DISTANT ROOTS

DISTANT ROOTS

Distant Roots, a 13-15 minute drama short film. Based on a true story, this short film shares the current life of Nafetāli (Norman)Teaupa.

Synopsis: When a man in his 70’s leaves his island for New Zealand as a young adult, now finds himself trapped in a day to day cycle as full-time builder. He must battle the inevitable feeling of growing old and running out of time. But why doesn’t he just stop working? Or more importantly, why doesn't he return home?

Just another day, another dollar for Masiva in New Zealand. Masiva wakes up for his early morning start as a builder. Masiva is tired, being 74 and still working, but somehow he finds the strength to get him up and on his way to work.

It has been almost 50 years since Masiva has been back home to his island. Sometimes during his long days he will get random memories of him back home, and more so the memories he shared with his father, these are cherishing moments for Masiva, memories that cannot be forgotten. 

Masiva's home is lonely, but still holds the residue of all of his children before they moved out and started their own lives. He misses his children, he misses his island, he misses his father, he's tired and exhausted. 

Through all of the loneliness and exhaustion, he realises that the answer to all of his problems lay in this one conversation that he had as a child with his father. 

Funding Goal: $5,000

Your donations will go towards:

• Art Department(props, costumes and set design)
• Accommodation
• Food Catering

Our Team:

Director/Writer: Caleb Teaupa

Producer/1st AD: Te KuraHuia Arikirangi

Executive Producer: Kasi Valu

DOP: Brad Jessop

1st AC: Jasiah Jennings

Sound Recordist: Jesse Garratt

Gaffer: Troy Wynyard

Editing: Molly Power

Director's Statement

As story tellers, I believe it is our job to be the waters that connect our shores and reflect our past, our future and our present. I have always been very interested in sharing the way that my father lives his life. I believe there is a lot to learn from this man, he is filled with so many stories of a long lived life. I am interested in what this story can do for my people and the effects or outcomes it can have on a wide range of audiences. I have chosen the story, I chosen my audience and grown my team, it is just a matter of breathing life into these fading memories. I am just sharing a small slice of the cake. I believe true and authentic stories have the power move, affect and disrupt people.

I believe Distant Roots has the ability to reach out across the film spectrum and connect with our Polynesian/Māori communities. This story highlights specific themes in everyday life that occur for my Tongan and Māori communities, values and morals that connect audience members back to their roots, and universal moments that can connect all people together. This story brings laborers to the forefront, the people that built up these lands, that built your homes, your roads and your schools. It emphasizes what it means to be stuck in these day to day cycles of being a laborer. This story highlights the importance of father figures, what it means to be a father, what must be sacrificed for your family. Distant Roots captures the essence of what it means to move hundreds of kilometers away from your home to foreign lands seeking better opportunities, whilst also carrying the burden of missing home. Distant Roots is based on a true story about a Tongan man who moved to New Zealand back in 1977. He found himself stuck in a cycle as a builder for many years, today at the age of 74, he is still working to support his family. I believe this story has the power to influence an audience, in ways as small as giving an extra nudge to pick up the phone and check in with their loved ones.