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Once Were Warriors

Film (Trailer, Excerpts, and Extras) – 1994

RP16
Restricted

Writer's perspective

The adaptation of Alan Duff's book and the development of the screenplay for Once Were Warriors was one of the most challenging and yet creative times of my early writing career.

Following a chance meeting with Lee Tamahori in Wellington in 1992, I was asked to consult on the future direction and development of the screenplay. After working with Lee and Robin Scholes on the structure of the next draft, I was asked to consider writing the film script. That's when the hard work began, but in truth it was a labour of love.

Lee wanted to make a gritty urban-based drama, so it was important to create characters that people could feel empathetic towards, in a story that had to be compelling for its future audience.

Once it was decided that Beth was the protagonist the challenge was to keep Jake's character from dominating the story. But each character had its challenge within the context of the drama. I particularly found the writing of Grace difficult — not the actual characterization, but being aware of the tragic demise of the innocent.

Because of the hard-hitting and dark nature of the material it was essential to script an up ending. One of my favorite scenes is when Beth gives her "once we were warriors" speech to Jake before she and her family drive away, and the audience is left thinking — I think the Heke family will be alright!

I was fortunate to be supported through the writing period by a talented director and a dogged producer. It was a privilege to be involved in bringing Once Were Warriors to the screen, but the success the film had is still a hard act to follow. 

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