Headlands

HEADLANDS is a series of short films for an anxious world, developed by some of Aotearoa's inspiring new film makers in partnership with writers who have lived experience of anxiety. Forty-seven percent of New Zealanders will personally experience mental illness or distress in their lifetime, so this is a significant opportunity to shift perceptions and build community around mental wellbeing. We invite you to support Team HEADLANDS, enabling the film makers and writers to work on treatments and scripts so that the films are ready to go into production next year.

HOW

The films are adapted from and inspired by the multi-takes on anxiety in Headlands: New Stories of Anxiety by New Zealand writers, poets, psychologists, journalists, musicians, a comedian and a physiotherapist.

Contributors to the book have partnered with 19 emerging film makers. Their films will feature a mixture of genres and styles - drama, documentary, animation, spoken word... and anything in between.

Like the book the films will share experiences and wisdom, challenge stigma and shame around mental illness, and offer help, hope and empowerment.

WHY

Storytellers have authentic and resonating voices in the New Zealand and global conversation taking place around mental wellbeing.

"Discrimination is one of the biggest barriers to recovery from an experience of mental illness... Journalists hold great power and can influence public opinion about people with mental illness in positive and negative ways."
www.likeminds.org.nz

Not just journalists. Also writers, poets, musicians, comedians...and film makers!

WHO

David Jacobs is Series Producer.
David founded The Outlook for Someday sustainability film project for young people and was Executive Producer of the award-winning Someday Stories films in 2017 and 2018, which have had about 1 million views.

Miryam Jacobi is Series Associate Producer in the development phase of the project. She is also one of the film-makers.
Miryam runs Auckland based production company 2113 Creatives. Earlier this year she was the Director's Assistant on BBC's The Luminaries. Miryam's debut short film, Do You Like Me Like This? premiered at the Show Me Shorts 2017. Her documentary Disorder was part of Someday Stories 2018, receiving high praise worldwide from specialists, film critics and those who have lived with the mental illness.

Naomi Arnold is the Editor of the book.
Naomi is a Nelson-based freelance journalist and author. As well as editing Headlands: New Stories of Anxiety she is the editor of a book on New Zealand astronomy, Southern Nights (Harper Collins, October 2019). She is an eight-time finalist or winner in New Zealand media awards and is a regular contributor to Stuff titles, New Zealand Geographic, and Heritage New Zealand. She is online here.

HEADLANDS WRITERS / CONTRIBUTORS

Tusiata Avia
Hinemoana Baker
Meredith Blampied
Allan Drew
Bonnie Etherington
D.A. Glynn
Paula Harris
Kate Kennedy
Rosemary Mannering
Eamonn Marra
Selina Tusitala Marsh
Donna McLeod
Lee Murray
Madeline Reid
Julia Rucklidge
Susan Strongman
Kerry Sunderland
Zion Tauamiti
Holly Walker
Sarah Lin Wilson

HEADLANDS FILM MAKERS
Rose Archer
Amberley Aumua
Jack Barry
Chantelle Burgoyne
Nicky Cameron
Angela Cudd
Harvey Hayes
Ella Hope-Higginson
Miryam Jacobi
Ellen Jones-Poole
Harriett Maire
Mia Maramara
Anapela Polata'ivao
Stella Reid
Paloma Schneideman
Komako Silver
Isaiah Tour
Claire Van Beek
Julie Zhu

SUPPORT SO FAR

HEADLANDS has so far received support from Creative New Zealand, the Health Promotion Agency and the University of Auckland.
We need you to add to that support.

WHAT YOUR SUPPORT WILL ENABLE

Your donation will support the film makers and writers to work on scripts and treatments so that their films are ready to go into production in 2020. And it will allow the dedicated HEADLANDS team to give them the guidance and mentorship they need.

The Body Shop is a match donor for HEADLANDS. They will match your contributions up to the value of $7500.

Donations qualify for a tax credit. NZ income earners qualify for a 33% tax credit on their donations from the IRD with a receipt automatically provided by The Arts Foundation (as The Arts Foundation is a registered charity) for any donation made.

And big thanks to everyone who contributed to this PLEASE SUPPORT HEADLANDS video!
[https://vimeo.com/359478094]
Videographer: Isaiah Tour
Editor: Laura McBeath
Graphic Design: Olivia Mahood
Animation: Liam Maguren
Book Cover: Hadley Donaldson
Photo of Hinemoana Baker: Leonardo Carta
Photo of Tusiata Avia: Hayley Theyer, courtesy of Phantom