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Tag Archives: Chetan Patel
April Fono
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula
Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Welcome to the after-match report from Banana Boat’s April fono.
Present were GRANT BAYLEY, ANA CORBETT, JENNI HEKA, CHETAN PATEL, ERIC SMITH, VENUS SMITH, SHONA TARAI, LOUISE TU’U, LEILANI UNASA, GERALDINE WARREN, and DAVID MAMEA.
Apologies were received from a not-in-Aucks JAMES NOKISE.
Banana Boat Business
LEILANI proudly announced a Master Class with Kath Akuhata-Brown, to be held in June, made possible in partnership with the New Zealand Film Commission. Watch this space for more details.
News to Use
Playmarket are taking the New Writers and Creative Clinics workshops on the road. Check out their website for more information.
Banana Boat’s Matariki Creative Clinic is looking for some plays to develop. Think you’ve got what it takes? Deadline is 20 MAY 2011. The Clinic itself will be in June. See below for further details.
Playmarket’s Brown Ink initiative, previously the Pasifika and Maori development initiatives, is looking for submissions, due 08 JULY 2011. Get writing.
Coming Up
Correction: the rumour of LOUISE’s Le Tauvaga being mounted in May is untrue. Banana Boat apologises to Louise for the random-seeming queries stemming from last month’s minutes.
Banana Boat clinics are going two for two at this year’s Matariki in June:
– Creative Clinics, 11-12 June, with an evening presentation on Sunday the 12th;
– Newbies Workshop, 12 June.
And speaking of Matariki, two Banana Boat writers’ works will be on:
– CHRIS MOLLOY’s The Last Taniwha; and
– MICHAEL REWIRI-THORSEN’s Strong Hands.
The Creative Clinics will be travelling to the Hawkins Theatre in Papakura in September/October, dates and times to be advised closer to the time.
Banana Boat has already booked dates for some Christmas Cheer in late November, early December. Be afraid.
Writing Exercise
Again. Although it was called a fun activity in introduction, all meeting attendees saw right through that but humoured the creative spirit that is Banana Boat.
Script Reading
Taking a break this month. (And my apologies again to LEILANI for setting the April meeting a whole week earlier than the traditional “fourth Thursday of every month”.)
Next Fono
– will be on THURSDAY 26 19 MAY 2011 at the Mangere Arts Centre, Corner of Orly Avenue and Bader Drive, Mangere. Fono are currently alternating between Grey Lynn and Mangere.
October 2010 Fono and AGM
Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula
Welcome to the after-match report.
Present
– were GRANT BAYLEY, CLAIRE NOBLE, CHETAN PATEL, REVEREND MUA PUA, ERIC SMITH, LEILANI UNASA, GERALDINE WARREN, JENNI HEKA and DAVID MAMEA.
Apologies
– were received from AHI KARUNAHARAN, CHRIS MOLLOY, JAMES NOKISE and MICHAEL REWIRI-THORSEN.
Banana Boat Business
JENNI gave an excellent presentation on the history, work, and possible future of Banana Boat. In just two years, this ‘loose collective of Pasifika and Maori writers’ has done more than just meet once a month: it has provided its members with workshops, opportunities for development and support, and been absolutely busting to get its members’ works into production.
Banana Boat has indeed come a long way, baby.
The following was discussed and mooted at the August fono:
Banana Boat has been running for two years now. It has reached a point where it must decide what to do:
– to continue as a writers support group;
– to expand or somehow split off into active development and production;
– to find some middle ground; or
– to fold.
The decision is always in the hands of its members.
After discussion of options available to the group, it was unanimously decided for the Banana Boat to seek charitable trust status. This decision includes two proxy votes from the absent MICHAEL and CHRIS.
The following attendees volunteered to be trustees: CHETAN, CHRIS (by proxy), CLAIRE, DAVID, GERALDINE, GRANT, JENNI, MUA, and LEILANI. Among their many tasks is drafting a constitution, deciding things like what a quorum is, and hopefully soon enough, discussing things like strategic directions, and who to hit up for money raising funds not just for the sake of it, but for you.
The following points were made and acknowledged in the meeting regarding members who were not present:
– not all Banana Boat members may agree with the decision taken by those attending this meeting;
– however, all Banana Boat members had been given an opportunity to attend, or at least discuss beforehand, this meeting’s agenda.
Monthly fono will continue in the format to which we are all accustomed, for as long as members want the community and support that these provide.
News to Use
GRANT has generously donated a number of theatre- and writing-related books. These will be listed soon (once David remembers where he put them).
