the goodLife

goodBusy Hiatus..

2011-10-03T17:32:00.003+13:00

Anal Probing as First Contact

2011-07-13T14:01:00.001+12:00

skateamation [Tilman Singer animotor]

2011-07-11T12:29:00.002+12:00

Go Go Seagull GoPro.

2011-07-05T20:44:00.000+12:00

Hitler Hates Final Cut ProX.

2011-06-30T14:08:00.000+12:00

study of POV music videos.

2011-06-27T16:30:00.001+12:00

local goodVid of the Month. TysonTyler. 'Go Hard'.

2011-06-27T08:38:00.000+12:00

Hey, what are you Listening to?

2011-06-25T10:38:00.000+12:00

goodVideo of the Month. the Greeks 'Is Tropical'

2011-06-18T10:29:00.000+12:00

Symmetry. Everynone.

2011-06-17T07:30:00.000+12:00

Symmetry from Everynone on Vimeo.

the Reverse Graffiti Project

2011-06-12T09:28:00.001+12:00

the 100 greatest movie threats of all time.

2011-06-03T08:52:00.000+12:00

HomeBrew music video

2011-05-23T08:19:00.000+12:00

stills from the HomeBrew vid shoot.

2011-05-22T10:42:00.000+12:00

Behind the Scenes of Homebrew Vid.

2011-05-14T17:12:00.001+12:00

Homebrew Video Premiere Party

2011-05-11T17:02:00.002+12:00

http://www.3news.co.nz/Chris-Graham--Homebrew-video-launch-interview/tabid/551/articleID/209443/Default.aspx

our goodAd becomes a BestAd [.com]

2011-02-24T11:06:00.006+13:00

Yesterday our goodAd for Cadbury 'share the joy', graduated when it was chosen as one of 6 of the Best Ads of the week worldwide. read more about it on Best Ad's here. & below the jump, some words from Campaign Brief as well. Congrats to my man Stich, our talented crew & team DDB. a goodStart to a long campaign of many Ads.

Top 6 this week

What does joy sound like? With the help of Bobby McFerrin, DDB New Zealand created Cadbury's 'Share The Joy' campaign which set out to answer that question. Since December 2010Cadbury have been 'sharing the joy' with kiwis through a series of events across the country. In their first TV ad they are sharing real New Zealanders' sounds of joy. It's a stunning montage of some of the best moments captured at our events and around New Zealand and the first of a campaign that will try to discover exactly what joy sounds like. read

Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Cadbury goes in search of what joy sounds like with new TV commercial via DDB New Zealand.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.campaignbrief.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/12713
8 Comments
Joanna said:
I saw this clip on TV Four on Monday night and I have to say I was really impressed. They've addressed Kiwiana without trying to be retro or making Kiwi's look backwards. It's a beautiful ad.
February 16, 2011 2:09 PM
Anonymous said:
Almost as good as gorilla
February 16, 2011 4:44 PM
Anonymous said:
so rewarding to watch - really get a sense of joy from it. I like it.
February 17, 2011 7:15 AM
Plato said:
Leaves Gorilla for dead. Not a re-purpose of an earlier music vid for a start. Everyone should work with Chris Graham. He's a brilliant director, and he'll event make everyone a coffee
February 17, 2011 8:09 AM
Anonymous said:
Why Bobby McFerrin??
February 17, 2011 8:11 AM
Anonymous said:
nice insight CG, love it
nic
February 17, 2011 12:43 PM
Anonymous said:
Why Bobby McFerrin? Think I know why. Freakin' awesome idea guys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne6tB2KiZuk&feature=youtube_gdata_player
February 17, 2011 10:58 PM
Anonymous said:
Yeah Chris - great work. Those Quit Group ads were beautifully shot too.
February 18, 2011 9:10 AM

goodDance. 8'year old kids kan Krump.

2011-02-20T09:47:00.000+13:00

goodVideo of the Month. Tyler the Creator. 'Yonkers'.

2011-02-19T10:16:00.000+13:00

Les Twins. dance, battle, street Vids from France.

2011-02-18T12:11:00.000+13:00

Cadbury 'Share the Joy' Ad.

2011-02-16T16:10:00.005+13:00

the 1st Ad we & DDB made for Cadbury's 'share the joy' campaign this year.

you can view the many web portraits of the events on the share the joy site here.
Stop Press just wrote up some words & credits on the campaign here.
more Ads of joy coming soon...

good SlowMo Ads.

2011-01-12T22:45:00.001+13:00

Drew Struzan. the Art of 80's Movie Posters.

2011-01-02T15:51:00.004+13:00

my mate Josh just out of Melbourne put me onto Drew Struzan, who I knew of having grown up with these 80's [& 70's] classic iconic imagery, but just never knew whose brush it was that enveloped all the films in the era that made me want to become a filmmaker, when I was just a teenage dreamer. You can see more of his work Here:

Happy 1.1.11. Newer Yeah

2011-01-01T17:26:00.000+13:00

a Study of Slow Mo.

2010-12-28T21:36:00.002+13:00

Young Sid 'YOU' music video.

