MEET THE WHAKAKI’S: WITI IHIMAERA’S NEW BOOK – THE THRILL OF FALLING
He is the master of the twists and turns in a nation’s most loved narratives.
He has memories of life in Whakaki in New Zealand, he’s the author and co-movie producer of Whalerider (book and film). He is defined as being the most powerful voice in Maori literature. Although I am not his favorite Cliff, I am his favorite Sam. He is a great teacher – although when you read this website you’d wonder if my ears had been painted on when he trained me in creative writing many years ago.
Today Witi Ihimaera was in studio on New Zealand TV talking up his new book The Thrill of Falling. Younger creative writers in New Zealand cannot describe him as a tuakana. Turning down a knighthood specifically as he believed the system had done more harm to Maori then good so he couldn’t possibly accept, he’s more like an Uber-Tuakana-Max. Anyway, here’s a few things that Ta Witi had to say.
Paraphrased: “As a kid in Whakaki and visiting Hamilton, I liken the thrill of falling to the thrill of jumping off a bridge when you’re a kid. It’s scary, then you hit the water and you’re okay. The book also covers going to London and how we engage with the wider world. Helicopters work out of fiords, lassooing icebergs as the water is 99% pure antarctic water. That occurrence is also in the book.
We have rich pasts of Maori people who are global citizens of travel. In the book the character Aunt Lulu marries Gardener Harrington. His family are horrified he married someone dark. They try and define her “suspect Maori blood” as being Castellian. She would never be intimidated by the put downs, appearing at the opera in a stunning Maori cloak. Lol! That was Aunt Lulu.
From the book’s sleeve: In The Thrill of Falling, Witi Ihimaera continues his exploration of the novella and the long story begun in his last collection, Ask The Posts of the House (2007) with a new set of intriguing narratives: urban fiction in Maggie Dawn; contemporary comedy in We’ll Always Have Paris; the science fiction novella in Purity of Ice; the new genre of conservation fiction in Orbis Terrarium; the different ways of telling history in the title story; and an adaptation into novella, One More Night, of Albert Belz‘s play, Whero’s New Net, which itself was adapted from stories in Ihimaera’s second short story collection, The New Net Goes Fishing (1976). The ideas continue to affirm Ihimaera’s place in New Zealand literature as one of our finest storytellers.–Wheelers.
It’s a treat to see a live read of Ta Witi’s latest piece of work.
Having long been a man who survived the many jealousies that surrounded his rise to be a voice for his people that was universally accepted –there is only one way to define the elusive, clever, compassionate and wise Ta Witi: he is a living national treasure.
Thank you for the humor, the twists and the stories – the words always gifted from the heart. Incidentally my “Smile Club” section within this blog, is named after your dad Tom, who when I met him once in hongi, smiled at me in Whakatane. The depth of his grace is a lifetime’s work to restore to the current generation of Kiwis and our friends. Stay smiling. Thank you. I am looking forward to Bullibasha: King of The Gypsies when it makes it to the silver screen.
[Footage: Jeanette Thomas and Matai Rangi Smith zoom us in on Good Morning show in New Zealand. Hollywood Google Images Witi Ihimaera Pop Art].
~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 12.7.12~
TAIAHA FILMS ART – AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
Movie still – Keisha Castle-Hughes with taiaha in the Oscar nominated movie of NZ.
Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KUw2PDP9qU
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 16.4.12~
MICHAEL GRAVES IS UP FOR ASSAULT
[Photo - N Montgomery].
Quote – In order to have healthy women and children, New Zealand needs healthy men–Dr Leonie Pihama.
Michael Graves, 22, has had an assault charge laid against him, after arguing with ex-girlfriend, actress Keisha Castle-Hughes in Auckland City on the weekend of the Oscars at a party.
The story is very ‘young love gone amiss’ – as in the case of Rihanna and Chris Brown three years ago. While living in Hollywood the domesic violece case of Chris Brown and Rihanna was a motivator to start this blog. Everyone was talking about it for weeks. More on Graves and Castle Hughes story here.
Domestic violence is never okay.
Let’s hope these two young people move on in life and love in the future. Young people in New Zealand are our future – seeing them happy – is what all older Kiwis pride ourselves on trying to achieve for younger generations.
Perhaps Keisha needs to live and work in California for a bit? Or do a mix of Cali-New Zealand work. I can think of five Hollywood agents that would love to snap her up if Keisha chose to live in Hollywood. It’s just that New Zealand loves the idea of having Keisha here too much, to let her go full time. She’s a living treasure of NZ.