ERIC and CHETAN’s I Don’t Do Coconut” Retro Night fundraiser was held on 5 November to great acclaim and much dancing by JENNI and CLAIRE.
Coming Up
The Auckland Performing Arts Forum will be held on Friday 12 November at The EDGE, Auckland.
Playmarket’s “Brown Ink Sessions” are on Satursday 27 November at Mangere Arts Centre. Jenni’s posted about this already.
Banana Boat’s Christmas do is on Thursday 2 December at Cosh Bar, Ponsonby. More details to follow.
Next Fono
– will be on THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER at the usual time and place. This will be the last fono for 2010.
August 2010 Fono
Ni sa bula
Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Welcome to an egregiously late after-match report.
Although ‘upcoming events’ in the minutes below are long past, ‘recording for posterity’ is a great stick to wave about when memory, inevitably, fails.
Present
– were DANNY AUMUA, GRANT BAYLEY, STUART HOARE, MICHELLE JOHANSSON, AHI KARUNAHARAN, NATANO KENI, MURRAY LYNCH, MARIA, CHRIS MOLLOY, CHETAN PATEL, MICHAEL REWIRI-THORSEN, SARITA SO, VENUS STEPHENS, SHONA TARAI, LEILANI UNASA, GERALDINE WARREN, JENNI HEKA and DAVID MAMEA.
Apologies
– were received from WILL ILOLAHIA, OLE MAIAVA, ERIC SMITH and JAY WILLIAMS.
Banana Boat Business
Banana Boat has been running for two years now. It has reached a point where it must decide what to do:
– to continue as a writers support group;
– to expand or somehow split off into active development and production;
– to find some middle ground; or
– to fold.
The decision is always in the hands of its members.
To this end, an AGM-style meeting is called for October for the group to discuss its future.
News to Use
JENNI plugged the Playmarket Aotearoa/Pasifika Playwrights Competition.
She also gave a gentle reminder about the final in the Playmarket Metro Reading series, Massive Theatre’s in-development Lenny James’ Havoc in the Garden.
LEILANI has been scheming about fundraising along the lines of a charity auction called Hot Chocolate Specials. Exactly what is on the auction block is still to be discussed but the possibilities are intriguing. Get those imaginations working.
It was agreed that the next meeting be held somewhere in South Auckland in recognition of a sizable proportion of the group hailing from down yonder. Details to follow.
Coming Up
JONATHAN RILEY is one of the writers involved with the Stir Fry series.
CHETAN PATEL and ERIC SMITH’s Retro Club Night fundraiser for their I Don’t Do Coconut play is on Friday 5 November at the Pull Bar on Karangahape Road.
Script Reading
LEILANI very generously shared her current script, “Apeshit”, which has been through a Banana Boat workshop earlier in the year. Its concepts and characterisations challenged and drove the group discussion that followed.
Next Meeting
– will be on THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER at a South Auckland venue to be arranged.
– will be on THURSDAY 28 OCTOBER at the usual time and place.
May 2010 Fono
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula
Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Welcome to the very late after-match report.
Present
— were ZORA FEILO, RICHARD FOULKES, MIRIA GEORGE, AHI KARUNAHARAN, OLE MAIAVA, CHETAN PATEL, JOHN SAGALA, ERIC SMITH, SARITA SO, VENUS STEPHENS, SHONA TARAI, LEILANI UNASA, JAMES WILSON, JENNI HEKA and DAVID MAMEA.
Apologies
– were received from JASON GREENWOOD, JONATHAN P RILEY and LOUISE TU’U.
News to Use
MIRIA – another Writers Block stalwart from Wellington – was warmly welcomed (along with fellow newbies and first-timers, and she brought warm greetings and tidings from down the line.
David updated the group on progress with the JUKEBOX SEASON. Congratulations to those who were selected for development.
UPDATE: Due to not receiving a Creative New Zealand grant this round , it has been agreed with The Edge that the Jukebox season is not viable this year. Being a Polynesian project, it is typically hard to kill. Moves are a-jandle to mount it later in the year. Watch this corner of the boat.
Coming Up
Briar Grace-Smith’s Purapurawhetu – which JENNI HEKA has been full-on busy with lately – will be at the Hawkins Theatre in Papakura from 16-18 June.
MICHAEL REWIRI-THORSEN’s Strong Hands has its reading at the Metro Theatre in Mangere on 17 June.
There’s a MATARIKI INDIGENOUS PEOPLES THEATRE HUI in Wellington 24-26 June. For more details, go to Tawata.
