Domestic Violence The Topic Of Film Raro’s Latest Winner

Press Release December 2012

Domestic Violence The Topic Of Film Raro’s Latest Winner

Hawaiian filmmaker Erin Lau is the latest winner to be selected in the inaugural Film Raro Pacific Paradise Film Challenge to be held in the south pacific paradise of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands in May 2013.

The University of Hawaii film student and her film making team are excited and proud to have this opportunity to share their craft and collaborate with locals to tell a story that can make a difference.

“Gender equality, women’s rights and domestic violence are important issues for all women around the world including the pacific.” Says Erin but what makes her film special is that it speaks with an indigenous pacific voice, one fairly new in the world of professional cinema.

Erins film ‘A Little Girl’s War Cry’ deals with the touchy subject of domestic violence through the eyes of a young ten-year old Cook Island girl named Tiare, who shelters herself from reality by taking on the persona of a caped super hero. Tiare deals out justice to wicked monsters in a bid to save her precious Barbie doll. Influence from cultural elements of respect and pride eventually help Tiare to discover not only her identity but also her inner strength. Driven by the power of a mother and child’s love she finds the will to fight back.

Erin says “I hope to focus on telling stories that give a voice to causes, peoples and cultures that are sometimes unnoticed. The continuously developing filmmaking community in Hawaii has given a voice to its indigenous peoples allowing for a stronger presence in our local and global filmic history. I think the Cook Islands can accomplish the same presence for their own community through Film Raro.”

Members of Erin’s team have collaborated together on many projects but are the youngest participants of the Film Raro Challenge with the majority of its members still studying at the University of Hawaii Manoa.

Erin says “Due to my crew’s ages and experience levels, we offer a fresh and new perspective. My crew and I would like to express our huge appreciation and undying gratitude for this amazing opportunity. Personally, I hope at the end of this project to be both a stronger filmmaker and person overall. We are all very excited and hope to meet and soar above the expectations we have been handed. Mahalo nui loa.”

All members of the Film Raro Challenge stay at the Edgewater Resort Rarotonga

For more information see www.filmraro.com

Notes:

Film Raro website www.filmraro.com

Drum Productions www.drumproductions.co.nz

Inaugural Film Raro event scheduled for May 2013

Film Raro Director Erin Lau

ENDS

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