In Michael’s case, returning to life after no longer dating an internationally recognized person, will be both a relief and strange to adjust to. The goal for young Michael is to be happy with the celebrity within – and to do meaningful things with that realization for others.
In New Zealand you discover Kiwi celebrity by simply looking around you at the landscape.
A majestic mountain or the ocean reminds us all of how insignificant we really are as people – and how lucky we are to be alive to experience such amazing views in the world in our own backyard. From that realization comes the notion – ‘seeing I have all of this right in front of me to enjoy – what should I now do for others?’
Of course – in this case – no one is daring spell the words D.I.Y. But yeah – a word about domesic violence is paramount for New Zealand’s young people at this time.
Peace! :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 13.2.12~
KEISHA CASTLE HUGHES SPLITS WITH BOYFRIEND MICHAEL GRAVES AFTER DOMESTIC DISPUTE IN MOVING VEHICLE
News.Com.Au reports today that New Zealand A-List star, Oscar nominated, Keisha Castle Hughes, was involved in a Young Hollywood Rihanna and Chris Brown-esque domestic disbute in a moving vehicle. Thankfully though, it was not as severe as Fenty-Brown’s infamous Hollywood shock scandal. The story goes:
“The now former boyfriend of Whale Rider star Keisha Castle-Hughes has been charged with assaulting her following an Oscars function in Auckland.
“Keisha was trying to jump out of the car while I was driving. I was swerving around the road and trying to pull her back into the car. Her clothes ripped. We caused a big scene and police turned up, and they have put me up for assault,” he said.
He appeared in Auckland District Court yesterday and was remanded on bail. Graves was banned from contacting or trying to contact Castle-Hughes, whom he has split from following the incident.
In March last year, Castle-Hughes was handcuffed as she was taken away from a central Auckland bar following a fight. She was not charged.”
The NZ Herald covers twitter’s reporting into how the lover’s spat began when it appeared on twitter at the party.
‘Castle-Hughes tweeted throughout the party, directing one to Graves: “drunker than you #drunklife”.’ (more…)
KEISHA CASTLE HUGHES, JOSH LUCAS, RACHEL TAYLOR & HOLLYWOOD INDUSTRY NEWS – 1.2.12
Hollywood Industry Town News shares we’re reading right now are:
The Girls in the Band: Film Review
Nick and Aaron Carter‘s Sister Leslie Dies at 25
Paramount Locking Down Katy Perry 3D Film
Is ‘Hunger Games’ Really The New ‘Twilight’?
CW Orders Dramas from J.J. Abrams, Mark Harmon and ‘Vampire Diaries’ Producer
Clint Eastwood casts Justin Timberlake in‘Trouble With The Curve’
Samantha Barks Lands the Role of Eponine in Tom Hooper‘s ‘Les Miserables’
Rupert Murdoch Hires New Chief Of Staff
Some of the Hottest 99 Women Of 2012
Disney Makes Deal To Acquire Controlling Interest In India’s UTV
Russian Film Forum to Address Industry Issues
George Clooney On Trying To Act In Batman Costume
Disney Signs Multi-Year Package Deal With Germany’s RTL
AOL Profit Declines 66% in Fourth Quarter
Hollywood Moguls Stopping Obama Donations Because Of …
Watch Julianne Moore on the Verge of a Breakdown as Sarah Palin
Jay Leno & NBC Sued Over Mitt Romney Joke
February’s Birthday Sweethearts
Rooney Mara Covers Vanity Fair, Talks Fincher
Seen Red Dog yet?
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts 2012 red carpet
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 1.2.12~
BEST SKETCH ON TV – KEISHA CASTLE HUGHES ON “THE JONO PROJECT”
Couldn’t help but notice, that Oscar nominated Keisha Castle Hughes agreed to do a sketch on the Jono Project comedy TV show last night.
in the sketch, Jono was trying to illegally film Keisha, without her consent, in a home made movie idea, called Whalerider 2 that was based on a direct rip-off script of the Free Willy movie franchise where Jono had cast a dwarf playing Willy in a whale costume. Jono stalked Keisha with his film crew to make the film anyway without her knowing.
Anyway, it all ended with Keisha yelling irrately “I don’t want to star in your dumb Free Willy movie Jono with Rawiri Patene playing Cliff Curtis, and a dwarf named Willy. Just F off and don’t call me Quiche.”
The sketch finished with Keisha beating the crap out of the dwarf in a whale costume using a wooden clipboard and Jono sexually assaulting the dwarf. It was a very bad sketch but for some strange reason funny.