The MANUKAU CREATIVE CLINICS will be taking place on 1-2 July.
Script Reading
DAVID dusted off some old scripts – another television pilot, and a feature script – for the meeting attendees’ entertainment. One was stodgy. One was a howl – though that was largely due to RICHARD’s reading voice.
Next Meeting
— is THURSDAY 24 JUNE 2010 at the usual time and place.
April 2010 Fono
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula
Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Welcome to the after-match report.
Present
— were JASON GREENWOOD, CHRIS MOLLOY, CHETAN PATEL, RASHMI PILAPITIYA, MICHAEL REWIRI-THORSEN, JONATHAN RILEY, JOHNNY SAGALA, ERIC SMITH, VENUS STEPHENS, SHONA TARAI, LEILANI UNASA, JAY WILLIAMS and DAVID MAMEA.
Apologies
– were received from REVEREND MUA PUA, JAMES NOKISE, STAN WOLFGRAMM and JENNI HEKA.
News to Use
The Producers Workshop was judged a success, equipping attendees with the knowledge to take their scripts to stage. Feedback included “a good, fantastic workshop”, “maybe it could be a bit more practical”, and “[that there was] so much information it could easily have been three days”. A workshop-crashing JONATHAN was grateful for the good feed put on my the multi-talented Matene Karena. Something to be made available to Banana Boat’s target communities in 2011.
Coming Up
The Jukebox 2010 Season call-out has come and gone.
Anyone who takes their writing seriously are urged to attend the Wellington Matariki Hui which will take place sometime in June – details to follow, probably from JENNI.
To help defray travel costs for the abovementioned Hui, there will be some Fundraising in the throes of organisation by MICHAEL. Beware your Inboxes. Book some wallet- and purse-space.
Banana Boat is taking its Creative Clinics to Manukau on 1-2 July 2010. Watch your email Inboxes and ready your Forward-ing fingers.
Script Reading
— was replaced by dissection and discussion of a couple of two-minute scenes. Questions and answers flowed, including: How much information can you fit into dialogue without boring your audience to tears? More than you think. How much character can you show through action and with no dialogue? You’d be surprised.
DAVID then facilitated a session of spitballing ideas and methods of execution with the opening words, “I’ve got this idea for a project…” Possibly not as satisfying as his January foray because the project under discussion was at a very early conceptual stage. He should stop doing this as there are all sorts of intellectual property issues waiting to ambush him down the track. Unless of course he made the project up on the night and the whole thing was just, like, an exercise.
Next Meeting
— is THURSDAY 27 MAY 2010 at the usual time and place.
March 2010 Fono
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula
Taloha ni
Welcome to the after-match report.
Present
— were ELENA BOLLINO, MESEPA EDWARDS, RICHARD FOULKES, WILL ILOLAHIA, OLE MAIAVA, CHRIS MOLLOY, CHETAN PATEL, MICHAEL REWIRI-THORSEN, JOHNNY SAGALA, ERIC SMITH, JASON TE KARE, LOUISE TU’U, LEILANI UNASA, JENNI HEKA and DAVID MAMEA.
Apologies
– were received from JASON GREENWOOD, MICHELLE JOHANSSON, JONATHAN RILEY and STAN WOLFGRAMM.
Stuff
JASON brought greetings from the legendary Writers Block writers group in Wellington, established by Hone Kouka in 1999.
The March Creative Clinics were judged a success – participants gained a lot from all three workshops provided, whether it was the one-on-one with Albert Belz, the workshop with James Wilson and some tame actors, or writing-for-newbies by DAVID.
A gentle reminder was given regarding the Producers Workshop in early April.
UPDATE: The workshop was fully booked and is half-way through as this is being typed.
Coming Up
Banana Boat is working to mount a Jukebox 2010 Season in late July with help from Creative New Zealand. Watch your email Inboxes.
Anyone who takes their writing seriously are urged to attend the Wellington Matariki Hui which will take place sometime in June – details to follow, probably from JENNI.
Banana Boat is taking its Creative Clinics to Manukau on 1-2 July 2010. Watch your email Inboxes.
Script Reading
— was courtesy of Playmarket: Jo Randerson‘s Banging Cymbal, Clanging Gong. MICHAEL was very game in reading all seven pages of this one-hander despite being the wrong gender.
Next Meeting
— is THURSDAY 22 APRIL at the usual time and place.
February 2010 Fono
Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Ni sa bula
Welcome to the after-match report.
