A local teacher has been juggling producing short-films and teaching.
Cameron Broadhurst, 43, is the head of media studies at Pakuranga College.
As reported in the Times (October 27) Broadhurst’s co-produced film Matua was nominated for best NZ short film at the Showemeshorts festival.
“It was a great award to be nominated,” Broadhurst said. “We were very happy and excited.”
The awards were held on October 28.
While the short film did not win the award, Broadhurst is pleased the Matua team’s level of filmmaking was recognised.
Broadhurst took time off from teaching at Pakuranga College to complete his Masters in Screen Production at the University of Auckland (UoA) in 2018-2019 to develop his craft and gain knowledge and experience. He’d been teaching for 11 years and has worked in journalism, film and television production.
His friend, Kaitiaki Rodger, decided for his own thesis he would direct and write a short film at UoA. Matua was created when Broadhurst had completed his Masters and returned to teaching part-time.
“Making the film happen during 2020’s pandemic season was very difficult,” Broadhurst said.
Matua‘s production ran over a five-day period. Broadhurst said distancing protocols were observed; the crew and cast were Covid tested and their location was cancelled twice.
On top of that, it was difficult to organise and pay for, Broadhurst said. It was funded by the director and crowd-funding.
“In a film of this budget, you have to do jobs that might be done by other people,” he said.
“You have to do a lot of roles.”
The film stars a young Maori teacher, Manaaki Roberts, who “returns to his family estate to deal with his mother’s recent passing.”
When he starts teaching two strangers Te Reo lessons, he is unaware he is about to uncover secrets from his mother’s life.
The film explores themes of connection and reconciliation with family and culture.
In June 2021, Matua won Best Short Film at the Wairoa Māori Film Festival.
Broadhurst says that he and the film crew gained experience and won recognition for Matua. “We’re a bit more established now,” he said.
Juggling full-time teaching and projects in the film industry is a bit difficult too he said. “There’s only so much you can do when you have a full-time job,” he said.
“You have to be realistic about what you can do.”
Broadhurst and Rodgers have other project ideas. They’re applying for different short scripts and trying to secure more funding.
“For me, you want to realise an original idea that you haven’t seen,” Broadhurst said.
“You want to try and bring something new into the world.”