2010-12-25T13:59:00.007+13:00

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to everyone from goodLife. We thought on this day where we celebrate & value our family & whanau, it was a good time to release & recall that not everyone has warmth & love in their homes. This is a crucial song, one of Sid's best & a video I'm very proud of & in many ways is a sibling to the video I made for Smashproof, 'Brother' two years ago. It premiered two days ago exclusive to the NZ Herald. Catch his words & hava safe holiday, which is all that kiwi kids can wish for.

director : Chris Graham @ goodLife.
producer: Claire Campbell
dop's: Brett Nichols, Andrew Stroud
cam asst: Sophie Musgrove
lighting: Richie Pause Rich
editor: Nathan Pickles
colourist: Dave McClaren
flame VFX: Andy Dill
post pro: Amy Molloy, Steen Bech

Thanks for the support from : goodLife, Oktobor, Maori TV, Fat Productions & Stich,
Haley & the cast of youth from Clover Park School, Otara.

the Beaches & Hose summer tour

2010-12-18T20:51:00.000+13:00

Sneak Peak at Scarlet [mini RED camera]

2010-12-18T20:36:00.004+13:00

Ive been shooting most of the last two years on the RED camera, even though my true love is still 35mm. But for a high ratio shooting, like a lot of the documentary & doco style Ads I'm shooting have been, the Red is a great tool. the Scarlet is the anticipated smaller, more agile handheld Red cam. Still unreleased, but this is the 1st peek at her.

Stills from the Young Sid vid shoot for YOU.

2010-12-17T05:17:00.002+13:00

Second night in a row that we are editing through the long morning hours, a reflection of just how busy December is. YOU has been an unconventional formation of a video, since it started when I shot Sid & Sicc at their house in Otara back in May for the 'Sounds of Hope' about NZ's child abuse pandemic. [You can see scenes from our Doco here.] Then Kirk Harding called asking if I could make a music video out of the Doco footage we shot of Sid's acapella of the song YOU. The sync drifted some but we figured we could. So we shot Deach the week after. Then I got busy in Ad land, MTC hit up NZ on fAir for funding, I was down with knee surgery & 6 months later in November we shot the other half of the video.

Hayley & the good fam at Clover Park school in Otara helped us find a dozen great kids to memorise the song over a few days, then we returned to shoot these kids deliver Sid's crucial message. As you can see, a wide range of talented & gorgeous youth learnt the song for the shoot, although most knew it already as Sid being a local hero having attended this school as a kid. He was in NYC working on the new album when we shot this, but Tyree, Juse & Aaron repped. It was a great day in the SA sun, thanks to a generous & skilled crew, the school, Twice as Nice for a emotive beat & Sid for a deep track, silver scroll worthy. Its also my first music video in nearly two years since I made this one. No doubt, after we complete post, MTC will announce when they will drop this video next week sometime for You.

David Dallas. Coming to America to Duck Down.

2010-12-13T14:48:00.005+13:00

http://www.prefixmag.com/media/david-dallas/coming-to-america-part-1-video/46861/

Kush. Dre's 1st Vid in a Decade. [Int Vid of the Month]

2010-12-13T14:39:00.000+13:00

Alice in WonderingLand. [3 Remixed MashUps]

2010-11-28T10:15:00.000+13:00

English 50cent : In the Club [translated into theQueen's English]

2010-11-28T10:06:00.000+13:00

English 50 Cent - In Da Club from english 50cent on Vimeo.

new Maori music.

2010-11-26T22:24:00.003+13:00

Local Vid of the Month : MoveTheCrowd. [Vince McMillan]

2010-11-24T14:35:00.000+13:00

Damn. which label better than this? now thats a local roster.

Int Vid of the Month : Arcade Fire 'the Suburbs' [Spike Jonze]

2010-11-24T14:29:00.000+13:00

the Sopranos. uncensored. [everybody needs a Montage]

2010-11-19T10:14:00.002+13:00

Every swear word, from every Episode, ever.

TED Prize Winner : JR : photographer.

2010-11-14T21:41:00.001+13:00

"JR is an anonymous photographer and artist and the 2011 TED Prize winner. In his work, JR embeds into neighborhoods, favelas and villages around the world, photographing the people who live there and learning their stories — and then pasting his striking images onto massive local canvases: buildings, buses, roads and bridges. His latest global art project is called "Women Are Heroes."

JR embodies the many characteristics TED looks for in a winner: creativity, vision, leadership, and persuasion. His work is not just stunning. It is innovative, using collaborative storytelling techniques, which move the art of photography in a new and exciting direction. His work is about unlocking the power of possibility, revealing our true selves to those who live around us and then sharing those stories far and wide.

JR attracts loyalty and respect from both his subjects, his friends and volunteers who help him mount all of his exhibitions. The scale of his work is huge, not just the size of each individual portrait, or the amount of space each exhibition covers in one place, but the number of communities and countries each project involves."

Bliss N Eso. [Oz Music Vid. Graf by Askew & Deus.]

2010-11-14T20:28:00.000+13:00

Double Rainbow. I want what he's having.

2010-10-01T00:29:00.002+13:00

where goodIdeas come from.

2010-09-28T22:37:00.000+13:00

goodShot of the month.

2010-09-28T22:35:00.000+13:00

Ruatorea : the Nati Awards on the Coast.

2010-09-25T10:37:00.001+12:00

Last Week I was invited to be a guest speaker at the annual 'Nati Awards', where all of the East Coast colleges & all schools compete in a variety of media studies. the other guest speakers were the all mighty all girl hiphop crew 'ReQuest', who took out the World Champs this year in Las Vegas. If you havent seen their routine & win over there, watch it here. It was great to meet those girls & their manager Brett, as well as all the warm folk from the Coast who looked after me during my two days there. Especially Paora & Daryl who I stayed with & then sent me back on the plane with four Cray's as carry on. Kia Ora to Jasmine, Leanne, Taryne, Tai & all for looking after me. I had a blast & one day I'll be back with the whole whanau. Tu Meke.

The next morena, I looked around the smaller towns & through Tikitiki to pay respect to Wi Kuki Kaa's grave, which is yet to be unveiled next to his whanau. Then back to Gissy through Tolaga.

DubFX : the Looping Aussie Busker.

2010-09-24T17:05:00.003+12:00

Homebrew : I wish you weren't a Lesbian. [Ode to Anika Moa]

2010-09-17T15:40:00.001+12:00

Radiolab : Moments & Words in Life.