PRESENT were JASON GREENWOOD, MICHELLE JOHANSSON, CHETAN PATEL, REV. MUA PUA, MICHAEL REWIRI-THORSEN, ERIC SMITH, AARON TAOUMA, LEILANI UNASA, STAN WOLFGRAMM, JENNI HEKA and DAVID MAMEA.
APOLOGIES were gratefully received from JAMES NOKISE and LOUISE TU’U. (If you emailed your apologies and I haven’t namechecked you, my sincere apologies: my mailbox is a little chocker with funding queries, attachments, etc.)
CREATIVE CLINICS
JENNI was rather chuffed to report that eleven submissions were received for the creative clinics, with fifteen registrations received for the Newbies Workshop.
UPDATE: four pieces have been selected for workshops with Massive Theatre’s JAMES WILSON and the inimitable ALBERT BELZ:
– CHETAN PATEL’s Closing Time;
– MICHAEL REWIRI-THORSEN’s Strong Hands;
– JONATHAN RILEY’s Makigi; and
– LEILANI UNASA’s Ape Shit.
All submissions had strong ideas or concepts but what made the difference was how much development they had had to date. The selected scripts had this in common: they were sufficiently developed to take full advantage of the creative clinics.
Congratulations to the successful playwrights.
COMING UP
APRIL 2010
– PRODUCERS WORKSHOP, the shout-out to interested parties will happen once the Creative Clinics are safely out of the way (second week of March).
JUNE 2010
– More CREATIVE CLINICS, this time in Manukau, the shout out to interested parties will likely happen after the Producers Workshop have been put to bed (late April).
JULY 2010
– Maybe, just maybe, a JUKEBOX SEASON of short plays as part of a mainstream theatre programme. More details to follow in the coming months, universe allowing.
IN OTHER NEWS
– Many congratulations to JENNI HEKA who is directing Briar Grace-Smith’s Purapurawhetu with Cathy Downes.
– Congratulations also to OLE MAIAVA whose short radio play Skin Deep was broadcast on National Radio in mid-February, and is available to be heard online at Radio New Zealand.
– MICHELLE JOHANSSON’s Uso opens on WEDNEDAY 10 MARCH at the Musgrove Theatre. Banana Boat members get in free (email Michelle beforehand)! People wearing our bootiful Banana Boat t-shirts get in free (email Michelle beforehand), too!
(T-shirts are $25.00 plus postage via either David Mamea or 7K.)
– JONATHAN RILEY’s Pink Lighter is part of the Fringe 2010 season in Wellington. (I suspect JAMES NOKISE has something going on down there, too but… at least I namechecked ya, bud!)
– And DAVID MAMEA’s short film To’ona’i is part of Craig Fasi’s Pollywood 8 2010 short film festival of brown and proud, screening at MIC in the city (7 March), Mangere (16 March), and Henderson (18 March).
SCRIPT READING —
— was generously provided by ERIC SMITH with Soundtrack of My Life, a slice of public service nostalgia with layers of love and friendship and melancholy.
NEXT MEETING —
— is THURSDAY 25 MARCH, at the usual time and place.
January 2010 Fono
Ni sa bula
Taloha ni
Talofa lava
Fakaalofa lahi atu
Malo e lelei
Kia orana
Tena koutou
Welcome to the after-match report.
Present were JODY HOANI, MICHELLE JOHANSSON, MATENE KARENA, CHETAN PATEL, MICHAEL REWIRI-THORSEN, ERIC SMITH, LOUISE TU’U, JENNI HEKA and DAVID MAMEA.
Apologies were received from the reverend MUA PUA.
INAUGURAL 2009 JUKEBOX
Good vibes were reported from various quarters about the Jukebox in December 2009. The evening was judged to be a success, and the group looks forward to making it a regular event on the theatre landscape.
2010 CREATIVE CLINICS
By the time these minutes have been posted, the deadline for Banana Boat’s Inaugural Creative Clinics will have come and gone – but if you’re on the right email-lists, that would be old news; and if you’re not, 2011 is another year.
These clinics give playwrights and their scripts the opportunity to have:
— a half-day workshop with Massive Theatre’s JAMES WILSON; and/or
— a half-day one-on-one script lab with ALBERT BELZ (“Where’s New Net”).
The clinics take place on MONDAY and TUESDAY, 8-9 MARCH, 10:00am to 4:30pm, at the COUNCIL CHAMBERS in the Auckland Town Hall. The clinics are open to the public for a look-behind-the-scenes kind of thing so don’t be shy.
