Private Project

The Queen's Influence - The Vanishing Culture of Hiko in Tonga (feature)

A Multi Award-Winning Documentary About a Vanishing Culture of Polynesian Women Jugglers in the Kingdom of Tonga with insightful stories of Queen Elizabeth and Queen Salote of Tonga who became friends in 1953 at the Coronation and influenced the world.

Enjoy empowering insight into the late Queen Salote the only Queen of Tonga. She influenced the women and the Cultural Dance such as Hiko and created the Tongan Traditions Committee to insure the history and life of the cultural dances.

Hiko is life. Hiko gives happiness. Hiko inspires all women and girls, and only women juggle/play hiko. These beautiful amazing women can truly call hiko their own.

This film was made to
Keep Hiko Alive!

Hosted / Produced and Directed
by Paprika Leaverton
A Walkabout Production

Released July 2022 on FilmHub

  • Connie "Paprika" Leaverton
    Director
    numerous Corporate videos and commercials
  • Connie "Paprika" Leaverton
    Writer
    numerous corporate videos
  • Connie "Paprika" Leaverton
    Producer
    numerous corporate videos
  • The Women of Tonga
    Key Cast
    "Jugglers"
  • Paprika Leaverton
    Key Cast
    "Host"
  • Connie "Paprika" Leaverton
    Narrated by
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 1 minute 52 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 12, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    200,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Tonga, United States
  • Language:
    English, Tonga (Tonga Islands)
  • Shooting Format:
    HD
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Breck Film Fest
    Breckenridge CO
    United States
    USA Premiere
    Official Selection
  • World Wide Fest Los Angeles
    Los Angeles
    United States
    California
    Official Selection
  • Golden Gate Int'l Film Fest
    San Jose, CA
    United States
    Best Travel Doc, Best of Fest
  • Marina Del Rey Film Fest
    Marina Del Rey, CA
    United States
    Best Editing of a Documentary
  • DC Asian Pacific American Film Fest
    online
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Picasso Einstein Buddha Film Fest
    Online
    Documentary Best Director
  • Women's Film Festival
    online
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • FilmHub
    Distributor
    Country: United States
Director Biography - Connie "Paprika" Leaverton

Connie “Paprika” Leaverton has travelled the world as a filmmaker and professional juggler for over 20 years. Through her travels as a performer, she found an unusual culture of women jugglers in Tonga and decided to document their beautiful and intriguing stories. Paprika found a vanishing culture that she is trying to save with this film. Keep Hiko Alive!

She has travelled to Tonga twice, and has released the film on FilmHub August of 2022. Her 62 minute film 'The Queen's Influence' will debut soon at a screen near you.

Though she has produced and directed many corporate and commercial films, this is her first feature length documentary.

Paprika continues to perform as a juggler and magician with hundreds of performances throughout USA, Europe, Canada, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and most recently Cuba.

Her company Walkabout Productions, established 1986, has produced numerous award winning corporate films, commercials and one TV pilot ‘Connie’s Treehouse’ (producer, director and Host) that won the highest Telly honor available, the Silver Telly.

She also has an extensive teaching resume which encompasses circus skills and filmmaking into workshops where all the students work in front of and behind the camera utilizing scenes or original presentations. She’s worked on both sides of the camera for years..she wants to share the experience.

She currently lives in 2 locations…..Austin and Colorado.

Paprika is a juggling gypsy with a filmmakers heart and a magical touch. An interesting combination for a West Texas girl who broke all the molds.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I am on a journey to save the Hiko or Juggling Culture in Tonga. This film is a way to communicate how important this culture is to the juggling world and to the Polynesian Culture. Thank you for supporting the vision to Keep Hiko Alive! I appreciate your time and interest !