MEDIA RELEASE
July 15 2008
Iconic Film Screens in Hamilton
The Māori Merchant of Venice is to screen in Hamilton on Thursday July 24th.
The iconic feature film which had its premiere in Hamilton several years ago will be screened at Wintec (Waikato
Institute of Technology) during Māori Language Week thanks to the generosity of Producer Ruth Kaupua Panapa.
The Māori take on Shakespeare’s 400 year old play ‘pound of flesh’ drama
stars Māori actors speaking te reo and is subtitled in easy to-read English. Directed by the late renowned Māori
Shakespearean actor and director Don C Selwyn, The Māori Merchant of Venice began its World Premiere in the Waikato in
2002,
with ticket sales going to a fund as part of the revitalisation of the language, a lifelong passion of Don Selwyn.
Wintec spokesperson Anna Carter said the institute was delighted to have the opportunity to screen it in 2008 during
Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori: Māori Language Week.
The screening, at Wintec’s City Campus Hub will be free admission. Dozens of invitees in the community had been eager
to attend according to Wintec PR manager Anna Carter. Seats were still available and anyone interested could contact
her at anna.carter@wintec.ac.nz or 858 0217 to secure seats she said. She said the film was part of the institute’s
week long programme of events to celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori. The institute was also publishing a newspaper,
Pitoitoi in
Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori.
The cast is headed by Waihoroi Shortland as Shylock (in Maori: Hairoka) and introduces Ngarimu Daniels as Portia (Pohia)
and Scott Morrison as Antonio (Anatonio). Te Rangihau Gilbert is Bassanio (Patanio), Veeshayne Armstrong is Nerissa
(Nerita), Sonny Kirikiri is Gratiano (Karatiano), Reikura Morgan is Jessica (Tiehika) and Te Arepa Kahi is Lorenzo
(Roroneto). Shakespeare’s play was translated into Maori in 1945 by Dr Pei Te Hurinui Jones, who wanted to make the
beauty of Shakespeare’s language accessible to Maori. Don Selwyn staged it as a play in 1990 before making it into a
film.
The Executive producer/director of the film was the late Don Selwyn; associate producers: the late Sir Robert Mahuta and
Selwyn Muru; producer: Ruth Kaupua
Panapa; director of photography: Davorin Fahn; production designer: Guy Moana;
costume designer: Gavin McLean; composer: Clive Cockburn; Maori music composer: Hirini Melbourne; editor: Bella
Erickson.
Ends