The 2010 Banana Boat Creative Clinics are made possible with the support of AUCKLAND CITY CREATIVE COMMUNITIES and PLAYMARKET.
2010 PRODUCERS WORKSHOPS
The Banana Boat is ALSO proud to announce the upcoming 2010 Producers Workshops that will take place over two SATURDAYS, 10 and 17 APRIL 2010, at The Edge.
A call for applications will go out soon (once the flurry over the Creative Clinics dies down a little) but fear not: there will be a deadline, there will be application criteria, there are limited places – the whole kit and caboodle that you love so much.
EVEN MORE UPCOMING STUFF
Banana Boat is responding to the call for a LIGHTING & SET DESIGN WORKSHOP and is working on it for – hopefully – later this year.
There is a WRITERS’ RETREAT in planning stages for the last quarter of 2010. This replaces the Pasifika Forum that usually happens around now (or soon).
IN OTHER NEWS
– ERIC SMITH and CHETAN PATEL’s “I Don’t Do Coconut” will open the Banana Boat’s 2010 Reading Series in late March – watch this space (or email Eric).
– MICHELLE JOHANSSON’s “Uso” (previously titled “Impact”) premieres on 10 March 2010 at the Musgrove Theatre – for more details, go to http://blackfriarscompany.blogspot.com.
SCRIPT READINGS —
… were not possible due to an uncooperative printer.
So David got up, set up a whiteboard and said, “I’ve got this idea for a story…” Sixty minutes went rather quickly as —
— David outlined the bones of his concept: he had three – no, four – no, three – characters and specific production constraints —
— the group spitballed and discussed and took numerous detours about the concept —
— characters were modified and pummelled —
— themes were tossed into the ring and kicked about —
— and the narrative structure was hassled and harried.
People seemed to enjoy it. David’s just happy the group did the heavy lifiting for him on his project.
NEXT MEETING —
— is on THURSDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2010 at the usual time and place.
SCRIPTS TO BE READ —
— at future meetings are welcome on a first-in, first-served and time-permitting basis. To avoid disappointment, getting in touch with David or Jenni at least a week beforehand will increase the chances of your script being read.
Only complete act/s for full-length plays, or complete one-act or short plays are read by the group. First-time attendees’ scripts will not be read. Scripts will need to be printed and copied at the writer’s expense.
If you have any questions, suggestions or requests, please don’t hesitate to email me, or call Jenni on 09 365 2648 (Mondays, Thursday-Fridays, business hours).
24 September 2009 Fono
Welcome to the after-match report, and my apologies for the delay.
The September fono marked the beginning of Banana Boat’s second year – long may Banana Boat sail into uncharted waters in search of tales short and tall, and all sorts of other adjectives.
Present were MICHELLE JOHANSSON, OLE MAIAVA, VASITI PALIVI, CHETAN PATEL, JONATHAN P RILEY, ERIC SMITH, JENNI HEKA and DAVID MAMEA.
Apologies were received from the island-hopping JAMES NOKISE and an either homework-marking- or just home-bound MATENE KARENA.
2009 BANANA BOAT JUKEBOX
Due to insufficient submissions, the 2009 Jukebox season was laid to rest. Maybe next year. ‘Nuff said.
2010 BANANA BOAT SEASON
JENNI HEKA exhorted those with projects on Banana Boat’s 2010 slate to apply for some development funding. The funders have the money. You have the story. Come together to make SOMETHING HAPPEN.
Jenni has been flat out writing funding proposals, which is preventing her from doing any creative writing of her own, so BACK OFF.
MEMBERS’ NEWS
OLE MAIAVA was roundly congratulated for being one of Radio New Zealand’s 2009 Short Drama Competition winners with “Skin Deep” – a theatrical version of which was read at the April 2009 meeting.
SCRIPT READINGS —
— were provided by ERIC SMITH and MICHELLE JOHANSSON.
Eric’s first act of “Le Va”, a scene of which had been read at the December 2008 meeting, was read and commented on by the group. We look forward to a complete script for its next group reading.
Michelle’s short piece, “In a Box”, was the second draft of a piece that had been read by the group in the previous month’s meeting. Discussion followed over what Michelle had added or taken away since the first draft’s reading, and what worked or didn’t work.
NEXT MEETING —
— is on THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER at the Toi Ora Live Art Trust, 6 Putiki Street, Grey Lynn.
SCRIPTS TO BE READ —
— at the October meeting are welcome on a first-in, first-served and time-permitting basis. To avoid disappointment, getting in touch with David or Jenni at least a week beforehand will increase the chances of your script being read.