2010-09-07T15:23:00.006+12:00

Eye have been researching for a project recently & found this deeply inspiring. Both editorially & photographically. In shot association & audio mixing associating. Moments in time, snippets of Life. Montage of things that happen to us daily & also sometimes, only once in our lifetimes. Makes you think. thanks to my goodFriend StJohnSmith for the thought. You can see more videos & inspiration from the 'everynone' project : Hear.

Q&A about Homebrew & the Vidyo by the Corner.

2010-09-05T21:12:00.002+12:00

The NZ music Blog 'the Corner' interviewed me a few days ago about whatsup with Homebrew, myself & the incoming musicVid for 'Under the Shade'. Peep the full interview Hear.

_______________________________________________________________

The Home Brew Crew tour kicked off yesterday and continues throughout the month and ends with a one-off gig on Great Barrier Island in October. We’ll be posting our interview with them next week but in the meantime check out our interview with Chris Graham to find out the latest on his collaboration with the group including a Home Brew TV show, and when we’ll finally see the video for Underneath The Shade.Grab the Crew’s EP’s over here and check out the IV below.

1. Where did you first hear of Home Brew? What attracted you to them in the first place?

I initially heard a buzz about the Brew early last year when my mate Edmund Skillary, [aka MikkiD] an ex-pat DJ based in Dublin, emailed me the Friday song & told me about the classic, conceptual Last Week EP. Ironic, considering I live in Balmoral & the Homebrew were mostly living in Sandringham at the time. Only a stones throw of an EP away, but it got sent to me via Dublin. So I hunted & gathered all their EPs & drank it all up. I guess my initial attraction musically, was Tom Scotch’s accent, so quintessentially kiwi, so Hori, that I assumed he was Maori, only to later meet a skinny jewish dude & his Niuen brothers. But even on that first listen to Friday, it was the accent, the storytelling, the humour, the Hazbeats, the Lui character voices, the memorable hooks. I was amped that NZ had finally birthed our own unique version of the Pharcyde.

2. I read on your blog that it was you who personally contacted the band about directing a video for them. Have you ever done that with an artist before?

Not for ages. When I moved back to Welly in 99′ from living 7 years in NYC, I came back with hunger to make local music videos & make my mark. So I approached all the local bands I wanted to make videos for; Trinity Roots, Rhombus, P-Money, & Scribe.. After I made a handful, I started getting approached by other artists who liked those videos; Bic Runga, Dei Hamo, Kapisi, Smashproof. So I guess it had been a minute since I approached a band. Once I marinated on the various Homebrew EP’s & heard that they were as local, I got Tom’s phone, called him up & expressed my fan-dom & invited myself over for brews. That webisode where they approach me to make a video is a reversed myth.

3. The Radio Promo and Drinking Tour videos you made for the benefit show were a huge success. Who’s idea was it to do them?

I guess it was a collab Idea one day down at Plaything Gallery. Basically, they didn’t get NZ on Air funding for the ‘Under the Shade’ song that we agreed was going to be their first Video that I’d make, so we came up with the Idea of throwing a Music Video fund raising party. The Webisode ideas came from us wanting to raise awareness of the party & get heads through the door to raise as big a budget as we could.. It worked, as much like a classic Homebrew vs. Goliath on Air story, missing out on standard 5K funding, meant we just did it ourselves & raised 14K instead.

4. What other ideas have you been exploring with the band? When I interviewed them, they mentioned that you wanted to make a sitcom about them. Is this true?

It tis true. I haven’t been telling anyone about that, but after making those Webisodes & recognising their potential for comedy, I pitched the Idea of a TV show to them, not a sitcom, but more like a local version of ‘How to Make It in America’ [HBO] & ‘Entourage’. Although they were keen enough for months of development & writing on it, its a shame as they recently decided they don’t have the balls to do it after all.

5. You’ve been busy with a whole bunch of other projects but when can we expect to see the video for Underneath The Shade?

Late Octobor. Coming to a YouTube near you. Im amped for it, its a huge, ambitious & metaphorical concept for an important song with meaning.

a rare day when I wished I still lived in LA. [Rock the Bells LineUp]

2010-08-23T23:00:00.002+12:00

Welcome To The Imperial. [the Trailer as a Poem] Dir : RikCordero.

2010-08-20T10:16:00.004+12:00

Homebrew & HazBeats Interviewed on Tangata Pasifika.

2010-08-17T14:56:00.004+12:00

Last month, I shot Homebrew on stage at Studio on K.Rd, & while we were there, Tangata Pasifika crew also did a story on the crew's web fanbase & Haz'sBeat's beats. They interviewed me for a slurry soundbite, as it was 2am, a few brews & that may also explain the glazed eyes. Below that is a Promo for their 'Good Country Tour', which they roll out in September.

TrinityRoots will release new live album. [CD&DVD]

2010-08-16T11:05:00.001+12:00

TrinityRoots to release new album

15.08.10
[press release]

One of New Zealand's most loved bands, TrinityRoots, announce the upcoming release of Music Is Choice. A CD and DVD package that captures this magical trio at their peak live in concert and reveals the heart and soul of the sorcery that created that magic.

TrinityRoots, after six years, two and a half albums and many gigs across the earth, played their final concert February 13th 2005 in a sellout show at the Wellington Town Hall. It has been a long wait for fans - but finally,Music Is Choice is offered to fill the void with live audio from their last concerts on CD packaged with feature length music documentary and bonus footage on DVD.

TrinityRoots stopped at their zenith. These live recordings accurately reflect that. Like the TrinityRoots studio albums, they are sure to become a treasured piece of NZ music history from a band that had won so many hearts with their genuine soul-baring music that connected the listener to the land we live in.

