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Satiu Studios

Satiu Studios is an organisation that aims to place Pasifika stories at the forefront to connect whe

22/07/2024

SAVE THE DATE
🌴🌊🌺🥥🏝🎭📖🎵

WHERE I'M FROM
'O Le Taualuga - The Last Dance'

'Where I'm From' is a new theatre play written by our creative director. The show is an anthem, empowering tagata Moana to embrace who they are and celebrate where they come from.

'Where I'm From' follows the journey of a tama'ita'i who fears performing a taualuga - a traditional Sāmoan dance & one of her duties bestowed upon her as the daughter of a high chief. To conjure up courage, she seeks advice from her friendship circle, a village of ride-or-die besties from different parts of the Moana.

'Where I'm From' explores music & dance from the island nations of 🇼🇸🇳🇿🇨🇰🇹🇴🇫🇯🇵🇬🇹🇰🇰🇮 & more.

‘Where I’m From’ is one of 3 headline shows as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival at Riverside Theatres this coming September.

2 shows only. Tickets available in the link in bio.
Early bird tickets until Aug 11. Full price tickets from Aug 12.

Cast: Solange Alaalatoa, Isaac Ah Kiong, Gari Guru, Natania Orake & Monica Vave (Emerald Paivai Brunt in pic).

Dressed by: Iki Haangana
Hair and Makeup: Jaycee Tanuvasa & Isaac Ah Kiong
Photographer: Shalamah Tautaiolefue
Director: Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu
Director's Attachment: Fale Tumanu

30/04/2024

A few months ago our creative director was approached by a team at Creative Australia to curate the post-show entertainment for the Asia Pacific Arts Awards which was held a week ago at Riverside Theatres Parramatta. CA found our creative director through his most recent artist residency with Shopfront Arts Co-op, not realising he is a part of the programming & curatorial team at Riverside.

CA requested for all Pacific artists - a combination of singers, rappers, traditional performers and DJs. Majority of our lineup hail from western Sydney.

This is what our creative director curated:

DJ Kayza, DJ Jordy, DJ Ez, Rosita Vai, Tavake (led by Sisi’uno Helu), MC Trey & Elijah Yo

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 to our entire lineup. They were 🔥🔥🔥

Although none of our community took out any of the awards that night, it was important for us to show up in large numbers and show Creative Australia that we are here and busy creating. The night was filled with lots of fun, celebration and networking.

📸: Sigrid Yaru

30/04/2024

29/03/2024

“One Ocean, Many Waves” has been reviewed by First Nations writer .floyd_ from

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 for your beautiful and considered review.

Link in bio for full review:

“One Ocean, Many Waves does not, nor could it, showcase the full depth of the Pacific experience in so-called Australia. It offers a small number of stories and experiences, curated by Faatau’uu-Satiu, which are part of a deep ocean of voices yet to be heard.

The idea is not to present a definitive showcase of Pasifika identity, but to inspire and empower Pasifika artists and creatives to tell their stories. Faatau’uu-Satiu hopes One Ocean, Many Waves will be “a catalyst for all the Pacific stories to come.”

19/03/2024

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 to all of those who have engaged with our new work ‘One Ocean, Many Waves’

‘One Ocean, Many Waves’ is still being featured at 107 Project in Redfern for another 5 days from Wednesday 20th March, 2024 to Sunday 24th March, 2024. The work is 75mins long and will be on a loop from 11am each day.

This Saturday 23rd March is Vibe Night which begins at 2pm.

Get tickets to support any of the 3x live shows in the space and you’ll automatically get free entry to the gallery space where our work is featured.

Following all live performances are 3x artist talks (from 6pm), one where our creative director is moderating a panel and will be followed by a siva afi performance, Pacific entertainment, food and networking.

📸: Clare Hawley

Tickets in the link in bio
🌊🌊🌊

13/03/2024

VIBE NIGHT - Saturday 23rd March, 2024

Introducing SOW

Lead singer, Nayla-Jade Salei, was the 2nd AD onset of One Ocean, Many Waves.

Featuring Mary Sophia Sagato who will be accompanying with vocals and guitar. Mary is Samoan and Niuean.

Winona Tuala will be accompanying vocals and is of Samoan heritage.

