Opia

Opia is a short film created by emerging writer/director Cosmo Calman centred in the underworld of modern graffiti and street culture.

It follows Mantra, a young teenage girl making a name for herself as a vandal & visionary. She finds a wonderful wall to start painting a mural until she is interrupted by The Stranger, a young teenage boy. The two play cat & mouse as they evade one another in the night, each adding layers to the graffiti mural as they pass by over several nights. It explores the mood and tone of the city in this world, the nightlife, a bit darker, a tension of paranoia, vivid lights & colours popping. A golden era hip hop based sound inspired by the likes of Tribe Called Quest, JDilla, RZA and the likes of. Connected with ambient tones in between. On the final night, they finally meet and collaborate with one another, sharing a deep connection akin to first love. OPIA.

We are looking to raise funds to support the development of 'Opia' and build a screen industry here in Hawke's Bay. The funds raised will support paying actors, crew and catering for a 3 day shoot in July, 2023. The team is small but everyone coming on board will be paid the same to create an equitable environment. We will be applying for some funding to assist us in painting a large mural in the city of Hastings, Hawke's Bay and to compose the soundtrack with a local musician now living in Auckland.

We already have a dedicated team on board to assist with the shoot and all equipment is being supplied by local and national film-makers to contribute to the project. Local DOP Gilly Lawrence will be operating and director/actor Daniel Betty will be producing and mentoring Cosmo throughout the process. GripHQ have come on board to support with grip equipment and Firefly Films have agreed to assist with mentoring through the producing, film festival planning and distribution.

Opia recently was shortlisted as part of the Script to Screen Koupere Hou Funding. The short film feeds into a feature length film called 'AeroSoul' where Cosmo was selected to go to Story Camp earlier this year. Opia sits separately from the feature, AeroSoul but will act as a visual palette to secure the development and funding as we move forward.

Please dig deep to help us celebrate local stories in regional New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is a unique untouched film environment just waiting to be explored.