The Film – Little Girl’s War Cry
Little Girl’s War Cry is the story of a ten-year old Maori girl, Tiare, born on the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. Raised by a struggling single mother, whose repeatedly abused by her boyfriend, Tiare shelters herself from reality with her hero-centered imagination, until a prank goes wrong and she must directly confront the violence that stains her childhood and family. Influenced by cultural elements around her and her will to fight back, Tiare discovers not only a deeper-rooted identity, but also an inner strength driven by the power of a mother and child’s love.
The film is being done as apart of the FilmRaro Initiative and Film Challenge in the Cook Islands.
The FilmRaro Initiative. Prompting the Stories of the South Pacific.
Developing nations such as the South Pacific's Cook Islands need to learn more about telling their own digital stories to aid social and economic development.
To be able to see themselves on screen, hear their own language, preserve heritage, culture and identity, to have a voice in today's audio visual digital world.
FILM RARO is a world first concept in the way that it will link passionate filmmakers to indigenous peoples to collaborate in the production of international short films.
The films produced, the knowledge and experience shared will raise the capacity of Cook Island storytellers to then tell their own digital stories to their people and the world.
(Quoted from FilmRaro Website)
For more information: http://www.filmraro.com
All about the Director:
Award-Winning Native Hawaiian filmmaker Erin Lau was born and raised in Hawaii on the island of Oahu and is currently pursuing a film production degree at the Academy of Creative Media at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Due to a long love of the arts, her venture towards her future as a filmmaker started at a very young age, which eventually led her to participate in the Kamehameha High School’s film program for two years during her high school career. One of her recent personal films, Ka Pua, a Hawaii-based short documentary on her 93 year old great grandmother, was honored with several accolades from film festivals across the globe, including the Guam International Film Festival, Shanghai International Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival and has screened at several more festivals nation-wide.
Thanks to the influences of native artists and films from across the Pacific and through out her life, it is from their efforts and her very own family’s, that she has gained inspiration and a determination to tell the rich stories of her culture and people. After she graduates she hopes to continue pursuing Asian Pacific storytelling through the art of cinema, giving a voice to the causes, people and cultures that are sometimes left unnoticed.
https://twitter.com/Project_KIP
www.linkedin.com/in/erinmlau/
Why is this film important?
Part of the reason I decided to do a Maori cultured film, despite coming from a Hawaiian background is that I believe that all Pacifica cultures are brother and sister cultures to each other and therefore as a family, we should support one another. So I feel it is my duty as a Pacifica woman to help tell the stories of not only their rich culture and heritage, but also those who struggle to express their voices. And along the way, inspire the people of the Cook Islands to tell their own stories, because no one can tell their own stories better than themselves.
In the case of “Little Girl’s War Cry,” it is used to express the voices of women and children plagued by domestic violence in their homes. Domestic violence continues to be a widespread issue that is often left unreported, not only in the Pacific, but also worldwide. It is an issue that not only affects victims, but the lives of their families and communities as well. Although steps have been taken to tackle the problem in the Cook Islands, it still exists in silence. I hope to capture through this film, if even the slightest piece, the feelings and experiences children and women must endure in these cases, in hopes that it will move people to understand the seriousness of the issue and that in taking action, they can make a difference.
Meet the Crew:
- Director of Photography/Editor – Kristin Kouke
- Gaffer – Jamie Poliahu
- Sound Technician – Bryan Ruiz
- Extra Crew from the Cook Islands will be supplied by FilmRaro
To view crew members creative portfolios and resumes, refer to here: http://www.filmraro.com/index.pl?page=show_finalist_detail&ID=76&m=228
Budget Breakdown:
- Merchandise ($300)
- Equipment Supplies ($1000)
- Baggage Fees ($2000)
- Post-Production Funds ($200)
- Travel Insurance ($1000)
- Additional ($500)
- Production Emergency Fees ($500)
Are There Other Ways I Can Help?
There are more ways to support the film than financially. Spreading the word about our film and initiative by word of mouth, social media outlets and any other means of communication with friends and family- would be greatly appreciated by our cast and crew! We also accept donations of any form to help create incentive for donors to help with funding.
Every piece of support you give helps us create a more beautiful and strong film in spreading the awareness of this topic.
Mahalo nui loa!
Extra Aloha for our big supporters!
Several companies and businesses have donated a handful of goodies and services for us to give to our donors as an expression of aloha for their support.
More information about these donors:
http://www.laakeajewelry.com (La’akea Designs)
http://www.slackkeyfestival.com (Kihoalu Foundation)
*Limited while supplies last.
Social Media Links:
https://twitter.com/WarCryFilm
www.facebook.com/LittleGirlsWarCry
Additional Article About the Film & Crew:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1301/S00047/domestic-violence-the-topic-of-film-raros-latest-winner.htm
http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=c1c722c8d0da334a97b5099bf&id=e72ada667f&e=b7bf7b9801
http://hawaiiindependent.net/story/hawaii-film-to-take-on-domestic-violence-in-rarotonga
http://www.kaleo.org/news/uh-students-head-to-cook-islands-for-film-raro-challenge/article_bd48c10a-8619-11e2-b67b-001a4bcf6878.html
Email for more information: LittleGirlsWarCry@gmail.com