How wonderful it was when Tinitini’s brother gave me a DVD with video footage of a Tinitini concert in 1988. I had filed it away for years imagining making another short documentary incorporating some footage. Meanwhile no-one could see it. A crime for those interested in Tongan comedy and remembering back to 1988. We have… Read More
I was in a museum in Gothenburg, Sweden. But for a long meaningful moment I was brought back to Tonga, through the powerful idea of comedy serving the same purpose worldwide and in different historical times. Read More
A film about comedy in Tonga. Read More
It’s been a long time since I last posted on this blog. I’ve been working hard to process and start to edit some of the material for the latest documentary on Tonga, which focuses on the healer, Emeline Lolohea, the psychiatrist, Dr Mapa Puloka, and my relationship with both. I’ve been really excited to see… Read More
A great TED talk that relates really strongly to the power of comedy in Tonga.
A big thank you to Malia Talakia for organising a twin screening of ‘Fun(d)raising’ and ‘My Lost Kainga’ at UNITEC on the 6th September as part of the inaugural Tongan Language Week. Read press announcement here and here. Learn more about Tongan Language Week here.
Public Lecture and Film Showing at USP, 15 Sept 2009 The Public Lecture on Social Filmmaking in Tonga was a great success. The lecture theatre at USP was full. Fun(d)raising was shown half way through the lecture and afterwards many people asked questions and offered their own testimonies of filmmaking. The lecture and film were… Read More
Fun(d)raising will receive its first NZ premier at an informal gathering at the MAU theatre this Friday, a great venue that celebrates Pacific performance and has hosted the Laughing Samoans and a tribute to Epeli Hau’ofa. http://www.mau.co.nz/contact.php I very much thank Hufanga Dr ‘Okusitino Mahina and Albert Refiti for organising this opportunity.
I’m very happy to say that I’m coming back to New Zealand and Tonga next week and staying till mid September. I’ll be looking for venues to show Fun(d)raising as a tribute to Siua Tutone and looking into developing a documentary on the subject of comedy, diabetes and health promotion. Any suggestions welcome. It is… Read More
Epeli Hau’ofa was a wonderful man. His comedy contained profound insights of not only Tongan and Pacific life but for people worldwide. Let us mourn your passing but also celebrate in your indomitable style, the incredible life you had and the inspiration you were to many. Our sincerest condolences to all in Fiji and the… Read More
Potolahi Productions