The DVD includes the documentary directed and produced by fan and friend Sarah Hunter. With generous amounts of footage of the band rehearsing, performing, and philosophising the viewer is transported on the very special journey that was TrinityRoots. Bonus footage includes the memorable 'Little Things' clip directed by Chris Graham (Sione's Wedding, The Ferryman) plus an awe inspiring look at the making of that iconic NZ music video.

Through their multi-award winning career the band released two highly acclaimed albums,True and Home Land and Sea, both of which reached Platinum status in New Zealand. All previous releases are being re-issued on the same date as Music Is Choice with bonus tracks on both True and Home, Land and Sea.

TrinityRoots played with some of the world's top musicians; Ben Harper, Lee Scratch Perry, The Mad Professor and Rockers Hi-Fi as well as local stalwarts Fat Freddy's Drop and Salmonella Dub.

TrinityRoots: Warren Maxwell (Little Bushman, Fat Freddys Drop), Rio Hemopo (Breaks Co-op) and Riki Gooch (Eru Dangerspiel).

TrinityRoots - Music Is Choice(Live Album) CD + feature length DVD doco
Release Date: September 6^th

CD Tracklisting: 1. Aotearoa 2. The Dream 3. Just Like You 4. Touches Me 5. Egos 6. Little Things 7. Two By Two 8. Home, Land and Sea

DVD Tracklisting: 1. Documentary 'Music Is Choice' 70 mins 2. 'Little Things' music video 3. Making the 'Little Things' really matter 4. True, bro - promo ad 5. 'Home, Land & Sea' music video

TrinityRoots - True - re-release September 6th

TrinityRoots - Home, Land and Sea- re-release September 6th with bonus tracks

TrinityRoots - Little Things (E.P) - re-release September 6th

"beguiling and beautiful.. there has never been anything quite like it and yet somehow it sounds like home" - 100 Essential New Zealand Albums, Nick Bollinger.

Movie MashUps. [kids trailers remixed for parents]

2010-08-15T12:32:00.001+12:00

Ashburton ballers make it Rain. [more young local talent]

2010-08-14T17:21:00.001+12:00

Bionic Knee Surgery on Friday 13th.

2010-08-14T17:02:00.001+12:00

'Request' : our AllGirl HipHop DanceCrew win WorldChamps in Vegas.

2010-08-11T12:40:00.007+12:00

These girls go Hard. Respect Ladies, Aotearoa hiphop dance crews take out the worlds.. Again!

& check it out Juniors. Just unreal. the Kani Krew.

some behind the scenes, leading up to the win.. & some classic american misprounciations..

Battling with Beats. [Hollywould vs. MPC WellyDid]

2010-08-06T15:30:00.001+12:00

some talented writers Im working with on a feature project put me onto this shocker of a 'what our project shouldn't be' trailer for a new Hollyweird film, which almost plays like a parody of itself. 'Battle'. It looks like everything that wrong with 8'mile [including looking into a tagged mirror shot] & without the electrical battle scenes that were everything right with 8'mile. Looks like hiphop producers & beat makers are decidedly hot material in HellAy right now. The trailer also reminded me of a short Doco piece I made back in 2002, for the classic night at the DansPalais with the who was whom, back in the day of the productively incestious Welly music scene. Way Ahead of the 'Battle' film & just slightly more real. Get your MPC on Welly.

& circa 2002, Wellywould & Did. Oh whatta Night.

& circa 2008, the ReMatch, but I was shooting elsewhere & so wasn't there.. Ota took it out.

How to make a goodTitle Sequence. [& with a goodSong]

2010-08-05T15:35:00.003+12:00

& while Im on the TV tip, eye love this recent HBO series too. Go track this series1 down too.

Community. damn goodComedy tele.

2010-08-02T11:05:00.003+12:00

some good mates turned me onto this NBC show 'Community'. Its hella funny, dense, fast paced humour & I'm midway through Season2 & loving it. Studying the tricks & other good comedy on the go at the mo'. Highly recommend it & its motley crew of well balanced characters. Here's some quick teaser clips & then the full trailer below them. Hunt your Community down & get your laugh on.

Jane Austen's Fight Club.

2010-08-01T21:21:00.000+12:00

Dancing in the Rain.

2010-07-31T16:13:00.001+12:00

Aries Spears. MC Impersonator.

2010-07-29T10:13:00.001+12:00

Video of the Month. Part3. Dear God, 2.0

2010-07-28T15:53:00.003+12:00

Ante Up.

2010-07-27T19:01:00.000+12:00

Homebrew & Dconz [their final gig] @Studio, K.Rd.

2010-07-23T12:10:00.002+12:00

a Couple of weekends ago, was a hiphop night out to remember. Decepticonz' final concert as they released 'Evolution', [that music vid is below, directed by my man Askew] ten years together's as Dconz are good innings & much good music. David Dallas, Usual Suspects & Homebrew opened for them & as always, it was great to catchup with the community. TMD, the most documented, were all over with cam's for hands. [Jamie the Deap1 & Rimoni the Brotographer] Shim & TangataPasifika were in the house too. No photos of Homebrew performing, as I shot Vid footage on stage for our ongoing broject. Twas a great, late night.

This is the video that Askew shot, lining up the the old & new schools, much like a distant cousin of Stand Up. I blogged about it a few months ago. Cameos Galore. Spot the scotch pouring asthmatic. & below that, some footage of the night, courtesy of the AyeBro crew.

Yellow Chocolate Ads win Gold Lions at Cannes

2010-07-21T12:29:00.006+12:00

The Ads we made last year for the Yellow Chocolate campaign won a bunch of Gold Lions at Cannes for Colenso recently, the highest accolades that TV Ads can win worldwide.. you can see all results here : and you can see the TV Ads that we made & the 7 extended Webisodes here :
Congrats to the whole team involved & to Jae Ahn, who was a part of the dream team, died earlier this year, you should take it as a nod towards your inspiring thirst for life Brother..

