For the helpers and the helped, the lived experience of Kahunui was the only way out.

Interview with Writer/Director/Editor Charlotte Newman

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

When my Auckland University of Technology (AUT) cohort reached our third and final year of the Screen Production course, we were tasked with developing a short drama, short documentary, or web series episode. After a few weeks of dead-end brainstorming and a conversation with my Dad, I considered the possibility of capturing our family history in the form of a documentary. My family's involvement in the founding of the Kahunui Village Trust, or The Farm, was a topic I only knew bite-sized pieces of information about. Personal family matters aside, I wanted to know more about the operation itself, how the idea came to fruition and was then executed, what mark it left on society, and why it came to a close.

What could I, and others, learn from something that started over 50 years ago? Finally, I wanted to provide a sense of closure to those involved and bring light to the life-changing work they put in to help young people, especially my Grandmother - someone who has always lived to provide for others. It felt like the window of opportunity to make this film was closing, as people were getting older and it became privy to me that some of the older Kahunui Village buildings may be being removed/renovated. Whilst I had access to the AUT resources and network, it felt like a now-or-never decision.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

At its heart, The Farm is authentic, it's real. Those who worked under the trust were real people who helped real people because that is what they wanted to do. There are so many people struggling, not just young people, with addiction and/or mental health. I feel that it could be formative for all of us to reflect on what made the Kahunui Village Trust successful. Just because the principles are founded on past perspectives, doesn't mean they don't have a place in the present and the future. It is generational reflections such as this that we hope to initiate. This heavy discussion is accompanied by captivating imagery of The Farm's core location intended to capture the wairua (spirit) of the land that supported the dreams of the Kahunui Village Trust. It was part of the 'lived experience' that the staff, residents, and community members gained, and I'm sure that the essence of this will evoke emotion within every audience member. The beautiful New Zealand landscape that my camera team has captured should be enjoyed! Watching this film also directly celebrates those who supported this homegrown initiative both internally and externally, such as the local community and iwi. It celebrates their heart and their efforts, and ultimately, the power of community, and community is an all-important part of how we each live our lives. I am confident that every audience member will find at least one element of this film relatable or familiar.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

Kahunui Village opened its gates to people from all different walks of life and backgrounds. There were no barriers, regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexuality, everyone was welcome. Division had no place in the Kahunui community, with staff even choosing not to wear uniforms; For visitors, there was never a clear distinction between staff and residents. This approach was authentic to the roots of the Kahunui Village Trust, with many of the staff members having experienced their struggles with addiction and/or mental health. Acceptance is undoubtedly the primary universal theme throughout The Farm. Family is a personal theme that was present throughout every step of making this film. The ideation and pre-production processes allowed me to learn more about my lineage and Dad’s childhood. Screening the final product for my family resulted in a deeper understanding of each other.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

Inevitably, after conducting our three interviews with our amazing interviewees, I had an abundance of new content to sift through. Their perspectives informed the final cut and evolved my views as the Director and a person. I had centred the initial film treatment purely on the facts that I had learnt through my research. It was a rigid three-part structure that told us why and how the organisation was created, how it operated, and why it closed. This was surface-level information that provided some much-needed context, but no soul or vulnerability. I was definitely naive as to how much information I would uncover with my long list of interview questions. One aspect that both Sandra and Barry kept coming back to during their interviews was the late Mildred Coursey, Sandra's Mother and my Great-Grandmother.

One of my questions to Sandra was ‘Why did Mildred leave The Farm?’. It was a question that I had just popped on my list without much thought, but asking it changed the entire trajectory of this film. It was clear that who Mildred was and what she embodied was a strong through-line and more importantly, I believed she deserved recognition. Mildred represented the self-confidence and self-motivation that the Kahunui Village Trust worked to instil in their residents, as written in her original program analysis. Additionally, all three interviewees accredited the underlying power of The Farm to the natural environment. Every element in the surrounding area contributed to the trust’s approaches to healing and still does for individuals such as Jamie. It was paramount for me to weave these elements throughout the film, and make the landscape a character in itself. It was also important to establish how this environment held great significance within the Māori history of the location and appreciate all that this whenua (land) has provided for its residents over the years.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Although a limited amount of people have viewed this film so far, we have had an overwhelmingly emotional range of responses. Many people who have watched The Farm have expressed that it touched them on a personal level. Mostly, there has been intrigue and further curiosity as this is a story that the majority of viewers are only just discovering. I am eagerly awaiting further feedback as this film reaches a larger audience.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

