Taika Waititi
Encyclopedia
Taika Waititi also known as Taika Cohen, is a New Zealand-born film director, writer, painter, comedian and actor named as one of Variety
's "ten new directors to watch" in 2007.
His 2010 film Boy
has done very well in New Zealand, eclipsing several records, and he was nominated for an Academy Award for his 2003 short film Two Cars, One Night
.
area of the East Coast region of New Zealand and his father is a Maori of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui
. Waititi has used his Jewish mother's surname of Cohen for some of his work in film and writing.
he was part of the five-member ensemble, So You're a Man
– touring New Zealand and Australia with some success.
He was one half of the comedy duo The Humourbeasts
with Jemaine Clement
– recipients of New Zealand's highest comedy accolade, the Billy T Award
, in 1999.
.
His 2003 short film Two Cars, One Night
earned him an Academy Award nomination. At the awards ceremony, he famously feigned falling asleep, as the nominations were being read out.
His first feature film, the 2007 romantic comedy Eagle vs Shark
, was released to U.S. theatres for limited distribution in 2007. The film stars Waititi's then real-life partner, Loren Horsley
, as Lily. The same year, he wrote and directed one episode of the TV show Flight of the Conchords
, and was director of another.
His second feature, Boy
, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival
in January 2010. and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. On its release in New Zealand it received top reviews and did very well at the box office, eclipsing several records.
After the success of Boy
Taika set out to take the film's signature track "Poi E
" to number one for the second time on the New Zealand charts. Although his efforts did get the track to number one on iTunes
and number three on the New Zealand chart, the task of reaching the prized spot was near impossible.
In March 2010, it was announced that Waititi would portray Thomas Kalmaku
in the live-action superhero film, Green Lantern
. He has since completed that work, the film having debuted on 17 June 2011.
In 2011 Taika's TV series, Super City
will hit NZ TV screens. It stars Madeleine Sami
who plays five characters living in the one city.
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
's "ten new directors to watch" in 2007.
His 2010 film Boy
Boy (2010 film)
Boy is a 2010 New Zealand coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Taika Waititi and financed by the New Zealand Film Commission. In New Zealand, the film has eclipsed previous records for a first week's box office takings for a local production...
has done very well in New Zealand, eclipsing several records, and he was nominated for an Academy Award for his 2003 short film Two Cars, One Night
Two Cars, One Night
Two Cars, One Night is a short film written and directed by Taika Waititi. Released in 2003, the film is about two boys and a girl meeting in the carpark of a rural pub in Te Kaha, New Zealand...
.
Background
Waititi hails from the RaukokoreRaukokore
Raukokore is a small settlement close to the East Cape in the northeastern North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 35, close to the mouth of the Raukokore River, 40 kilometres to the west of Hicks Bay....
area of the East Coast region of New Zealand and his father is a Maori of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui
Te Whanau-a-Apanui
Te Whānau-ā-Apanui is a Māori iwi located in the eastern Bay of Plenty and East Coast regions of New Zealand's North Island. In 2006, the iwi registered 11,808 members, representing 13 hapu.-Early history:Apanui Ringamutu is the founding ancestor of the iwi...
. Waititi has used his Jewish mother's surname of Cohen for some of his work in film and writing.
Comedy work
While a drama student at Victoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
he was part of the five-member ensemble, So You're a Man
So You're a Man
So You're a Man were a five-man comedy troupe, who performed in the mid-90s in both New Zealand and Australia. Members were Bret McKenzie, Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, actor Carey Smith and theatre director David Lawrence...
– touring New Zealand and Australia with some success.
He was one half of the comedy duo The Humourbeasts
The Humourbeasts
The Humourbeasts, composed of Jemaine Clement and Taika Cohen, were a comedy duo from Wellington. They received New Zealand's highest comedy accolade, the Billy T Award, in 1999....
with Jemaine Clement
Jemaine Clement
Jemaine Clement is a New Zealand comedian, actor and musician, best known as one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords along with Bret McKenzie.-Early life:...
– recipients of New Zealand's highest comedy accolade, the Billy T Award
Billy T Award
The Billy T Award is New Zealand’s most prestigious comedy award recognizing New Zealand comedians with outstanding potential. It has been presented annually since its inception in 1997 when Cal Wilson and Ewen Gilmour shared the award...
, in 1999.