SOW will be wrapping up Vibe Night after all live theatre performances, artist talks, and siva afi performances.

SOW will be performing a 1hr set of original songs, Pasifika covers and more.

Tickets available in the link in bio.

12/03/2024

VIBE NIGHT - Saturday 23rd March, 2024
Introducing Victoria Maiava and Uele Laupepa

Vibe Night at 107 Projects in Redfern on Saturday 23rd of March, 2024.

3x live theatre performances from 2pm
3x artist talks from 6pm moderated by our Creative Director and 3x cast members
Followed by a siva afi performance by Victoria Maiava and Uele Laupepa, featured in the image in post.

Tickets available in the link in bio

12/03/2024

Introducing our editing team, Tonyteni Taulaga (Tony), Rabih Rezek and Darrin Baker - a mix of Sāmoa, Germany, China, Syria and Anglosaxon ‘Australian’.

Darrin is the editor of our very first film, Untitled: Day in the Life of.. Tony and Rabih are both new to the Satiu Studios family.

Tony is an AFTRS graduate and has worked for Entropico, ITV Studios, Endemol Shine Australia and the Netflix documentary, ONEFOUR: Against All Odds. Tony is also the creative director of Hotter Out West, an epic celebration of the diversity of western Sydney creatives.

Rabih was previously a contemporary dancer but works as a cinematographer and editor. Both he and Darrin are currently working on a feature documentary film that highlights the current war in Palestine.

Grateful for all 3 editors and the different levels of experience and unique skills they each bring to the table. One Ocean, Many Waves is coming together beautifully and we can’t wait to share this with the rest of the world.

12/03/2024

Introducing Hope Siafega, a proud Samoan living in Campbelltown, southwest Sydney.

Hope came on board in post-production and is part of our installation team, leading the painting & designing of the backdrop, of where our works will be displayed.

Hope is a junior accountant in her 9 to 5 but is passionate about graphic design. She is mostly known for her digital artwork, and we are grateful she has returned to her first love of art form for our project. Hope has worked with several organisations such as Powerhouse Museum running creative workshops with high school students, community engagement work with Australian Museum and was selected as one of two Pasifika representatives with D&AD through their program, Shift with Google.

We are so thankful to Hope for joining our team in the days leading up to our display and are incredibly thankful for her generosity in offering her talent. Hope is someone we'll be keeping a close eye on and can’t wait to see the waves of her own she will create in the near future.

11/03/2024

Introducing Mel Ree, a proud woman of Papua New Guinea heritage living in Australia.

Mel contributed two poems she wrote that were performed by fellow Papua New Guinean actor, Edward O’Leary. Mel is also the writer/performer of Butterfly - a poem featured on Slammed - one of ABC’s initiatives to highlight Australia’s leading poets. Butterfly, was the seed inspiration of One Ocean, Many Waves - where our creative director was captivated by Mel’s metaphorical/visual language, physical performance, simple lighting and dance-like cinematography to capture a Pacific story told by a Pacific person.

Mel is also the writer/performer of ‘Mother May We’ - a one woman show written and performed by Mel herself. The show is an epic poem forged by interviews with ten powerful artists who identify as BIPOC. We hope Mother May We makes a return in the near future.

Mel Ree recently featured on the latest Bachelor Series. She is an indigenous mentor, working in country for the past year and a bit, and runs Renegade Revolution, a space for poetry, music, art and healing.

11/03/2024

Introducing Levi Horne who is proudly Māori and Tongan, living in Naarm. Levi was one of the choreographers of the vogue set that was performed by fellow Māori creative, Osiris Paparoa.

A few years ago, Levi was mentored by our Creative Director in Aotearoa/New Zealand, via the Black Friars Theatre company, through an initiative called Southside Rise. Levi was the OG Wayfinder from Otahuhu College, played a lead in the original Southside Rise theatre show and contributed to a q***r storyline in Heads Held High - SSR sequel.

Levi is a born storyteller and is an active member of the Ballroom scene both in Aotearoa/NZ and Australia. Levi lives in Naarm and is creating waves of their own. Levi is part of the House of Diesel, who launched their first mini-ball in February, 2024.

Levi is incredibly passionate about the q***r community and we were so grateful they were able to contribute remotely. We hope this is one of the first collaborations of many and hope to see them feature in a work of ours soon too.