'Music is Choice' ~ Trinity Roots Doco Screening.

2010-07-17T17:02:00.003+12:00

Last Sunday at the NZFF film fest, we caught the Documentary 'Music Is Choice' which is a retrospective on Trinity Roots. You can view the Trailer hear : Directed by Sarah Hunter, it was a warm Doco, full of laughs & memories, as you'd expect from these Bro's who I've known for more than a decade now. When I had just arrived back from living 7 years in NYC in the 90's, upon returning to the hometown Welly, I heard 'Trinity' [as they started out, at Fidel's & at 'shopping'] & approached them to say I was keen to document them & eventually to make Music Videos for them. Years later, we made 'Little Things' & then when they disbanded, I proposed we make 'Home, Land & Sea' as a live swan song gift video to the fans. [As well as the 'True Bro' : 'Wassup' parody Ad that we made one sunday arvo for laughs, & these are all posted below] So, to see this Doco at the festival on the big screen, was moving, while also strange to see my self up on screen for the 1st time ever. So Sunday was a long overdue reunion of an extended Trinity whanau & kids. Yum Char prior, the screening & then a few Pints after across the road. If you are a fan of the band disbanded, I strongly suggest you catch the Doco in the festival. If you are a fan as I am, you may choose to cross your fingers for a reunion concert at some stage, some day, as I am. As it's these types of Little Things that really matter.

Inspired by these two polar opposite great films @NZFF yesterday...

2010-07-14T11:12:00.001+12:00

Grant Smithies reviews 'the Sounds of Hope' Doco [Tamariki Ora]

2010-07-07T11:00:00.002+12:00

In the Sunday Star Times, Grant Smithies reviewed the two night spotlight on Child Abuse that Maori TV shone on the topic. Below is what he had to say of our Doco ::
[Also the link to the 'Sounds of Hope' website, where you can view some scenes & songs from the Doco, as many people have asked, so there we have it & you can view some of it]

"Following each show is Tamariki Ora : The Sounds of Hope', an unusually intimate and affecting doco in which local musicians talk about their own families and sing songs dedicated to the children of Aotearoa. Produced by Michele Bristow and directed with great sensitivity by Sione's Wedding director Chris Graham, each segment is shot in such a way that you feel you are sitting beside these people as they sing. Maisey Rika sings a song to Nia Glassie on the beach near her home ; Young Sid raps from a playground where he used to play ; Little Bushman's Warren Maxwell plays us a song between playing with his kids ; Dallas Tamaira of Fat Freddy's Drop sings on a wild and windy Wellington Night. Che Fu, SJD, Don McGlashan, Hollie Smith and the Kotuku Choir also contribute."

"...And I feel deeply moved having seen it. Watching an advance copy of 'Sounds of Hope' doco had me weeping big salty tears and not just because the featured musicians had transformed harsh reality into beautiful music. I cried because this was about me, as much as anyone. Growing up in Whanganui during the 1960's, my own father would regularly become so furious with the world that he would punch me, kick me, throw me against walls. His violence permanently damaged our relationship. As adults, we barely spoke to each other, and he died a few years ago consumed with regret. I am living proof that very few people in this country are unaffected by family violence, either directly or indirectly, which is why we all have a lot to gain by watching these landmark shows."

_________________________________________________________________________________

Click here to go the to 'Sounds of Hope' website.

http://www.tamarikiora.com/Default.aspx?tabid=561&pid=7716

the Crew & Post Premiere Screening of our Doco.

2010-07-06T15:55:00.001+12:00

Last Saturday we premiered our Doco 'Sounds of Hope' with the production Crew & also the all supportive Post team at Oktobor. They quickly became Fam within a few weeks of work there. The Doco wouldn't have looked as Flash without them. Thanks to the patient skills of Amy, my man Ganesh for inviting us in the house, lean Steen, the sharp eyes of Kenny the Colourist, the titles & flame work of the YanKiwi Andy & the titles of Guy. The author in the back in black with the glasses is my right hand man, Paul Maxwell. He makes me look good. I mean makes my work look good. He is one of the best editors in the country, & was the mind behind making 'Siones' funny, my short film 'DayDreamers' etheral & this Doco as emotive & thoughtful as it is. Cheers Bolo. I mean, your name is Paul. Thanks everyone, eye owe youse.

Knees Up.

2010-07-05T21:09:00.001+12:00

I hurt my Knee. Badly. as in Surgery. Bummer. Knee Up.

So my Nephew Sol drew this to make me feel better. It did.

Sounds of Hope :: the Promo Flyer.

2010-06-28T08:58:00.002+12:00

Che & Tigi Ness. Chapter8 of our Doco. [Aukalangi]

2010-06-25T06:10:00.000+12:00

In the midst of the 12-16'hr post schedule days wrapping up the Doco, I have slipped in posting the final sample stills from our last shoot day. The last chapter of our Doco seemed so suited by going to the legendary Tigilau Ness' home in Western Springs, where we talked with him & the younger legend, his son Che. They spoke openly & by fortunate late timing, two of Che's sons came over just after school to join in on the couch of wisdom. For their chosen song, Tigi & Che were the first in our 'Sounds of Hope' doco to cover someone else's material. They picked Bob. Of course. Marley that is. To hear which song, you will have to tune in when it airs this weekend. & after months of work on this crucial topic, I can't wait to hear them sing it again. Kia ora.

'Sounds of Hope' in TimeOut [theNzHerald]

2010-06-25T03:03:00.000+12:00

Scoop news on all the 'Tamariki Ora' spotlight.

