Manu Masters

MANU MASTERS is a summer coming-of-age comedy inspired by films like the Last Dragon and the original Karate Kid. Manu Masters must learn how to bomb from Matua Pai to save his reputation, but also for his own self-esteem. The film is fun and colourful with an exaggerated set of characters and aims to tackle themes of identity, purpose and great expectations. 

A story of summer, fear and courage in Aotearoa. Manu Masters is faced with a challenge he can’t turn down. Will he come out on top?

This film is the story of our Summer. Growing up in Aotearoa many of us rangatahi struggle with expectations and identity. During Summer we get to step outside of the grind of school or uni - it’s a time of exponential growth and introspection as we test the waters of the big wide world. 

In Manu Masters, I wanted to celebrate the growth and strength of young Indigenous people while also aiming to make people laugh. I wanted rangatahi like me to see themselves on screen. I also think it’s important for an audience to feel our strength, our growth and celebrate us along with the story.

I NEED YOUR HELP

Filming in water and with lots of rangatahi is going to be expensive and complicated so I need your help to hire the best camera gear we can, crew, transport and location expenses so that we can make the best film possible. 

With this pilot, we will be able to pitch to other funders and broadcasters to bring the world of Manu Masters to life! 

Through the process I’ll be working with rangatahi from all over Aotearoa so that together we can all learn and grow. 

Every donation large and small means everything to me. 

Manu Masters is a story I’ve been in love with for so long now. It started as a short film that I just wanted to expand on as I got to know the characters, which has turned into a 5 episode arc. 

This story serves as a jumping-off point (pun intended) for the characters and should leave the audience asking for more.

ABOUT ME

I am Te Waiarangi Ratana, 22, of Tūhoe descent. Raised by a single mother I was surrounded by a whānau of contemporary Māori visual artists that sparked my creative interests from a young age. I grew up in Ohope and Kirikiriroa and now live in Pōneke. I am an Assistant Director and have worked on productions like Wellington Paranormal, Mystic, Mr. Corman, Avatar, Millie Lies Low, Colonial Combat and Savage. 

After working on a mix of different productions, watching, listening and learning, I feel I have the tools I need to collaborate and lead a crew to make something special with Manu Masters.

MY TEAM

Manu Masters is part of the Ngā Pakiaka Incubator Project (NPIP). NPIP was developed by Māoriland during Lockdown to support rangatahi filmmakers to produce their first professional short films. The first eight in NPIP are Aree Kapa, Oriwa Hakaraia, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Kararaina Ngatai-Melbourne, Te Waiarangi Ratana, Bailey Poching, Tiana Trego Hall and Te Mahara Tamehana. All eight filmmakers have personal creative goals to become feature filmmakers and share Indigenous stories on the big screen. Under NPIP, this talented rangatahi have received one-on-one mentorship from industry experts from across the Indigenous filmmaking sector, craft development opportunities, workshops, and industry placements. With your help, NPIP will grow Aotearoa's film industry with;

• Eight new short films from rangatahi Māori directors
• 24 rangatahi receiving on set training
• Two rangatahi Producers (Māori & Sāmoan)
• Two reo Māori films
• Pilot for Māori web-series (Manu Masters)
• Proof of concept for rangatahi Māori feature film (Ruarangi)

Manu Masters needs your help! Anything you can give is greatly appreciated.