E Lele Le Toloa

E Lele Le Toloa is a visual Talanoa and exploration of faasinomaga (identity). At the centre is Tui Meki, a son of the Pacific, on a journey of self-discovery and finding his grounding in spaces that he moves through. We follow Meki, as he recounts the experiences that have helped shape and reveal to himself who he is as an individual.

The director and producer duo bringing this project to life are Selu-Kian Faletoese (Director) and Bai Buliruarua (Producer).

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

E Lele Le Toloa is the final year project for our Screen Production major at AUT. As practicing filmmakers, our focus lies on themes of identity, the process of growth and the experiences of island-born Pasifika youth in Aotearoa. We want to bring this story, and many more, to life with a personal and Indigenous lens. 

This short documentary will detail Tui Meki’s journey from Samoa to Aotearoa, and the impact that his journey has had on his understanding of self, his discovery of community in foreign spaces and the genuine hardships faced in new environments.

This piece will not only speak to some of the experiences of Pasifika youth in Aotearoa, but it will visually explore the realities of Pasifika communities that have come to call Aotearoa “home”.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

Filmmaking is not a cheap profession. To bring this film to life as best as possible, we need your help to crowdfund some money to pay for a variety of things. The money raised will cover:

• Participants - making sure that those involved are compensated for their commitment and giving up their time to help us out
• Transportation - our film requires travel across Auckland, so we want to make sure people can travel to and from shoots safely
• Catering - we will be working with around 5 – 6 people over three days and we want to make sure they are fed and stay energised
• Equipment - we have included extra equipment in the budget to bring this short to life in a creative and entertaining way 

We would appreciate any donation, no matter how big or small, as it would take us one step further in bringing this short film to life. Help us continue this important conversation around Pacific identity.

Also, all donors will get a special mention in the credits of our film as you will have played a vital part in this story's creation.

So, help us bring another Pacific story to the screen. To stay up to date with our progress, follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @eleleletoloa, using the links below.

Your continued support is hugely appreciated x

FA'AFETAI TELE LAVE & VINA'A,

Selu-Kian and Bai