Private Project

Becoming Masina

It takes bravery and guts to perform on stage to an audience… but Lusi does it all the time. Despite growing up with a disability, Lusi has been breaking boundaries as a loud and proud Samoan dancer and actor in the theatrical world. Becoming Masina is a documentary that takes us behind the scenes into the creation of her latest project ‘Masina Returning Home’ and highlights the crazy characters that have stepped beyond their comfort zone to take part in a type of theatre that truly makes a difference.

  • Veronica Maitre
    Director
  • Veronica Maitre
    Producer
  • Lusi Faiva
    Key Cast
  • Katrina George
    Key Cast
  • Sam Jones
    Key Cast
  • Charlotte Nightingale
    Key Cast
  • Laughton Kora
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Student
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 1, 2019
  • Country of Origin:
    New Zealand
  • Country of Filming:
    New Zealand
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 1080 p25
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:19
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Distribution Information
  • South Seas Film and Television School
    Country: New Zealand
Director Biography - Veronica Maitre

Veronica is an enthusiastic, aspiring filmmaker with a passion for factual, personable and intimate storytelling. She was born into a multicultural home with Scottish and Mauritian parents who taught her the value of cultural diversity from a young age. She previously worked as an Occupational Therapist in the disability and mental health sector which has given her a particular passion for working with those who have experienced disadvantages or adversities in their lives. Moving from Australia to study Documentary Directing and Research at Yoobee South Seas Film school, Veronica plans to use her natural curiosity to further understand the human process and the world around us, in a creative and visual medium.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Becoming Masina is a short documentary that gives us a glimpse into Lusi Faiva’s experience as a dancer and actor and goes behind-the-scenes into the creation and progression of her latest project; the sensory-immersive theatre production called Masina Returing Home.

As a former dance teacher for children and teenagers with physical and intellectual disability, I have witnessed the difficulties experienced by the dancers, their families and support persons in regards to access to creative platforms. When I discovered Touch Compass, I was excited to see a platform in Auckland that provides training, development and paid work for mixed ability performers but, more than that, they are creating theatre pieces for mixed ability audience members as well.

Furthermore, when I saw Lusi performing, I knew that she was someone who I wanted to know more about as she was clearly someone breaking boundaries and living beyond her disability.

This documentary is more than just getting to know the team behind Masina Returning home—It highlights the people and a company that are proactively striving for accessibility and inclusivity in today’s modern society and shows examples that will challenge the common misconceptions that people have of others living with disabilities.

I hope that the documentary inspires audience members to think a little more broadly about their own expectations as to who can be performers but more importantly, I hope that it encourages audiences to look beyond differences and realise that deep down, we are all leaves from the same tree experiencing similar feelings, troubles and triumphs.