2010-06-25T03:01:00.001+12:00

the Scoop write up

• TAMARIKI ORA: A NEW BEGINNING (PART 1) – Sunday June 27 at 8.00 PM: Carol Hirschfeld introduces the honest, raw stories of men and women who made the courageous decisions to confront the violence in their midst. Find out how Kahurangi changed her life after her partner killed her three-year-old daughter; and meet Pat, who took action after she saw her son following her down a violent path. Learn why the first three years of a baby’s life determines its future; and get an insider’s look at Starship’s child crisis team in action. The directors are award-winners Kathleen Mantel, Michael Bennett and Karen MacKenzie.

• TAMARIKI ORA: THE SOUNDS OF HOPE – Sunday June 27 at 9.10 PM: Che Fu and Tigi Ness, Warren Maxwell, Maisey Rika, Hollie Smith, Young Sid and Mr Sicc, Dallas Tamaira, The Bellbirds and Wellington’s Kotuku Choir are among the artists who invite us into their homes for intimate acoustic performances dedicated to the children of New Zealand. This outstanding musical documentary is by award-winning music-video director Chris Graham.

• TAMARIKI ORA: A NEW BEGINNING (PART 2) – Monday June 28 at 8.00 PM: Families share their remarkable stories of how they turned away from violence. Ex-gang member Hurae recounts the horrifying sight that sparked his transformation from vicious abuser to community worker; and young mum Arnita explains how an innovative programme which videotapes parent-child conversations teaches her to be a better parent. Eminent historian Dame Anne Salmond explores how children were brought up in pre-colonial times; and we hear the evidence that New Zealand’s widening social inequality is fuelling violence. Solo mum-turned-Cabinet Minister Paula Bennett, police detective Scott Beard, former Children’s Commissioner Ian Hassall, Manu Caddie from Tairawhiti Men Against Violence and Anglican minister Dr Hone Kaa are among the special guests who will join Carol Hirschfeld in the studio to discuss the issues.

• TAMARIKI ORA: THE SOUNDS OF HOPE – Monday June 28 at 10.00 PM: A repeat of the musical tribute. Viewers are invited in to each performer’s home to enjoy acoustic, intimate songs dedicated to the children of the New Zealand – and to the hope that we will all play our part to halt child violence.

As well as the presenting role, Carol Hirschfeld is the Executive Producer of TAMARIKI ORA which is supported by NZ On Air’s Platinum Television Fund. “The courageous men and women who share their stories all decided to take a strong stand against child abuse and gathered supportive people around them to help them create a life without violence. These men and women show us why it is so important to take a stand against violence; we must all say enough is enough, and reach out to those who need support. This is a cause close to my heart, and I hope that this special Matariki broadcast will challenge and inspire us all to play our part in eradicating child violence.”

The Merata Mita documentary, SAVING GRACE, which was originally scheduled to form part of the TAMARIKI ORA broadcast, will now air at a later date. The documentary was unfinished when Merata Mita passed away suddenly late last month. Carol Hirschfeld says the filmmaker regarded SAVING GRACE as one of the most important documentaries of her career and it is fitting that the project is completed in a way that she would have wished. “Merata intended the documentary to count in ways that mattered deeply to her and to change perceptions of abuse and violence by using themes of responsibility, redemption, revitalisation, forgiveness and, most of all, love.”

TAMARIKI ORA: A NEW BEGINNING and TAMARIKI ORA: THE SOUNDS OF HOPEscreens on Maori Television on Sunday June 27 and Monday June 28 from 8.00 PM. Viewers can call the helpline on 0800 MA TATOU (0800 628 2868) for advice on how to tune in to Maori Television or go to the website, www.maoritelevision.com , for more information about this broadcast, including video on demand.

Pacific Island Music Awards 2010 [a Snapshot]

2010-06-24T12:33:00.000+12:00

Dallas Tamaira. Chapter7 of our Doco. [ChChur]

2010-06-20T21:18:00.001+12:00

Dallas & Michelle are old friends of my mrs & I, from 10'years ago in the heyday of the Welly Era of music. So it was great to go visit them with the crew, down in the 'ChurCh' as he calls it. Dall admitted that he rarely does interviews, so hats off to him for having the courage to talk about the seriousness of our subject. He sang an acoustic of the classic 'Hope for a Generation', which was a real treat to hear it so simplified, as most of us found ourselves humming the anticipated horn sections. Unplugged sounded amazing. Chur Dall, keep on writing your solo magic down there, many look forward to hearing it. Hope indeed.

Exit through the Gift Shop. Banksy Film.

2010-06-20T13:33:00.001+12:00

As an old school graffiti artist from the 80's, Im a longtime Banksy fan. Mainly for his conceptual work. His earliest work. His first film is coming the to NZFilmFestival. Im there.

HomeBrew Vinyl Artwork. [art by Guy Brock]

2010-06-17T18:15:00.001+12:00

I'm amped that the Brew are pressing plastic for this classic EP, the best sound that we can finally hear their infamous Week unfold like audio gold. On the video update tip, since I'm often asked, as most may guess, the video for 'Underneath the Shade' will go down as soon as this Doco is delivered. I'm still on 13 hr days in the Edit suite. I cant want to get stuck into it & work creatively with the Bro's on it. Not just the Vidyo, but we got other Ideas to brew that are in the mind's keg. & for those that haven't heard the Shady song yet, I've attached it below yo. eNjoy. & cop the incoming Vinyl.

a Decade. a 10'year Anniversary.

2010-06-17T16:26:00.003+12:00

Ten years is a long time & a lot to celebrate. & while Im not the type to put personal information on my company blog, this is a beautiful milestone that I want to quietly carve in our personal landscape. Last night was my Queen & my 10 year anniversary. We met in Wellington, a decade ago & I fell into real love finally. Together for 10, married for 4, with 2 beautiful daughters, Mala & Oshani, as our princesses. We went to a flash restaurant & had an 8 course degustation menu, & finally drank this bottle below that we had saved from our wedding. Im not the 'drinkin bubb in the club' type, but I have to say, we were amazed at the taste of champagne this aged. Anyway, thank you my Queen for the best decade of my life, you already know how I feel about you.

