1. If the power to tell stories and shape narratives is only held by a few, what dangers lie in that?


There is danger is that because if all the media is being controlled by few then they can twist and control any story to fit the narrative that they want to portray this can lead to a large majority of people believing a certain ideology whether it be false or not, however when there are many people who have some sort of power in the media contrary ideas can be raised and it leaves it up t the person to decide what they want to believe as there are different places to follow or believe.

2. Write a paragraph about Merata Mita. Why was her work important and how would you describe her efforts?


Merata Mita was an indigenous film director during a time where being a woman and being indigenous weren't seen as the right person to be a director, her films weren't necessarily the most well edited of flashy but her goal was to represent indigenous people and give them a voice in the white, male dominated media of the day. She paved the way for other indigenous and small creators to make a future in film making and producing, she showed the realities that some indigenous families were struggling from that weren't shown in the media. She said these words in one of her movies and it sums up her life, "Foot soldiers don’t have a very high status, but they have to be very brave and very determined to keep fighting a war."

3. Why would you argue that it is important for Indi filmmakers, outside of the established institutions, to be creating media / telling stories?


It is important because large film companies often only show glamour and riches and things that will appeal to a large audience but Indi filmmakers can show a side of their country or a part of their story which can show their perspective on life and what it brings and can allow people such as indigenous people groups to be able to represent themselves and their culture.

1. How are indigenous stories being funded?


Indigenous films don't have as many avenues to be funded by as big film companies have however the main place for indigenous films to be shows are at festivals where people can see them and they can hopefully find funding for it. Canada also started an Indigenous Screen Office which they use to fund first nation films in Canada.

2. What are some of the stereotypes that were perpetuated in early indigenous portrayals of the native Americans?


They couldn't aim properly with a gun and took multiple shots to hit a white guy wheres a white guy only needed one shot, that they were inferior and they called them indians when they weren't
3. Who is one example of an indigenous voice in NZ who is succeeding at telling stories from an indigenous point of view and garnering the interest of the wider world?


Taika Waititi is a Maori film director and actor from New Zealand he started off with small movies representing maori culture the most successful of which was Hunt For The Wilder People, since then he has directed a major marvel movie "Thor Ragnarok" which grossed over $850 million and has been rumoured to be directing a star wars movie.


4. Where do indigenous films have a platform to be viewed currently?

Mainly in film festivals such as Sundance which allows hundreds of indigenous movies to be shows from all around the world this gives them a platform for thousands of people to see and view their hard work

5. What in your opinion, is the future of more authentic portrayals and representations of indigenous people on screen, moving forward?

I believe indigenous cultures and minorities deserve to be portrayed in a realistic light and people want to know the truth of what the indigenous people are living like and how it feels to be them, it is unrealistic to be showing them in stereotypical ways and is not acceptable in the main media.