11/03/2024

Introducing Agapetos Aia-Fa’aleava, a proud Sāmoan woman living in Meanjin.

Agapetos is a film producer and also works in theatre as a stage manager and production manager. She is currently in post-production of her own documentary, One Tatau - Two Worlds, as well as finishing off her PhD studies.

Agapetos wrote a poem that was performed by fellow Samoan creative, Lumafale Tumanu. The poem is titled, Who Are You? Where Did You Come From? and is the final performance on screen of One Ocean, Many Waves. The piece encapsulates what our project is about. What we have to say in response to labels (Polynesian, Melanesian, Micronesian) that were given to us.

Agapetos is the creative director of her own production company, Fale of the Sitting Chiefs. We hope (from one company to another) that we join forces and make something incredible. One Ocean, Many Waves is definitely the first of many future collaborations.

04/03/2024

Introducing Christine Afoa, a proud Samoan from Sydney, Australia.

On the shoot days, Christine had covid and was not able to be onset. However, we were able to record two audio performances - two poems - one she wrote herself and one written by another poet, Charla Wendt. Offering to do audio performances is the kind of person Christine is, resourceful and resilient.

Christine works for UTS (University of Technology Sydney) as the Student Equity Project Officer (Pasifika Programs). She is the secretary of APEN - Australian Pasifika Educators Network. She has published articles with SBS Voices, an initiative through SBS Australia, and has featured in Sweatshop’s anthologies - a collection of stories by POC creatives across western Sydney.

Christine is gentle by nature but is a force to be reckoned with. We are honoured to have Christine be part of our new work and hope this is one of the first collaborations of many.

04/03/2024

Introducing Mele Taufa Naulu, a descendant from the villages of Tatakamotonga, Pelehake, Ta’anea (Vava’u) in the Kingdom of Tonga but living in Queensland, Australia,

Mele was one of our remote choreographers who put together the tau’olunga that was performed by Toa’ila Hema. She expressed to us that in her experience growing up in Australia, she was often confused with her identity, lacking ability to navigate the intersection of western society and growing up in a traditional Tongan home. She says that “...traditional Tongan faiva (song and dance) was the only consistent and safe place in my life”.

Now that she is older, and as a mother, she is deeply rooted in her ability to navigate life as a Tongan woman in Australia - that her learnings about her fonua: land, culture and people, define what it means for her to be unapologetically Tongan. She feels most connected to her Tongan roots when she is dancing, beyond the performance, it’s also meditative and healing.

Mele was part of Tautahi, a Tongan cohort performing in Aotearoa/New Zealand for the Pacific Dance Festival 2023. She recently re-launched Kolokakala Tongan Performing Arts (previously known as Langiola), a dance organisation that teaches the art of Tongan dance. Lastly, she works for the Goodstart Program, a QLD government initiative, specifically working with Māori/Pasifika communities in the health and nutrition space.

04/03/2024

Introducing Charla Wendt, a proud tama’ita’i - daughter of Samoa who was born and raised in Samoa but is currently living in Sydney, Australia.

Charla is an international scholarship student studying engineering at the University of Sydney. She is also an active member of SUPS - Sydney University Pasifika Society which is a campus based culture-club that brings a little bit of the Pacific islands to Sydney University for Pacific island students & those enthusiastic about the Pacific, its people and culture.

For One Ocean, Many Waves, Charla wrote Uprooted, a poem that was performed by Samoan poet, Christine Afoa. Charla grew up with her cousins (Zech and Eric Soakai) who are both storytellers in their own right. She only started getting into poetry in year 12, as a coping mechanism. She enjoys Pasifika writing and listening to how Pacific people connect to their roots through this artform.

Charla is very passionate about poetry and spoken word and we hope to hear her perform her own work.

27/02/2024

Introducing Kasi Valu, a Tongan creative born and raised in Tāmaki, Aotearoa and currently based in Pōneke.

When we put out our EOI last year, we received many applications interstate and a few from abroad. We didn't want to turn anyone away. With that, Kasi is our only international writer and contributed ‘Brown Skin Girl’ that was performed by Kals Vea. The piece was adapted from an excerpt in a play that Kasi wrote about his sister's journey through university.

