said Makereti in a statement.
The projects will be developed by Neal, and producer Morgan Waru who has taken a full-time position at the company, after having worked with Piki on several previous projects.
Tina Makereti’s novel “The Imaginary Lives of James Poneke,” is set for adaptation as a feature film. The story involves a curious Maori teen who adventures to London in the 1840s to appear as a live exhibit amongst Maori artefacts. Initially, he enjoys the attention and hedonism of London, but soon discovers he cannot get past being labelled as a savage.
“It seems strangely timely to see this story developed into a film, as we witness the toppling of colonial statues and attitudes,” said Makereti in a statement.
- 6/26/2020
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Company will develop two features and a detective series.
Taika Waititi and Carthew Neal’s New Zealand production company Piki Films is launching three projects with Māori writers, focusing on stories about the effects of colonisation.
The company will work on two feature films and a TV series, with Neal heading development alongside producer Morgan Waru, who has taken a full-time position at the company.
Waititi and Neal’s specific roles on each project are still to be determined; they have previously had producer or executive producer credits on Piki titles which Waititi did not direct, such as 2018’s The Breaker Upperers.
Taika Waititi and Carthew Neal’s New Zealand production company Piki Films is launching three projects with Māori writers, focusing on stories about the effects of colonisation.
The company will work on two feature films and a TV series, with Neal heading development alongside producer Morgan Waru, who has taken a full-time position at the company.
Waititi and Neal’s specific roles on each project are still to be determined; they have previously had producer or executive producer credits on Piki titles which Waititi did not direct, such as 2018’s The Breaker Upperers.
- 6/25/2020
- by 1101321¦Ben Dalton¦26¦
- ScreenDaily
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