Film
In 1999, he starred in the successful low-budget Dunedin film ScarfiesScarfies
Scarfies is a low-budget 1999 New Zealand film set in the southern university city of Dunedin. The film's original title comes from the local nickname for university students, scarfie, so called because of the traditional blue and gold scarves worn by students during the city's cool winters in...
.
His 2003 short film Two Cars, One Night
Two Cars, One Night
Two Cars, One Night is a short film written and directed by Taika Waititi. Released in 2003, the film is about two boys and a girl meeting in the carpark of a rural pub in Te Kaha, New Zealand...
earned him an Academy Award nomination. At the awards ceremony, he famously feigned falling asleep, as the nominations were being read out.
His first feature film, the 2007 romantic comedy Eagle vs Shark
Eagle vs Shark
Eagle vs Shark is a 2007 New Zealand romantic comedy film directed by Taika Waititi and financed by the New Zealand Film Commission. The screenplay was also written by Waititi, based on the character of Lily created by Loren Horsley....
, was released to U.S. theatres for limited distribution in 2007. The film stars Waititi's then real-life partner, Loren Horsley
Loren Horsley
Loren Horsley is a New Zealand born actress and writer. She is best known for her role as Lily in the 2007 film Eagle vs Shark directed by her real life partner, Taika Waititi...
, as Lily. The same year, he wrote and directed one episode of the TV show Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords (TV series)
Flight of the Conchords is an American television comedy series that debuted on HBO on June 17, 2007. The show follows the adventures of Flight of the Conchords, a two-man band from New Zealand, as its members seek fame and success in New York City. The show stars the real-life duo, Jemaine Clement...
, and was director of another.
His second feature, Boy
Boy (2010 film)
Boy is a 2010 New Zealand coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Taika Waititi and financed by the New Zealand Film Commission. In New Zealand, the film has eclipsed previous records for a first week's box office takings for a local production...
, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
in January 2010. and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. On its release in New Zealand it received top reviews and did very well at the box office, eclipsing several records.
After the success of Boy
Boy (2010 film)
Boy is a 2010 New Zealand coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Taika Waititi and financed by the New Zealand Film Commission. In New Zealand, the film has eclipsed previous records for a first week's box office takings for a local production...
Taika set out to take the film's signature track "Poi E
Poi E
"Poi E" is a New Zealand 1984 number-one hit song by the group Patea Māori Club off the album of the same name. Its popularity is unique in New Zealand as Māori music rarely reaches popular status...
" to number one for the second time on the New Zealand charts. Although his efforts did get the track to number one on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and number three on the New Zealand chart, the task of reaching the prized spot was near impossible.
In March 2010, it was announced that Waititi would portray Thomas Kalmaku
Thomas Kalmaku
Thomas Kalmaku is a fictional character, a supporting character associated with Green Lantern in comic books published by DC Comics. He was created by writer John Broome and penciler Gil Kane.-Fictional character biography:...
in the live-action superhero film, Green Lantern
Green Lantern (film)
Green Lantern is a 2011 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett and Tim Robbins, with Martin Campbell directing a script by Greg Berlanti and comic book writers Michael Green and Marc...
. He has since completed that work, the film having debuted on 17 June 2011.
In 2011 Taika's TV series, Super City
Super City (TV series)
Super City is a New Zealand television comedy series starring Madeleine Sami and directed by Taika Waititi . It premiered on the TV3 network in 2011....
will hit NZ TV screens. It stars Madeleine Sami
Madeleine Sami
Madeleine Jane Sami is a New Zealand actress, comedian and musician.Madeleine was raised in the Onehunga suburb of Auckland, New Zealand; and attended Onehunga High School. She is of Irish and Fiji Indian heritage. Madeleine starred in the long running New Zealand soap Shortland Street from...
who plays five characters living in the one city.
External links
- Official MySpace page
- Extensive video interview with Waititi and "Boy" co-star James Rolleston on American public radio program The Sound of Young AmericaThe Sound of Young AmericaThe Sound of Young America is a public radio program and podcast based in Los Angeles, California and distributed by Public Radio International...
- Interview with Taika Waititi recorded on February 2007
- Eagle vs Shark interview
- Short bio from art exhibition website
- Profile and bio of Taika Waititi on NZ On ScreenNZ On ScreenNZ On Screen is an online showcase of archival New Zealand television and film. The website is fully funded by NZ On Air and provides free worldwide access to NZ-produced television, film and music videos. Content is streamed and the webpages provide authoritative background information.The site...
- Interview with Taika Waititi in the run up to the New Zealand release of 'Boy'.