Friday classwork:

Task 2:

"1.) If the power to tell stories and shape narratives is only held by a few, what dangers lie in that? "

There is actually a lot of danger in this because if all this power is held by only a few, these groups could pretty much rub any narrative or any story in the way they want to and would be able to twist it to make the public believe their story and the ideologies they want them to believe. Whereas if there are quite a few people in power to counteract different views and challenge different ideologies this would mean people are able to choose their own ideology and stance on different things portrayed by the media. This makes ideas more spread and gives a wider spread of ideas for people to look at and decide which one they agree with the most and create their own ideology rather than one being given to them/ handed to them. 

"2. Write a paragraph about Merata Mita. Why was her work important and how would you describe her efforts?"

"Merata didn’t focus on developing innovative techniques, like the jump-cut edits created by the French New Wave or the groundbreaking special effects of George Méliès; instead, she tackled a very different kind of challenge. She fought in the cinematic trenches, advocating for accurate representation and documenting the other artists who were fighting for the same goals." Merata was determined and a fighter trying to make a difference in the film industry to get indigenous groups and voices heard on the screen to the public. This was hard for her because she, firstly, was an indigenous director in quite a racist point in history, secondly, she was a woman in a heavily masculated society where anything worth investing in was made or produced by men. She did have some successes, however. These successes would include 2 documentaries, Bastion Point Day 507 (1980) and Patu! (1983), and also Merata was the first Maori woman to write and direct a feature-length film, Mauri (1988), a story about a love triangle that explores cultural tensions in New Zealand. She also directed a nine-part documentary series on one of New Zealand’s most important Maori artists, Ralph Hotere. Merata Mita can be seen as a true foot soldier in the fight to portray Indigenous narratives on the screen.

"3. Why would you argue that it is important for Indi filmmakers, outside of the established institutions, to be creating media / telling stories? "

I would say it is important for indie filmmakers to create media and tell stories because this allows for these people to not only tell their own stories but they also often tell the stories not often told or stories the big conglomerates and media producers are too scared to tell. As well, they also often tell the stories of indigenous groups which is good because it allows these not often represented groups to be represented, and then social issues are so able to change.

Task 4:

1. How are indigenous stories being funded? 

By being seen at film festivals, if at a film festival a big Hollywood company likes your film they will be willing to fund it. This is often the only way to get the funding for an indie film to get recognition or funding. Another way was in June 2017, Canada formed the Indigenous Screen Office to support Indigenous filmmakers.

2. What are some of the stereotypes that were perpetuated in early indigenous portrayals of the native Americans?

- They couldn't aim straight with a gun

- They were weaker than the "white man"

- Savages, and were dehumanized

3. Who is one example of an indigenous voice in NZ who is succeeding at telling stories from an indigenous point of view and garnering the interest of the wider world? 

"Maori filmmaker from New Zealand, Waititi was an indie darling, with films like Two Cars, One Night and Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Then, in 2017, he directed Thor: Ragnarok, netting nearly $853 million. Rumors abound that Waititi has now been tapped to direct a film in the Star Wars franchise. Hollywood took a chance on Waititi and tapped into a unique voice with a narrative that was “undiscovered” by non-Native standards."

4. Where do indigenous films have a platform to be viewed currently?

Sundance in Albuquerque, at an indie film festival.