Gosh, I thought, that’s one way for a Maori girl to sort out her star space and invasion of identity theft issues using her name, friends names in dumb pr stunt moves. Loved it! :)
Remember Bjork, at an airport once wearing green? Keisha was just like her, in the sketch.
Rock on!
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 15.10.11~
KEISHA CASTLE-HUGHES TREADS THEATER’S BOARDS IN END OF THE GOLDEN WEATHER, A PLAY
Alright, here in Aotearoa New Zealand, the nation’s sweetheart of the silver screen is Keisha Castle-Hughes - a working mom and past Oscars nominee.
What’s Keisha up to? Like Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame, Keisha is currently treading Theater’s boards in a play, End of The Golden Weather. According to, an NZ.Govt website:
“Young Geoff is a daydreamer with a burning ambition to be a famous writer. Through his eyes we see the wonder of life on a perfect beach, in a perfect 1930s New Zealand, during a perfect summer. It’s a world of magic and transformation, where anything can happen and miracles seem possible.
Firpo is a social outcast who dreams of winning an Olympic medal. When Geoff sets out to help Firpo make his dream a reality, ignoring his father’s rebukes and community ridicule, a battle rages between the eternal optimism of the child and the harsh pragmatism of adulthood.
Gliding effortlessly between flights of poetic fancy and blunt everyday speech, The End of the Golden Weather is iconic New Zealand storytelling at its very best, a poignant theatrical gem that everyone can relate to.”
I just might go to this. To see a Hollywood-Maori living legend perform live doesn’t get much better in theater than that in NZ, that’s for sure. Go Auckland Theatre Company! :)
Keisha stars with actor Nic Samson - from the comedy band Guns N Moses.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 6.9.11~
MODEL DANIELLE HAYES TWEETS BRYCE JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY ART
She is – Danielle Hayes of Kawerau, New Zealand. Otherwise known as the reignign winner of New Zealand’s Next Top Model reality TV show.
13 hours ago, Danni tweeted,
At the moment Danielle is spotlighting Bryce Johnson‘s photographic work. Here’s a profile via his Club of The Waves fan club.
Bryce Johnson is a photographer whose style is artfully simple, yet boasts bold, dynamic colors and intriguing scenes.
Johnson grew up on Kauai and spent his youth surfing and drumming in local bands. After high school, he bounced from Bible College in Australia to music school in Los Angeles, then moved back to Kauai to surf and live the dream. In 2007, he moved to San Diego “on a whim” to peruse a degree in photography. He interned at SURFER Magazine in 2010 and currently works for a commercial and editorial photographer where he’s refining his studio skills.
Johnson’s work has been featured in SURFER Magazine, as well as in popular surf and photography blogs like Saturdays New York City and Korduroy TV.
I’m really into negative space in my photographs and just letting the image breathe. I like capturing the moments inbetween the action. The ocean is always at the core of my photography. The constantly changing colors and conditions always inspire me.
~Horiwood.Com. 29.6.11~
OCEAN PRESERVATION NATIONS – AVOIDING MASS MARINE EXTINCTION SYNDROME
[Hollywood Maori cinematic footage - Keisha Castle-Hughes and friends, from Whale Rider]
Global watch on the world’s ocean terrains and resources can be summed up in this report. I like it. The report speaks of Kaitiakitanga (or guardianship, that’s wise). Well worth sharing.
If the current actions contributing to a multifaceted degradation of the world’s oceans aren’t curbed, a mass extinction unlike anything human history has ever seen is coming, an expert panel of scientists warns in an alarming new report.
The preliminary report from the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) is the result of the first-ever interdisciplinary international workshop examining the combined impact of all of the stressors currently affecting the oceans, including pollution, warming, acidification, overfishing and hypoxia.
“The findings are shocking,” Dr. Alex Rogers, IPSO’s scientific director, said in a statement released by the group. “This is a very serious situation demanding unequivocal action at every level. We are looking at consequences for humankind that will impact in our lifetime, and worse, our children’s and generations beyond that.” (more…)
WHAT ARE OUR HOLLYWOOD MAORI UP TO THIS MATAARIKI?
To be a Hollywood Maori, you need not only have an Uruwhenua passport, but also a Social Security No., to work in the USA when called upon in Hollywood to entertain. (See below pic).
Our world famous Hollywood Maori lads who have a Hollywood connection are dubbed “Hollywood Maori Kings” on this blog. They can hold their own with the best entertainers in the world on the big screens that capture our imagination and attention at the movies as well as in 3D and via all mediums of entertainment media today.
