This University of Auckland film student wanted to show there were two sides to Northcote. Kirsten Grant explains
Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa was surprised when his film Poetic Cadness, recently won the annual 15 Minutes of Fame short film competition. ''It was unexpected. When we put in the documentary it was just to showcase our work,'' says Stallone. ''I didn't really think we would actually win.'' The contest is highly valued by film students from the University of Auckland. The 22-year-old produced the 10-minute documentary about the infamous Cadness St, known for its drug-related crimes, in Northcote with two of his Film TV & Media Studies classmates, Jack Woon and AJ Driver. ''I just wanted to tell the stories of this street from the perspective of the children,'' he says. Stallone wanted to find a way for local children to tell their stories and decided to organise a poetry competition. ''I grew up here and all my friends had some sort of talent. Heaps of them could sing, rap or write stories,'' he says. ''I had a feeling the younger one's here had talent and all they needed was an opportunity.'' Children aged from 6-16 participated, some with impromptu pieces. Stallone moved from the street when he was 12 to Sandringham. He says the street has changed for the better since the community renewal project has been in place. ''They saw this was an area in need and they've done it up quite a bit.'' Stallone says he was often judged about coming from the North Shore. ''There was this perception of 'oh, you used to live in a really well off area','' he says. ''It wasn't until I left that I looked back on the Shore as a whole and saw Cadness St was quite different from the rest of the North Shore.'' He wanted to tell a story about an area that few people knew of. ''Despite the fact that it's a low socio-economic area, the kids still have their own ambitions and dreams. They understand this place used to be notorious for selling drugs, causing trouble and drinking in the park,'' he says. ''Despite all that they're not boxed into that lifestyle.'' Stallone is also studying law and is due to finish next year but will pursue film and television. The 15 Minutes of Fame prize, free use of a 16mm camera from Metrofilms, will help his next project. ''It's going to be a short drama. Once Were Warriors meets 24 type thing.
Poetic justice for film maker
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.