Rising star Rasela on life in “The Factory”

Rising star Rasela on life in “The Factory”

Singer/ songwriter and MIT graduate Rasela Sosoli hadn’t planned on landing a gig as an actor, but that’s exactly what happened when she took part in auditions for new online series, “The Factory”.

Shot on location in South Auckland, the NZ on Air and Telecom funded series is hosted online and traces the fortunes of the Saumalu family and their quest to win the ‘Ex-Factory’ song quest.

The series began life as a stage play by the celebrated Killa Kokonut Krew theatre company. The critically–acclaimed play was toured nationwide earlier this year.

The online episodes are a spin-off from the play, and casting auditions were held in community halls, malls, markets and festivals all over South Auckland. Over half of the web series’ cast is new talent.

Rasela is one of the series’ new faces. She plays Losa Saumalu, an 18 year old accountancy and management student at MIT.

“Losa is one of those people who has to pass with excellence and anything other than top of the class is a fail,” says Rasela of her character.

“I was heaps more relaxed while I was studying Creative Arts at MIT!”

The 17 part series was shot in just four weeks. Rasela believes her acting training at MIT helped her get through the intense schedule, and says working with theatre professionals from the Killa Kokonut Crew has been awesome.

“They know their stuff and they’ve paid their dues. I was really nervous my first day on set but Anapela (Polataivao playing Lilly Saumalu, and director of The Factory stage show) was really caring. All they expected was that I be myself and do my best.”

Rasela’s talents as a singer were put to good use in the series, with her current single Summer Love featuring in episode 11.

“I got called in to help out with scoring the series, and when we were doing this Aleni Tufuga who plays my dad on the series said ‘Let’s use your ‘Summer Love’ song that’s playing on Niu FM.’”

‘Summer Love’ is Rasela’s first single. She has been writing music since she was 12 years old and cites family and friends as her big influences both musically, and professionally.

“My aunty has always been super-supportive of me and my music. When I turned 21, she was like “ok you’re now about 50 by music industry standards, you need to get it going on.”

And things certainly are happening for the talented young artist. She’s signed to label Spin33 Records, has an EP due out early October and is gigging extensively.

“Singing’s definitely my first love, but acting in ‘The Factory’ has helped my music so much. A lot of opportunities have opened up for me as a result of the series. Playing Losa helped me learn to show how I feel and how to make myself vulnerable. Acting’s changed my whole approach to writing and gigging.”

MIT’s Faculty of Creative Arts offers a Diploma in Performing Arts programme and a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Performing Arts) degree programme – both qualifications include study in acting, singing and dance.

Applications to study performing arts at MIT in 2014 are currently open and will be assessed on an academic entry requirement and through an audition process. Applications are accepted until the programme is full.

ENDS

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