Their presence bears witness of a need for the world to see Maori faces, people, actors and entertainers at the forefront. For this reason, they are the Kings of culture from Aotearoa New Zealand as indicated by online interest and Hollywood box office rankings in the world. On this blog, they’re all valid stars of Hollywood and NZ.
Here’s my Salut! to Keisha Castle Hughes, Cliff Curtis, Temuera Morrison and Taika Cohen who are doing some amazing film work of late, being cast in Green Lantern, Colombiana, The Stolen, Missing and new film projects.
Oh… and because Asian movie goers love them so much, they’ve been claimed as Asian lately too. That’s too funny.
They’re talented and fun loving people, who were born to entertain. They are some of the coolest Kiwis ever!
[Happy Mataariki people]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 13.6.11~
SCOTT WEST, FRIEND OF WHALES, SURVIVES JAPAN’S QUAKE
It must be the weirdest thing surviving an earthquake. On one half of your flipper you must be relieved. At the other end of your flipper you could also feel guilty, that you survived good people who did not.
This is Scott West‘s predicament as his life was spared from the 9.0 quake in Japan. CNN has the story:
‘Edmonds, Washington (CNN) — Scott West went to Japan expecting trouble.
A veteran anti-porpoise hunting activist, West documents and protests the killing of the mammals. His actions are deeply unpopular in many of the Japanese coastal communities that cling to the tradition of catching and eating whale.
West’s organization, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has a long and colorful history of clashing with the Japanese. In the Animal Planet series “Whale Wars,” Sea Shepherd volunteers impede Japanese whale fishing off the coast of Antarctica.
Their tactics include placing their boats in front of whaling ships, attempting to carry out citizen’s arrests of the Japanese crew and heaving acid stink bombs onto the vessels. For their efforts, the Sea Shepherd volunteers have had flash bang grenades thrown at them, their boats sunk in collisions and detainment for days by the Japanese crews.
The show has made the Sea Shepherd members reality TV stars and notorious in Japan.
March 11 started like many other days for Scott West. He was in an unfriendly territory, a small Japanese coastal town where a porpoise hunt was under way and the efforts of outsiders to document the slaughter were not welcome.
West led a five person Sea Shepherd team of Mike Vos, Tarah Millen, Carisa Webster and Marley Daviduk to the town of Otsuchi, Japan. They were joined by Brian Barnes a cameraman from Save Japan Dolphins, a group that often collaborates with Sea Shepherd.
The activists had other company, as well.
Closely monitoring the group were two plain clothes Japanese policemen the activists nicknamed “Turner and Hooch,” for the Tom Hanks comedy about a cop and his sidekick, a dog.
For the end of this story, go here. Scott sure can tell a whale of a tale. :)
[Film footage clip, Keisha Castle-Hughes in her Oscar nominated role, Whale Rider]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.19.11~
SOME WITI IHIMAERA POETRY – OH NUMI TUTELAR – FROM HOLLYWOOD 2.23.11
Oh Numi Tutelar
(At the British Museum, London, 25 June 1998)
3 in the morning
The streets deserted I had forgotten
only derelicts & prostitutes are abroad in the night
forsaken lovers locked out
(and Maori attending dawn ceremonies)
Make way, Britannia, Albion, Victoria Imperatrix,
make way our putatara are braying to bring down
your walls The dawn is coming and with it
Magi, gift bearers from the South
Piki mai, kake mai, homai te wai ora
ki ahau
We have come
from the utmost ends of the earth a tribe of travellers
with our own Queen, ministers & warrior escort
to the land of our Treaty partner where
our treasures have been plundered
(and Roma & I halfway round the world
to read in a stairwell)
Make way, O Egypt, ancient Assyria, Greece, Rome
make way our own Cleopatra comes amid you
Semiramis, Te Arikinui, Imperatrix of Aotearoa
Maori women, gift bearers from the South
Haramai te toki, hui e, haumi e, taiki e
So here we are
climbing upward the Museum opening unwilling
to the dawn, the kai karanga calling, the warriors
pulling us in & Maramena asks, ìHow can our
culture so small survive in this treasure house
of many cultures?î
(The answer is simple: Godzilla was wrong
size does not matter)
Oh antiquities of Asia, make way, lions of Judah
bow down, Babylon, stela of Islam make way
give space, Oh Nimrod, Horus, Mahomet
we are iwi Maori, gift bearers from the South
E taonga tū mai, tū mai, tū mai
And in the great hall
for the first time we see the past before us
the treasures of our ancestors a Pharaonic ransom
of immense psychic power, indeed we live
with our past the ghosts among us
(How can I explain? We have always walked
backwards into our future)
Oh, ancestors, stand forever! Stand for yesterday!