Kasi is an emerging artist who graduated from Toi Whakaari - New Zealand Drama School. He is an actor, writer, poet and producer. Kasi currently works for Le Moana and is being mentored as a producer by the incredible, Tupe Lualua. Kasi can be seen on the latest season of the ‘I Got You’ series, a digital/Tiktok series by Cadness Street.

We love seeing Kasi on screen and are so honoured to have his words performed in our project. We can't wait to hear and see more of Kasi's work in the near future.

27/02/2024

Introducing Theresa Sao, a proud Sāmoan currently residing in western Sydney.

Theresa met our creative director back in Auckland/Tamaki Makaurau, where they were involved with The Black Friars theatre company, a Pasifika-led organisation who challenges the portrayal of negative stereotypes of South Auckland and puts their stories on the stage. A few of their shared onstage/backstage experiences include Auckland Lives Pick N Mix: Goldilocks and the Three Little Puaka, Pop-up Globe fundraising gala (featuring the Black Friars), Shakespeare’s Macbeth (with a pan-Pacific twist) and the Southside Rise movement, a three year mentorship program working with high school students across South Auckland staging three live theatre productions, Southside Rise, Heads Held High and The Revolution.

On the set of ‘One Ocean, Many Waves, Theresa was our BTS Social Media Officer, responsible for all of the photos & videos we’ve posted, as well as putting together all our reels. Theresa is also the founder of and former siva Samoa teacher for VASA Performing Arts in the Gold Coast. She is a former teacher aide and currently volunteers with SCCALA, a Sāmoan language school for kids.

Although this is Theresa’s first work with she has been a major supporter of and inspiration to our creative director long before the company's inception. We value her loyalty and hope they will continue to join forces and create much more needed magic for our community.

17/02/2024

Introducing Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu who is the creative director of and the mastermind/visionary behind: One Ocean, Many Waves.

Gabriel’s vision is to bring together a range of Pasifika artists across age, experience level, various artforms and representations from all regions across the Pacific (Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia).

Long term, he hopes this work will be a catalyst to generate more stories through collaboration, upskill new/emerging voices using tuakana/teina methodology, hold talanoa spaces in how to make Pasifika art sustainable and showcase the diversity of the different Pacific regions and each individual island nation.

One Ocean, Many Waves is featured at 107 Projects as part of Artslab: Collide - a festival facilitated by Shopfront Arts to showcase young and fresh new voices.

Tickets available through the link in bio
Image taken by Joshua Morris

17/02/2024

ONE OCEAN, MANY WAVES

Check out our new work titled, One Ocean, Many Waves. A 3-part screen installation exploring a glimpse of what it means to identify as Tagata Moana in Sydney Australia.

This is story sovereignty at its finest – an amalgamation of documentary-style interviews, traditional song/dance, a display of textiles underpinned by poetry/rap/monologues written/performed by a village of Pasifika people.

Featuring at 107 Projects from 14th March to 24th March, 2024.

Tickets can be purchased using the link in bio
Image taken by Joshua Morris

17/02/2024

ARTSLAB: COLLIDE

ArtsLab: Collide is a festival of new work from Sydney’s most exciting emerging artists. With daring new works spanning film, dance, visual arts, musical theatre and puppetry - this year’s ArtsLab is an exciting blend of young voices.

are featuring their new work alongside Sydney’s fresh new voices.

Image by Joshua Morris.
Ticket available now. Link in bio.

17/01/2024

Day 2: BTS Second day of filming for the Pasifika Project. Satiu Studios Creative Director Gabriel Satiu Artist Residency with Shopfront Arts Co-op.

A new screen work that speaks to the Pacific experience in Sydney/Australia/diaspora.

A day of collaboration with the Pasifika Community, Creatives, and Artists from all walks of life across various levels of experience & artforms.

Watch this space for information on where you can see this new groundbreaking work on display.

📸: Theresa Sao

03/12/2023

Be part of a new Pasifika work which will be displayed in March, 2024.

Our creative director, Gabriel, the visionary behind this project hopes this will serve as a catalyst for our young Pasifika creatives to emerge into the arts scene in Sydney.

Be part of this new wave of emerging artists from the Moana.