One of my goals for this film was to leave it open-ended and allow for every viewer to establish their own opinions without impressing mine, so yes! Personal growth and healing are not linear journeys, and no individual's journey is the same. The methodology of the Kahunui Village Trust won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but exploring this in contrast to alternative approaches, allows viewers to make an informed judgement. My point of view on this particular film is obviously more personal than most, but as someone who wants to continue making documentaries (or dramas) I want feedback that challenges and opposes me. Everyone’s first film has room for improvement.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

The opportunity to feature on the We Are Moving Stories platform will allow us to build interest in the film and trigger questions and conversations even before the public can watch The Farm. For the entire crew, this is the first documentary - short or long - that we have made and it is an incredible privilege to reach an international, digital audience.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

As we continue the process of submitting The Farm to various film festivals, we would invite directors and producers of such events who are interested in this film to reach out and express what role this film could play in their selections. Additionally, we are hoping to distribute this short film publicly in 2025, so we extend an invitation for distributors to reach out and discuss any possible opportunities.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

Adding to all I've relayed in prior questions, the purpose of The Farm is to encourage new dreams pertaining to mental health treatments, resources, and awareness, as declared in our synopsis. Maybe these dreams will manifest into new initiatives.

Behind the scenes of The Farm - Charlotte Newman (Writer/Director) & Kyle MacArthur (DOP)

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

How can we better incorporate human connection in our approaches to improving the mental health of ourselves and others?

Would you like to add anything else?

The subject matter of this film was delicate and raw, to the crew who applied such great care and the interviewees and families who entrusted us with their personal experiences, thank you again. I also want to extend my gratitude and acknowledgement to every single person over the years who gave a piece of themselves to the Kahunui Village Trust.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

Each crew member is currently working to build their skills and experience in their chosen creative/media pathway post-university. Out of the three core crew members, Johnny Sutherland, Producer, continues to work in the studio production and multimedia producing departments, Kyle MacArthur, Director of Photography/Colourist, is working to build his photography and videography portfolio (https://www.instagram.com/kylemacmedia/), and I, Writer/Director/Editor, am focusing on developing new documentary treatments and drama scripts.

Interview: May 2024

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

The Farm

For the helpers and the helped, the lived experience of Kahunui was the only way out.

Length: 13:30

Director: Charlotte Newman

Producer: Johnny Sutherland

Writer: Charlotte Newman

About the writer, director and producer:

CHARLOTTE NEWMAN has written and directed The Farm for her final assignment in the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Screen Production course. Her current professional experience involves working for Warner Bros. Discovery, Warner Brothers International Television Production, and Sky New Zealand in various roles. Charlotte has found herself in these positions due to her strong work ethic and disciplined attention to detail. Charlotte's passion for film and television has stemmed from her love of creative writing. She aims to take her storytelling ability and apply her organisational and communicative skills to continue filmmaking. The Farm is a personal project for Charlotte. She is the granddaughter of Sandra Faye (Interviewee) and is therefore directly linked to the Kahunui Village Trust’s history. Charlotte has always had a strong desire to learn more about her family’s past and provide a sense of closure for those involved.

JOHNNY SUTHERLAND gravitated towards The Farm when he understood the impact of this little-known community and the passion behind the project. He offered to produce the film, seeking to learn about this overlooked piece of New Zealand mental health history and allow others to learn too. This documentary was Johnny's final assignment in his Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Screen Production course. Johnny currently works for Radio New Zealand (RNZ) as a Studio Director and Multimedia Producer for Checkpoint, a drive-time news and current affairs programme. Johnny approaches his media production roles with a collaborative mindset and ensures that his responsibilities are treated with diligence. Johnny aims to continue evolving in the studio production and broadcast media industries, translating his knowledge gained at AUT and in the workforce to further refine his multimedia skills.

Key cast: Sandra Faye (Interviewee), Barry J. Bublitz (Interviewee), Jamie Sullivan (Interviewee)

Looking for: distributors, journalists, film festival directors

Facebook: The Farm Documentary AUT

Instagram: @thefarmdocumentary

Hashtags used: #documentary #mentalhealth #rehabilitation #student #newzealand #shortfilm

Other: YouTube

Made in association with: AUT

Funders: Boosted

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?

Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2024 - Cinema Nova Carlton, 11am 20th July 2024

Doc Edge Film Festival 2024 (IF WE WIN the Tertiary category) - Virtual Cinema - 15th - 31st July 2024