Stand for today! Stand for tomorrow! Stand
for always! Stand! Stand! Stand!
Take heed, O Gods of all other worlds, numi tutelar
We come chanting, we come singing, we come
proudly from Rangiātea, there our seed was sown
We come, still voyaging by star canoes
by aurora australis
We are from savage islands, far to the south
we move through your constellations
make way and where there is one
oh Gods, there are a thousand
We are Magi, bearing gifts
and our dawn is coming
Ka Ao, ka Ao, ka awatea
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.22.11. First published in Whetu Moana (An Ocean of Stars) – Contemporary Polynesian Poetry in English. Auckland University Press, April 2003, editors Albert Wendt (editor), Reina Whaitiri (editor) and Robert Sullivan (editor). Keisha Castle Hughes appears courtesy of the Whalerider film, via Celebrity Wonder~
NEW TALENT ALERT – MEET HINETAAPORA SHORT – THE GOLDEN, HOLLYWOOD MAORI, MILKY BAR KID!
“She has a young Reese Witherspoon look and fresh-faced appeal about her as a potential child-actor of the future in Hollywood”–Horiwood on Hinetaapora Short.
A Diverse View of Hollywood worthy new talent potential:
Should Hinetaaporo Short, 10, be cast as the next Milky Bar Kid!
One of this kid’s X-factors in the entertainment game already, is that Hinetaapora speaks Te Reo Rangatira – The Language of Chiefs - otherwise known as the Maori language of New Zealand) each day, at her Kura Kaupapa school in Roto-Vegas/ Rotorua, Hiobbit country.
Te Reo Rangatira is one of the two official languages that Middle Earth, New Zealand protects and speaks within its shores.
Should Hinetaapora be the Milky Bar Kid for chocolate makers Nestle? Heck yes! What a bilingual, intelligent and talented cutie pai. Adorable. The Milky Bar Kid is a New Zealand child’s ‘super hero’ figure of inspiring Adventure and fun adventuring activities with friends and community–the great Kiwi Way. Just like Hobbits represent such cultural heroes too. A Maori girl super hero? Heck yes! It’s time. What a splendid idea at updating Kiwi pop culture in the 2010′s.
Will Hinetaapora go on to appear in Hobbit in 3D films in Wellywood too and Hollywood? I hope so! She’s a doll.
Go honey! Mauri ‘Ola from Hollywood. Let’s hope Hinetaapora can sign on to the same Hollywood agent as Oscar nominee, Keisha Castle Hughes. My Hollywood agent recommend though for Hinetaapora’s Hollywood acting hopes, is agent: Steve Dontanville. –the agent behind Reese Witherspoon’s acting career in Reese’s initial early years until two years before Reese won her Oscar.
Imagine Hinetaapora Short in a 3D action adventure film? Could she be another Reese Witherspoon, with the potential to win an Oscar too? Only time will tell. But, go kotiro tutu! I love her chutzpah. This kid has spirit. She’s off to a good start at ten years-of-age.
[Presenter Scotty Morrison, executive news producer Tini Molyneux - Te Karere. Keisha Castle Hughes appears here with Inception star Ken Watanabe, image courtesy of Wire Image].
UPDATE: Hinetaapora Short is on the Nestle casting team’s Top Ten Short List at this minute. Go honey! You have Hollywood’s big tick approval. The gorgeous Hinetaapora short is a descendant of the Te Whanau a Hinetaaporo subtribe (Haapu) of Ngati Porou. She also descends from the Te Arawa iwi of Aotearoa/ New Zealand. The same tribe as famed and globally-loved entertainer, the late Sir Howard Morrison. The son of a Maori All Black rugby football star, Temuera Morrison , Sir Howard’s song My Old Man’s An All Black - combated and addressed apartheid in South Africa back in the day. He’s still a legend in hearts and minds today. Good Kiwi Ambassadors and proven entertainment stock are the performance artists of this tribe. They do the right things with their fame for noble humanitarian causes.
Hinetaapora’s Te Arawa tribe are watched by globe-trotting visitors to New Zealand, every day of the week in Rotorua City when they perform live daily as consummate and gifted entertainers. They star in musical theater showcases daily and have been practicing mau rakau (traditional Maori martial arts) for over a thousand years in New Zealand on Mokoia Island. As warriors in performance, they are New Zealand’s indigenous action stars. Very similar to Japanese samurai or Old-World warriors of the Chinese Empire dynasty too. Sir Howard, their much loved late Entertainer king, is pictured wearing his cowboy hat above.
Courage to imagine, see and be true to… yourself.
