Te Wharerangi Mihinui

Kia ora, I have been employed in the film and television sector for over 30 years. In 1993 aged 14, I received best young filmmaker of the year award at the National Association of Media Educators annual short film competition. At aged 17 I received a broadcast internship in Dunedin gaining experience in broadcast production and studio management. Returning to Christchurch at 19 I became more interested in film production working in a variety of disciplines as diverse as; Pyrotechnics, Prosthetic makeup, props and later as an art director for NZ Film commision funded short films and NZ on air funded music videos. At 23 I created a tax exempt charitable trust, Archetype Screen Arts. The objective of the trust was to produce low budget video products for charitable entities utilising graduates from NZ broadcasting school and Canterbury Film School. The aim and intension was to build the profiles of both graduating students and charitable organisations we produced promotional videos for. Archetype Screen Arts operated for seven years from 1999-2006. This built my capability for producing, writing and directing. With these foundational skills I won awards for directing, writing and most notably a 20k prise for a national advertising campaign I developed for The Edge radio station. This experience led to forming a commercial production company Mercury Multimedia producing television commercials, corporate videos and industrial films. After Mercury Multimedia I went freelance working in a variety of capacities as an accomplished Director, Director of Photography and Editor. I'm blessed that I'm often asked to contribute as Director of Photography in feastival films such as; The Waimate Conspiracy, Seven Rivers Walking and Pecking Order. In 2015 I was asked to act in a music video and was then encouraged by colleagues to pursue the possibility of acting. Unexpectedly, this has been a successful undertaking as I now have an agent, Gail Cowan. Gail has grown my skills as an actor leading to many roles in features and TV; The Stolen, My name is Heather, A Peek Inside, Dark City the Cleaner, Went Up the Hill and now the lead in New Zealand's second major animated series since Bro Town, Two Bald Clowns. In 2022 I worked as a content producer for Māui Studios. Māui were the first production company in the South Island to build a full LED virtual production studio. I took this position to better understand the latest technologies available for digital storytelling. Acting is now my focus, however to supplement my income and grow my drama directing skills I've recently been working as a 3rd,and 2nd assistant director on features and Television commercials; We Were Dangerous (Te Motu), Head South, The Crusaders/ Get In Behind TVC. My mixed experience has allowed me to remain employed in film and TV for the last 30 years. I'm passionate about storytelling and as a Māori practitioner I've have been relentless in growing my industry experiences to stave off my insecurities in a Pakeha dominated environment. I'm active within the Canterbury community as a member of Te Puna Matarau, an industry body that seeks to develop screen creatives in Waitaha Canterbury. I truly have no idea where I'll end up in the industry. What I do know is it will be in the Screen Industry. Thank you for the opportunity to register in the Māori Screen Directory. Te Wharerangi Mihinui I