Expression of interest open until 17th December, 2023. Link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzKYREzkBxCBkfBl7RBs6--6vNk9J9K59G6DPXqSAFExdwdA/viewform

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Videos

Check out this teaser for 'One Ocean, Many Waves' one of 6 new works that will be featured at 107 Projects as part of Shopfront Arts Co-Op Artslab: Collide season. Available for viewing from Thursday 14th March to Sunday 24th March, 2024. Session times from below per day. Note: the work is 75mins long. Week one: Thu 14th from 4pm to 9pm Fri 15th from 11am to 9pm Sat 16th - Sun 17th from 11am to 6pm Week two: Wed 20th to Fri 22nd from 11am to 9.30pm Sat 23rd - Sun 24th from 11am to 5.30pm Special dates: Thu 14th is Opening Night Sat 16th is Industry Night Fri 22nd all theatre performances are AUSLAN interpreted Sat 23rd is Community & Vibe Night - including artist talks and entertainment Ticket link below: https://events.humanitix.com/artslab-collide Support Pasifika work! Support new work! Support young/emerging artists! Teaser edited by Tonyteni Taulaga

Day 2: BTS Second day of filming for the Pasifika Project. Satiu Studios Creative Director Gabriel Satiu Artist Residency with Shopfront Arts Co-op. A new screen work that speaks to the Pacific experience in Sydney/Australia/diaspora. A day of collaboration with the Pasifika Community, Creatives, and Artists from all walks of life across various levels of experience & artforms. Watch this space for information on where you can see this new groundbreaking work on display. 📸: Theresa Sao #satiustudios #shopfrontarts #micronesia #melanesia #polynesia

Day 1: First day of filming for the Pasifika Project. Satiu Studios Creative Director Gabriel Satiu Artist Residency with Shopfront Arts Co-op. A new screen work that speaks to the Pacific experience in Sydney/Australia/diaspora. Watch this space for information on where you can ĝ

Camera test #6 - Rosita Vai-Gibbons Day 1 was a writing workshop/talanoa session facilitated by our director, Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu. This is Rosie’s camera test with our DOP, Greg Semu. Rosie’s monologue speaks of the adversities she has confronted as a singer/songwriter. Here’s an exclusive BTS camera test as she navigates her own monologue idea. #untitled #westsydney #samoa #satiustudios #magenticplaces #stmarys #pacificgreengrocery #pasifika #pasifikaaustralia

Camera test #4 - Elijah Tovio Day 1 was a writing workshop/talanoa session facilitated by our director, Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu. This is Elijah’s camera test with our DOP, Greg Semu. In Elijah’s monologue, he addresses the dark issues within our own community that are often swept under the rug. Here’s an exclusive BTS camera test as he navigates his own monologue idea. #untitled #westsydney #samoa #satiustudios #magenticplaces #stmarys #pacificgreengrocery #pasifika #pasifikaaustralia

Peep at our incredible trailer edited by @one_island_films featuring our cast with voice-over by the uso himself, @biggs685 Untitled: A Day In The Life Of... is an experimental short film with an all Sāmoan cast/crew. It was shot in January of 2020 for release in 2021. It was delayed due to the 2nd lockdown. #untitled #westsydney #samoa #satiustudios #magenticplaces #stmarys #pacificgreengrocery #pasifika #pasifikaaustralia

Camera test #3 - Tom Misa Day 1 was a writing workshop/talanoa session facilitated by our director, Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu. This is Tommy’s camera test with our DOP, Greg Semu. Tommy’s monologue speaks of their own experience as an afakasi & queer Sāmoan. Here’s an exclusive BTS camera test as they navigate their own monologue idea. #untitled #westsydney #samoa #satiustudios #magenticplaces #stmarys #pacificgreengrocery

📹Camera test #2 - Lawrence Ola Day 1 was a writing workshop/talanoa session facilitated by our director, Gabriel Faatau’uu-Satiu. This is Lawrence’s camera test with our DOP, Greg Semu. Lawrence’s monologue unpacks how he adapts regularly, because he feels alienated & doesn’t identify with what is stereotypically expected of him within our community. Here’s an exclusive BTS camera test as he navigates his own idea. #untitled #westsydney #samoa #satiustudios #magenticplaces #stmarys #pacificgreengrocery #pasifika #pasifikaaustralia