Message to H.S: Mihi atu ki a koe Hinetaapora… are you practicing your American accent and learning Chinese each morning for Hong Kong filmmaking, 3D action movie/ co-productions in future years, before school? Hope so! Ka rawe! Tino pai kē! Kid, you’re too much! :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 10.27.10~
IN TRUE MAORI FASHION – KORU TAONGA ON BROWN COTTON TEE WITH SILVER PRINT TA MOKO MOTIF
Maori wisdom: “In a very old tree, you may be certain that the sapwood is on the outside, while the heartwood is in the middle… Desolate darkness, desolate brightness. … Care for the land, Care for the people, Go forward.”
Remembering my Hollywood Maori manners today from around the globe. This is what I’m wearing today in West Hollywood, California.
A Maori Koru taonga handcrafted from the Ocean, gifted by Doniece Mackay of Matapouri Bay of the Ngapuhi Maori tribe, who lives in both Rome & Paris, once put around my neck in Wellywood, New Zealand, with the words “You are an international Maori who is meant for the world. This taonga symbolizes our ancestors, who navigated our existence into this world. You, do the same thing”
The taonga rests on a Cotton Force tee shirt, as gifted by Dale Karauria of the Ngati Porou Maori tribe of the East Coast on Dale’s last visit to L.A. Brown cotton stitching on brow with a silver Maori ta moko print overlay.
This post going up for Cliff Curtis, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Temuera Morrison, Karl Urban and Rena Owen as a symbol of tino rangatiratanga, Kiwi ingenuity and in recognition of your abilities to dream big Maori dreams to entertain the world.
To Doniece and Dale–thank you both for being friends in Wellywood, New Zealand long before I set out for Hollywood. I wear you both across my heart. Much love and thanks. Sam xox.
Jewish whakatauki of Isaiah: “Ka hoatu ano e ahau ki a koe nga taonga o te pouri, me nga mea huna o nga wahi ngaro, kia mohio ai koe ko Ihowa ahau, e whakahua atu nei i tou ingoa, ko te Atua o Iharaira…. And I will give thee the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places…”
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 8.28.10~
MAORI ROLLING STONE TRUE BLOOD TRIBUTE AND THE HORIWOOD TOP TEN – WED 8.18.10
One image especially for Maori and Polynesian artists, all Kiwis and Canadians as well as True Blood fans who dig Anna Paquin and her fearless art as an entertainer. Jokingly I might add, that we taught this kid well in Jane Campion‘s The Piano filming years, didn’t we Maoris? Thank goodness for Maori extras in Hollywood’s cinematic history and current evolution of entertainment. Some of Anna’s best memories of early filmic friends are Maori moments. lol!
Apologies to vegetarians and PETA lovers for all of the faux blood splatter again, but here’s the Hollywood Maori tribute version to Rolling Stone‘s hot Anna Paquin cover for True Blood with Alex Skarsgard and Stephen Moyer (it just had to be done).
As I was getting this photo, this mag was flying off the rack stands so quick, it made me want a medium-rare, Californian flame grilled Houston steak, asap. These 3 crazy kids are too Hollywood fierce this week. And why are Americans so obsessed with blood? Kiwi, Swedish and British blood at that. And these nations are America’s allies in real life, so go figure!
In other news, here’s how you voted our top ten news choices. The guest commentary post today (embedded) is laugh-out-lady funny today. I don’t know who wrote it, but it brought a smile for poetic chortles purposes.
1. True Blood Rolling Stone marketing ferocity, sings Pump Up The Volume.
2. Nikki Six still holds a flame for Kat Von D
3. Justin Gaston‘s Psalmist-King‘s ink is Hollywood newsworthy
4. جلوههایی از کرامت ها و ساده زیستی مقام
5. Team Alex Meraz
6. Hot Pick: Beyonce & Jay-Z at a restaurant
7. Angelina Jolie is triumphant in Salt
8. Michael Vartan joins Zoe Saldana & Cliff Curtis
9. An Author’s Sugar & Spice Style with Lauren Conrad
10. Humor: Johnny Depp will head to Hawaii for Pirates of the Caribbean
Guest humor: Will the real Carrie Bradshaw of the Middle East please come forward?
And as my bro, Cliff Curtis, Hollywood’s Maori King, cut his hori chops acting in both The Piano and Whalerider playing a Maori roles, garnering Oscar nods/ or helping garner winners, here’s two trailers just for brotha Cliff too–in recognition of all that Maori have gifted to Hollywood, to date. These films by women New Zealand filmmakers, starring Maori, are just so pretty.
