Horror, Interview, MoviesLeave a comment

‘Mārama’ Writer and Director on the Making of the Emotional Horror

April 16, 2026April 15, 2026 Lauren Lola

Taratoa Stappard’s feature film debut, Mārama, starts playing in theaters in the U.S. on Friday, April 17. Having had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, it’s a Māori Gothic horror set in the mid-19th century, where a young Māori woman (Ariāna Gibson) travels to Yorkshire, England in search of information about her birth parents. However, when she uncovers a dark colonial history, she must take vengeance into her own hands.

Animation, Crowdfunding, Movies

Reflections on Watching Shorts at the Hawai’i International Film Festival as a New Filmmaker

October 24, 2025October 22, 2025 Lauren Lola

I’ve been covering the Hawai’i International Film Festival (HIFF) for several years for The Nerds of Color, yet haven’t attended its festival in-person since 2019. When I obtained many ticket vouchers from serving on the screening committee for its 45^th iteration, I realized before me I had a really good excuse to actually travel back to Honolulu this year to attend it. Little did I expect at the time of starting in the committee back in March that by the time I flew out to O’ahu, I would also be attending this year’s festival as a new filmmaker.

Interview, Streaming, Television

Siua Ikale’o on Bringing Life to His Breakout Role in ‘Chief of War’

September 19, 2025September 19, 2025 Lauren Lola

In the Apple TV+ historical drama, Chief of War, the cast is made up of many Polynesian actors; ranging from the hot shot that is Jason Momoa, to industry mainstays like Temuera Morrison and Cliff Curtis, and newcomers like Kaina Makua.

Interview, Streaming, Television

Temuera Morrison on Portraying Ruthless Chief Kahekili in ‘Chief of War’

August 1, 2025July 31, 2025 Lauren Lola

Chief of War is a historical drama series co-created by Thomas Pa’a Sibbett and Jason Momoa. Set at the turn of the 19th century, it tells the story of how the warring Hawaiian Islands were unified, in the midst of the threat of colonization.

Animation, Interview, Theatre

Gerald Faitala Ramsey on Voyaging from ‘The Lion King’ to ‘Moana 2’ and Beyond

December 12, 2024December 10, 2024 Lauren Lola

Actor Gerald Ramsey has had quite a year of milestones. After nearly a decade of playing Mufasa in the North American touring production of The Lion King, he bowed out of the Pride Lands back in September. In November, he made his voice acting debut in Moana 2 as Tautai Vasa; the ancestor of Moana who summons her on her new mission to reunite the people of other islands.