The Bellbirds. Chapter6 of our Doco. [Auckland]

2010-06-15T21:04:00.003+12:00

We had a good day's shoot just off Dominion Rd [which is my hood], but at 'the Don' McGlashan's whare. We interviewed his new band the Bellbirds, which is made up of Sandy Mill [singer], Victoria Kelly [well known film composer] & SJD, Sean John Donnelly, who Im a fan of his solo albums, which I find very cinematic & often screenwrite to. It was a good day's shoot, under the howling winter rain, but with a song that brought us both goosebumps & warmth.

Maisey Rika. Chapter5 of our Doco. [Whakatane]

2010-06-09T23:24:00.001+12:00

goodLife features in Ad Media magazine.

2010-06-06T21:28:00.001+12:00

slightly late on this one, as it was the April issue of Ad Media, but here is a snippet of an article on the decline of TVC [tele Ad's] commercial production locally this year. They asked for a headshot of me to include, so I sent them this shot of me & my out of town Homey, aka his Holiness. The Ad below that for our company appeared in the annual 'director's listing' section later in the mag.

Askew & the Dconz Gathering.

2010-06-05T18:07:00.003+12:00

on Thursday night my Bro Askew, who I regard as one of the best graf artists in the country, organised a shoot for the latest Decepticonz music video he's directing. Elliot aka Askew started making music vids recently, with that minimalist Rik Codero approach & its great to see the new school hiphop video makers hear in Aotearoa coming through. Tim Van Dammen & Andy Morton doing some niceness work too. Anyway, back to the busy photo above at hand, shot by the talented Brotographer Rimoni [go here for more pics from the shoot]. Thursday was a real gathering of a huge collective of Aukalangi hiphophistory, a rare reUnion of the near entire community. Even if some of us are Welly & other city immigrants. It reminded me strongly of our Stand Up music video shoot that I made back in 2004. 6 years later & most of the same faces are still grinding & making quality. & the above shot was just the 2nd group of two that he shot that night, so only about half of the respected contributors. Below are some of Askew's recent music videos that eye rate. Looking forward to the completed montage of folk above, all up in Ellz next video that he is editing while he is currently in Papeete, where he is at a Graffiti gathering / conference, of all places. Im concerned about my overacted appearance in the video, after more than 10 years of making local hiphop videos, it was my 1st proper cameo, where I did my bestest to deliver a Mareko lyric : 'my Flows breathtaking, like an Asthmatic'. Watch this space, & be ready for a laugh within a serious video. More photos below as a trailer to the comedy. Shot Askew. Shot NZ HipHop. Keep on keeping on.

BigRex aka Mareko [L] who wrote the lyric that I attempt below, with Tati Urale [OG of Galatos].

RestInPeace : Merata Mita.

2010-05-31T19:51:00.002+12:00

Im still in some shock, after hearing that Merata Mita died today. I met Merata at the Sundance film festival in 2004, when I was there with 'Water' & Taika was there with 'two cars, one night'. We had drinks & I expressed my respect to Merata, who is essentially the godmother of Documentaries of Aotearoa. She directed 'Patu' in 1981 & 'Bastion Point' as it happened in 1978. Her most recent work is a Documentary on the Nia Glassie case, which is although incomplete & roughcut, is going to air ahead of the Doco I am working on : 'the Sound of Hope' on June 27th. It was & will be an honour to follow her Doco with ours on that Sunday in a months time. Hard to believe this filmmaking legend has passed so suddenly, as I saw her this morena at Maori TV after having a meeting there. Yet somehow seems significant that her last moments were on the front steps of the Maori TV premises. May she rest in much peace. If you have not seen her work, do the right thing & go watch these historical windows into our complex turbulent history of Aotearoa. Respect & thoughts to the Mita & Murphy whanau.

http://www.nzonscreen.com/person/merata-mita/biography

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/3759412/Kiwi-filmmaker-Merata-Mita-dies

Video of the Month. Part2. Drop.

2010-05-31T08:04:00.003+12:00

when Spike Jonze was forging his name deep in the 90's video scene, & shortly after he sabotaged people's attention, he Dropped this imaginative gem for The Pharcyde. He rewound this concept to continue the themes of their previous album, one of my desert island discs, to offer folk a Bizarre Ride to the Far Side of his mind, taking a cue from the reversed beat to one of the most well known backward videos of all time. [& respect to Blowing Dirt by Goodshirt, Joe Lonie's thoughtful reversed local video] Below, Drop is bizarre & quite simple in performance, since watching these Pharcyde MCs walk & talk in reverse is straight up hypnotic.

Warren Maxwell. Chapter4 of our Doco. [Wairarapa]

2010-05-29T08:53:00.000+12:00

The next stop for our Doco was flying into my hometown Welly & driving over those misty Rimataka's to the peaceful town of Featherston to talk with the one like Warren Maxwell. He spoke openly, generously & philosophically to us about our delicate Doco topic. Later he sang us a moving song in the local, rural Bushmen studio. Kia ora to Ange, Waz & their beaut kids for sharing their home, time & words with us. See youse again in the Rapa someday.

