McCoy shooting underwater footage on his underwater jet ski. This innovative piece of equipment exposes a groundbreaking new vantage to the world.

The new surf movie, A Deeper Shade of Blue,  just released in New Zealand cinemas this week is screening this Sunday 23rd September at the Raglan Old School Arts Centre in Stewart St. at 8pm

To reserve seats phone 825 0023 or email info@raglanartscentre.co.nz

With A Deeper Shade of Blue, Jack McCoy sets an ambitious agenda telling the story of surfing (from start to finish) in a way that both surfers and non-surfers find compelling. The film paints an inspiring portrait of our relationship with the sea through a diverse cast of characters. We visit professional surfing through the lens of Jamie O’Brien. We see women’s surfing through Steph Gilmore’s eyes. We learn about big-wave riding through the experiences of Shipsterns Bluff charger Marti Paradisis. Each fragment of surf culture has an assigned ambassador, and while McCoy’s selection process is interesting, the spokespersons are essentially interchangeable; none are acutely singular, yet all are authentic.

Jack McCoy uses the evolution of the surfboard as a timeline communicating directly to non-surfers, which is most obviously evidenced by the photography.

McCoy’s underwater footage is mesmerizing. Whatever the cost, his underwater jet ski was worth it. The innovative piece of equipment exposes a groundbreaking new vantage to the world. The sessions documented at Teahupoo and Shipsterns Bluff are equally impressive. Beyond that, A Deeper Shade of Blue may showcase the finest women’s surfing segments to date. Every woman on screen successfully exits at least one 6-Mississippi-barrel. And as beautiful as all of the women featured in the film are, there are no gratuitous bikini shots – just extremely impressive surfing.

A Deeper Shade of Blue also makes a poignant observation three-quarters of the way through the film when the narrator notes that surf culture grew so large in the late ‘60s that “authentically” documenting the experience of surfing became a career. That’s just what Jack did, and his A Deeper Shade of Blue accurately reflects this.

by Susan Guenther, Raglan Old School Arts Centre

Reiki Ruawai in The Dump

RAFFA nominee, 12 year old Raglan local Reiki Ruawai has been selected for what director Hamish Bennett calls his “awesome” performance in ‘The Dump’. The short film, a comedy/drama, tells the story of a young boy, Utah, and the gradual bond he develops with his estranged dad Orlando, the sole employee at a tiny rural rubbish dump.

Regardless of initial perceptions, Utah eventually works out that his dad is a good man. Rough around the edges with plenty of character, the rubbish dump setting itself, helps to depict the idea that a person’s true nature will ultimately reveal itself.

According to Hamish, Reiki was a natural fit to play Utah. The relationship between a son and his estranged father is a serious topic and had to be told with an authentic voice. A country boy himself, Reiki has a down-to-earth nature, and with dreads, stood out from other child actors.

Reiki’s mother Naomi Tuao, was impressed by how seriously he took his role, “when the camera is rolling he jumps into character straight away…Reiki doesn’t seem to mind how long it takes to shoot scenes…even if it’s late at night or 6am in the morning!” According to Naomi, Reiki loves acting. He finds it an adventure. Reiki also enjoys music, has performed several solo gigs, and does backing vocals in Cornerstone Roots. His strong creative heritage includes his Dad, Brian Ruawai who writes music for films, and his Aunt Maryann Tuao, local Film maker with Groundswell Media, also a RAFFA nominee.

“Raglan is a place that allows you to be creative in many ways, and I think the community has helped him develop these skills by allowing him to be himself” says Naomi.

Reiki’s musical abilities are revealed in Groundswell Media’s short film ‘Journey’ about a day in the Raglan life of the 12 year old Cornerstone Roots band member, also to be screened at the RAFFA ceremony.

The Dump has already received much international exposure with screenings at Dallas, Palm Springs, Montreal and Nevada City. You can see Raglan’s local star Reiki, at the third annual Raglan Arts Film Festival Awards (RAFFA). All nominated short and feature films will be screened at the Red Carpet Awards ceremony at the Old School Arts Centre on Saturday 22nd September commencing at 7 pm. Although all tickets to the Red Carpet night are sold, there is an opportunity to see a selection of the RAFFA nominees on Sunday 23rd at 1.30pm.