Because of a tremendous amount of love and a lot of grace that I feel I never deserved, I wake up every morning–most days happy–having the unique opportunity to be currently listed as a Struggling American-Maori writer of sorts. From this position of privilege as a Maori who happens to live in the Entertainment Capitol of the World. I have learned that it’s the journey of being an indigenous peoples’ storyteller that is the blessing and I can add that these people are my filmmaking people in our ‘Maori Hollywood’ active city too, 2010′s. Mauri Ora.
It is an honor to bear witness to this filmic tradition in Hollywood California, via a zero budget blog pressed fresh daily often against great odds, to herald the dreams of Maori and Kiwi filmmakers, yet to come.
In the 2010′s, Maori fusion filmmaking is so hot in Hollywood. Just look at Maori influences in Avatar to get a picture of that box office and record setting, cinematic Maori potential. Wow! With special thanks to Cliff and Keisha Castle Hughes, and my creative writing tutor Witi Ihimaera today for the inspiration to breathe, dream and be here at the help of friends and family.
Bloody good stuff! Thanks
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 8.18.10~
MEETING MRS CLIFF CURTIS IN BEVERLY HILLS
When Hollywood’s Maori King introduces you to his enigmatic, mystery Asian bride, it is a very surreal and beautiful moment. Elevated elation is what you experience. This is how I felt yesterday, when legendary Maori actor, Cliff Curtis introduced me to the love of his life.
7 months after their wedding, this woman of radiant spirit is glowing with child; almost 7 months along, and she is beautiful in every way. What a privilege to meet such a gracious woman from the Mon dynasty, who is also half Chinese. A very significant moment in Hollywood.
In the Maori language of Cliff and past Oscar nominee (and working mother) Keisha Castle Hughes: “He Wahine Rangatira Ataahua, Nau Mai, haere mai ki Hollywood.” A warm welcome. Go girl! Fun family times are ahead.
This from the pages of history about the ancient Mon People (also residing now in Thailand and the U.K), and the beauty of Mon culture, now in Hollywood: “The Hintha bird is the symbol of the Mon people, some of the earliest settlers of South East Asia. In Bago (Pegau) it is said that two Hintha birds were flying during a flood and found only one rock poking up above the floodwaters. So the male landed on the rock and allowed the female to land on his back. As they stood there the Buddha and his decipiles appeared walking on the water. He delivered his teachings to the birds and told them that a great city would arise there one day. The city, then known as Hinthawaddy, became the capitol of an ethnic Mon kingdom for many centuries, and was the capitol of Burma for a time.”
Welcome to L.A. Since 1000 A.D the Mon people have always had a monarchy. Cute.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 7.21.2010~
JARED LETO IS A COCKATOO IN WALES
Yesterday, I did a post about my late cousin Vicky who lived in the Australian outback, where cockatoo birds fly wild. Today, I saw this pic of Jared Leto (via Michael K) performing in Wales (no not Nicky Caro‘s move, video clip below), but the country where Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Sir Anthony Hopkins com from.
Jared thinks he is that Aussie outback cockatoo. Lol! Hairography (a la Gaga and her hats, weaves, extensions, wigs–twenty different hair style changes a day) gets you everywhere in pop music today. So before we put Jared on a whale’s back and tell him just to go back to black, let’s give this brotha a chance. Pop male chivalry to Stefani Germanotta‘s blonde song bird act, should be rewarded–so from Whales, Jared Leto gets a mention in Hollywood today. And in this video clip, Keisha Castle-Hughes wearing plumage in her hair, reminds us what 13 year-old Maori kids are capable of in the world…. Oscar nominations. :)
And Jared Leto in Wales… He’s Out-f*cking-rageous!
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 5.23.2010~
ART: WHALING TREE by LOS ANGELES ARTIST, SEAN SULLIVAN
~No matter what medium they choose, a true artistic, storyteller puts the love and detail into their Hollywood story~
Sean Sullivan takes an architect’s drafts pen and creates his art through drawing. His work is incredibly detailed. And being from the land of Oscar nominee, Kesha Castle-Hughes, Paikea and the legend of the Whalerider I can’t help but totally dig this piece and want to share it.
Sean’s website is Sean Sullivan Studio. Com where you can see more of his amazing work.
Artists and people with vision who create with their hands are the architects of a new America. Totally dig Sean’s shizzle. Detail, patience, creativity, diligence are his artistic rhetoric of leadership through art.