Hollie Smith. Chapter3 of our Doco. [GreyLynn]

2010-05-25T12:56:00.000+12:00

a G paints 100 Dawgs

2010-05-24T08:50:00.004+12:00

My dog Mr.G [Graham Hoete] in Tauranga made a mission to paint 100 dogs with aero.soul on canvas. So I contacted my dawg David Farrier to see if he wanted to do a story on G to get the word of the woof out there. The story aired for all dog lovers on Nightline last night & afters, G got over a hundy inquiries, but he is still choosing what to paint based on breed & character from photos, so if you want a portrait of your dawg, Holla at a G below at his details on the image. & watch the 'must be the dawg in me' story here : TV3 Story on Mr.G paints 100 Dogs with David Farrier

Stills [ungraded] of Kotuku Choir shoot. [theDoco Part2]

2010-05-23T10:26:00.000+12:00

Kotuku Choir. Chapter2 of our Doco. [Wellywood]

2010-05-21T11:40:00.006+12:00

Last weekend we filmed in one of my childhood suburbs in rainy Karori, Wellytown to meet a powerful & moving youth choir. Sharon Thorburn founded the Kotuku Choir, to give a diverse mix of teens somewhere to come to write, sing & express themselves in any way they chose to. The result is a multi cultural collective of remarkable & talented youths so blew us away as a crew. They sang like angels with big hearts in the rain. Kia Ora, Fa'a fe tai & thanks to them all for their open minds & open arms.

Still Samples [ungraded] of YoungSid & Sicc shoot. [the Doco Part1]

2010-05-14T09:51:00.000+12:00

Young Sid & Mr.Sicc. Chapter1 of our Doco.

2010-05-12T18:30:00.009+12:00

Yesterday we shot the 1st day of our Documentary. The working title is 'the Sound of Hope', until the channel sends out the press release, its still somewhat confidential due to its subject matter. Although we are shooting & interviewing a handful of talented muso's of Aotearoa, its not a doco about music, its about their perspective on a crucial unspoken topic, that is overdue for a spotlight. It will air towards the end of June, so closer to the time we can reveal more about it all. Yesterday was Day1 of many over the next few weeks, with a great minimal crew with the sharp eye of & talented cinematographer Andrew Stroud, [who shot the 'Brother' video for us & some of Sid's solo Vids]. The Diamond whanau opened their home & minds to us for the Doco, where we shot in Otara, SA. Thanks to Sid, Los, Vince & Fam. Respect.

Be a Man. Russell Peters last night rocked Aotea Centre.

2010-05-10T23:09:00.005+12:00

Eye finally saw my personal favorite stand up last night. The almighty funny Canadian, Russell Peters at Aotea Square. He killed it, and also our stomach & jaw muscles while he was at it. My mate Phil Bell turned me onto him on DVD about 5 years ago, introducing my mrs & I to classics like 'Be a Man' & 'Somebody is gonna get hurt real bad'. Shanks for the great night Guyan & Mahesha. Anyway, suffice to say, last night was the perfect end to Mother's Day. Which is just how he started the show; asking how many mothers were in the house, so the Mum's cheered & then he said 'Happy Mother's Day' & paid respects, etc.. Then asked how many Fathers, and most of us responded in pride, & so he replied '...Oh Yeah? Happy Mother Fuc*ers Day!'

'David Farrier' in2views 'HomeBrew' after the after par tay.

2010-05-05T21:55:00.008+12:00

Here's the follow up to the 'Nightline' story that 'David Farrier' did the morning after the after party of the FUNdraiser, that we held to raise funds to make a video for 'Under the Shade', after missing out on the classic high budge NZonAir funding. You may know the happy ending to this Underdog story already. We had much fun role reversing like backing the truck up on the party in retrospect. 'David' was a great sport to come through & 'act right' with a part 2 story to hear just how the night went down.. [& happy Cinco De Mayo by tha way.]

If you missed the Part 1 of 2 of the TV3 Nightline story, which still gets YoTube hits, here tis :

Sid's album launch Gig.

2010-05-05T08:31:00.007+12:00

Here's some footage eye shot of the show last night. The band Halo was tight. Sid was Sicc.
I love this joint, it's one of many that I shot him working on when in NYC in the Blog below yo.

I shot a bunch of clips, so if you wanna see more, go over to Kirk's House @ the MTC Fam Blog:

Mr.Diamond's album out finally & showcasing it tonight.

2010-05-03T08:04:00.007+12:00

the talented Sidney Diamond drops his album today after years of work. When I say years, its been a while coming, as I remember shooting him in the studio with Emile in December 08', right after I shot the Savage video for 'Wild Out' on Malibu beach. In fact I landed in NYC to stay at Kirk's place on the day of my 37th birthday, as Sid was already there & so we hit some Manhattan clubs, where I have blurry memories to introducing Sid to his 1st night on my personal favourite, scotch, where we danced with some local ladies just at the time when the crowd was going nuts to 'Arab Money' by Busta. Heres some clips from our time there. Brings back good memories. Anyway, it seems like a short age ago, but today the album's out, in fact the same day as Mr.Wadams album, which recalls when Curtis & Kanye dropped the same day. Tonight the Young one plays his album showcase with a full band. I caught up with him on thursday & he is amped for the gig, to play with a band & the release after all this time. Congrats to the Bro & MTC & Kirk. I'll be up in there.

Video of the Month. Part1. Going On.

2010-04-25T10:47:00.003+12:00

there are so many music videos that have inspired me over time, that eye thought it would be good to dig up some of my favorites of the past & post one a month. I'll start with this one. Love this video for Gnarls, directed by Wendy Morgan & filmed in Jamrock. a great example of a compelling, ambiguous concept without the bands appearance. and like all memorable videos, a functional marriage of visuals & editing to draw attention the music within a great song. refreshing take on a 'dance' video too. it's got it going on.

the Music Video FUNdraiser. a Huge Homebrewed Success.

2010-04-20T11:54:00.001+12:00

the Initial HomeBrew Phonecall

2010-04-17T10:26:00.001+12:00

TV3 news. 'David Farrier' interviews Homebrew.

2010-04-17T09:46:00.006+12:00

http://www.3news.co.nz/Home-Brew-crew-raising-music-video-funds-with-gig/tabid/551/articleID/151427/Default.aspx