Summary
Vela Manusaute is a Niuean writer and director. He is the creator and writer of New Zealand's first bilingual English-Tongan television series, Brutal Lives - Mo'ui Faingata'a.[1]
Vela Manusaute | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, Director |
Background edit
Vela is part-Niuean and part-Samoan; he was born in Niue and lived in his village Mutalau before his family moved to New Zealand in 1979.[2] He graduated from Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama Scholl in 1995 with a Diploma in Acting, and was their first Niuean to graduate.[3][4] In 2002 he founded the theatre and music group Kila Kokonut Krew.[4]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Tattooist | Actor - Taxi Driver 2 | Television |
| 2010 | Matariki | Actor - Russ | Television |
| 2013 | The Factory | Executive producer, actor - Mason | Web series |
| 2018 | The Messiah | Director | Short film |
| 2020 | Educators | Actor - Vela | Television |
| 2020 | Brutal Lives - Mo'ui Faingata'a | Director | Television |
Awards edit
In 1997 he won the Best Male Comedy award at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards as one half of comedy duo The Brownies.[5]
With Anapela Polataivao he received the New Generation Award for theatre at the 2014 Arts Foundation Awards.[6]
In 2020 he won the Best Screenplay and Best Art Directions awards for his short film The Messiah at the Pacific Rims Film Festival 2020.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b "All-Tongan cast in pioneer bilingual drama series in NZ". RNZ. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Vela Manusaute". Little Island Press. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Graduate". www.toiwhakaari.ac.nz. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Vela Manusaute". NZ on Screen. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Vela Manusaute's Biography". The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "2014 Westpac New Zealand Arts Awards recipients announced". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Archived from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
External links edit