Take a look at the 2012 Raglan Film Festival films on our website: http://www.raglanartscentre.co.nz/rff/ or check the What’s On advert in the Raglan Chronicle.

Audience watches the delicate moment of a kumara sprout being plucked from the seed bed

The Raglan Film Festival opened on Thursday night to a great start with a full house for the world premiere screening of Te Kumara.

This beautifully crafted documentary about the traditional ways of growing and storing kumara was enthusiastically received by the audience. Produced by Whaingaroa’s own Te Mauri Tau it covers the path of the kumara from the seed bed to the storage pit.

After Arts Council Chairperson Rodger Gallagher welcomed the audience to the 3rd Raglan Film Festival, kaumatua Sean Ellison blessed the Film Festival and the screening.  Ruth Port then introduced Tuihana Bosch who explained the making of the film and its purpose.  Many people stayed on after the screening for a discussion.

Te Kumara is produced in te reo Maori with English subtitles. It is a nominee in this year’s Raglan Arts Film Festival Awards (RAFFA). A longer version entirely in Te Reo has also been produced. The documentary will be used as part of the Enviroschools programme through New Zealand.

Banner on Raglan Habour View Hotel proclaims the start of the 2012 Raglan Film Festival

With just over 24 hours till the start of the 2012 Raglan Film Festival the countdown has begun.  And the addition of the world premiere of Te Kumara, the Festival is starting one day early at 8pm on Thursday 13th September.

The Raglan Film Festival is starting one day early on the 13th September with an 8.00pm screening of Te Kumara. This inspiring local documentary features kuia and kaumatua telling the story of the kumara from the seed bed to the storage pit. This is a beautifully crafted documentary about the history and story of of the kumara by Whaingaroa’s own Te Mauri Tau. there will be an introduction by Tuihana Bosch and Q&A afterwards.

Reservations are already high, so it is advisable to book if you wish to attend.

Produced in te reo Maori with English subtitles.

Screening time 45 minutes
Thursday 13 September 8.30pm

Special price – adults $5, children $2.

A full page article in the Saturday August 18th issue of the Waikato Times covers the making of a music video by Raglan’s Lucy Cioffi, otherwise known as Little Lapin, that is an entry in the Raglan Arts Film Festival Awards. Made by Hamiltion’s Indiefilm company, the video of Lucy’s song, Silent Tears was shot at the Woodlands heritage homestead at Gordonton.  The video was filmed under the watchful eye of Times reporter Tracey Cooper who spent hours on the set while the video was filmed in a Victorian style by Director Borden Li, cinematograher Murdoch Daly, hairstylist Michael Herwin and make-up artist Claie Zhao.

Zachary Quinto is caught in the tense world of investment banking in Margin Call.

The programme for the 2012 Raglan Film Festival is now online. We have a selection of the best films from around the world as well as local favourites.

Delve into the tense world of investment banking in Margin Call; Guy Pierce stars in 33 Postcards, a touching tale of an Australian man and his Chinese child-sponsor; Le Havre is a warmhearted comedy/drama where police inspector Monet pursues a trio trying to unite a young African refugee with his mother in London; nothing is what it seems in A Separation, a tale of divorce and its collateral damage set in Iran; legendary film-maker Jack McCoy explores the roots of surfing with the exhilarating film A Deeper Shade of Blue and there’s Movies For Kids with a selection of shorts from Flux Animation.

Jack Black stars in dark comedy Bernie.

And we’re pleased to announce some more additions to round out the 2012 programme. The festival opens with the world premiere of Te Kumara, a documentary exploring the history of the popular vegetable. Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine star in dark comedy Bernie; Sky Whisperers Ranginui is a thought-provoking environmental film focused on our skies; and award-winning short River Dog beautifully tells the tale of one man’s environmental battle.

The highlight of the Raglan Film Programme is the 2012 RAFFA Awards, a celebration of Raglan films and film-makers. Join us for the red-carpet awards ceremony on Saturday 22 September!

Raglan Community Arts Council thanks our supporters for this festival: Creative Communities NZ – Waikato District, V48Hours Furious Filmmaking Competition, Flux Animation, the film distributors and the film producers and directors who arranged the theatrical releases for the feature films.