[Image of Sir Peter Jackson --prior to when Hollywood manorexia replaced his good old Kiwi hobbit body-- with Kesha Castle Hughes courtesy of RT website. Images of Sean and his art, courtesy of Horiwood.Com. You're welcome]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 4.21.2010~
CELEBRATING GROWTH TODAY ON HORIWOOD.COM WITH POI E YELLOW!
Today, Horiwood.Com had another record breaking growth day today for this year’s viewership records. Thank you.
Here’s some indigenous yellow from Taranaki Maori of New Zealand, The Patea Maori Club with their song, Poi E that was once a record-charting #1 hit on the New Zealand music pop charts for weeks, back in 1984. I know… Miley Cyrus wasn’t even a mere country twinkle in Billy Ray Cyrus‘ Tennesse-raised eye back then. Lol!
Thanks for your support worldwide on this blog. Let’s “bop on down” to this song together and celebrate diversity in life, and entertainment of all kinds from the great City of Angels. Thank you.
Ps: Aren’t smiling Maoris swinging poi balls skillfully in the timeless joyfull dance of life, so much fun! Here’s a pic of Angelina Jolie as a child in Hawaii doing exactly the same thing. A-List stars of the world have always loved the poi dance. Thanks again and enjoy. Special thanks to Taranaki for the Maori magic in Hollywood today.
[Picture of Oscar-winner Angelina Jolie courtesy of James Haven's archives. Picture of Oscar-nominated Keisha Castle-Hughes courtesy of South Pacific Pictures via South Seas Cinema Website]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.16.2010~
BREAKING NEWS: BRAD HAAMI WILL WRITE OF WHALES FOR MICHAEL KING WRITER’S CENTRE, MAORI WRITERS RESIDENCY 2010
“Waitakere writer Bradford Haami has been selected for the first ever Maori writer’s residency at the Michael King Writers’ Centre in Devonport.
His latest project, with the working title IKA-MOANA: Whale Traditions of the Maori, will explore the special place whales have in Maori culture from pre- and post-colonial eras, right up to the present day.”
Brad is a bit of a whale-lover himself, so Kia Ora bro. Love it! This book of course, will not sell very well in Japan. Which is perhaps exactly why the thing needs to be written in the first place. For those of us in Hollywood… of course we have the Whalerider on dvd, to keep us amused and enthralled doing repeats upon repeats on the hallmark channel, until Brad’s book hits libraries worldwide.
Congratulations to brotha Brad. I’m sure my fellow-hori Sunny Californian resident, Keisha Castle Hughes, the Oscar nominated actress who played a whale tamer in her youth for world audiences who adore her, would agree that this was a great choice in commissioning new Maori Writing. Tres exciting. :)
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.16.2010~
KATHRYN BIGELOW and MAORI ACTOR KEISHA CASTLE-HUGHES
Maori culture made James Cameron‘s Avatar film come alive–infusing his Na’ivi tribal people with an otherwordly, presence onscreen in 3D.
So it’s no surprise, that Cameron’s ex-wife, and main Oscar nominated competition this year, Kathryn Bigelow has sent Hollywood insiders spinning, with talk that she really, really, really wants to work with past Oscar-nominee and Maori sweetheart, actress Keisha Castle-Hughes.
I heard this news from the publicist working on Burlesque here in Hollywood, so if things work out, as Bigelow hopes then this is some majorly exciting news. Perhaps Keisha will get her second Oscar nomination working with Bigelow. Kia ora girl! :)
In light of JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Bigelow‘s and Angelina Jolie and Sandra Bullock’s power contributions to box office and Hollywood cinema, the last decade–the power paradigm is beginning to shift more to women filmmakers in Hollywood. Equality for women filmmakers has made huge leaps and bounds in the hood. Exciting times are ahead for the girls in Hollywood. About time, really aye?
Maori have become the good luck charms, of Hollywood’s power directors and producers from Avatar on.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.5.2010~
BORN THIS WAY TO DRINK CLEAN WATER – WATER ROYALTY RIGHTS FOR ALL CHILDREN OF THE WORLD
Born this way – I believe that all children of the world were born to have access to clean drinking water whenever they need it.
BTW: At the moment 1 billion people don’t. 2 million children die through not having access to clean drinking water each year.
Born this way to drink clean water – is these kids and their parents’ dream day. We can make it a dream day everyday for them. Let’s make it happen fun people, by clicking on UNICEF’S TAP PROJECT link. Let’s FLOW! Thanks groovy people.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 12.29.10~
December 29, 2010 | Categories: Gabriel Aubrey, Gary Coleman, Gavin Rossdale, Gay, Gayle King, Gaza, Gaza Strip, genelia d'souza, Genocide, George Clooney, George Lucas, George Michael, George W. 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