Rena documentary to look at Government response

The second in a series of five teaser videos for a crowdfunding campaign for a documentary on the Rena disaster was released on Friday and looks at 'The Government response'. Photo: Supplied.

Looking for an innovative Christmas present this year? How about securing a film credit for your loved ones and work colleagues?

The second in a series of five ‘teaser' videos for a documentary on the Rena disaster has been launched on Friday with an invitation for the community to be a part of helping make the 90-minute feature documentary. Titled ‘The Government response', the two-minute teaser follows on from the first teaser video launched a week ago which featured ‘The Wreck'.

Further videos released during the six-week crowdfunding campaign on Boosted will feature the iwi response, wildlife response, and the community response.

From only a $5 donation, everyone who contributes to the Boosted campaign to help make the film will have their name listed in the credits of ‘The Rena, the reef and the residents', say the film's producers.

The documentary will be capturing the memories and thoughts of some of the more than 8000 volunteers, local government, businesses, wildlife conservation groups and iwi.

'There are many sides to every story, and ten years on, locals each have their own stories to tell,” says producer Rosalie Liddle Crawford who together with director Anton Steel have already interviewed nearly 30 people and completed the first draft edit of the film.

'The heart of this documentary will be the recollections of these characters and also the leaders of the community at the time, the effects it had on them, both then and ongoing until the present day.”

The first Rena documentary two minute teaser looked at ‘The Wreck'

Executive producers and Sun Media directors Claire and Brian Rogers have joined forces with Rosalie and Anton to make the documentary. Sun Media publishes online news website Sunlive and The Weekend Sun. SunLive was the first media to break the news to the world of the Rena coming aground on Astrolabe Reef.

The footage and thousands of photos that Sun Media have archived from 2011 are being made available for the documentary which Rosalie and Anton plan to complete in early 2022. Sun Media has also provided initial funding to launch the project.

'Thousands of locals were involved in the aftermath, with a groundswell of volunteers going out daily to help save wildlife and clean up the oil and debris. We want to invite them now to be part of helping us make this documentary,” says Rosalie.

To complete the film, a crowdfunding campaign on Boosted.org.nz will be run until Christmas.

'Coincidentally, the $5 note has an image of a penguin on it,” says Rosalie. 'We thought that for $5 every child, parent and grandparent can dip into the website, push the ‘donate' button and help us make the film. And it provides them with the opportunity to have their name listed in the film credits. Something that lives on and they can one day show their own children and grandchildren.'

Funds are needed to cover further interview and b-roll footage shoots and the costs of editing.

"We are also looking for corporate and business sponsorship to help us tell this important story.

'From donors right up to match funders, we are inviting everyone to help us make a top quality production,” says Rosalie. 'This is an opportunity to help us complete this historical story about the power of our community to make change in the face of an environmental disaster.”

Match funders also receive VIP updates and a special sponsors package.

To support the project and have your name included in the credits please go to https://www.boosted.org.nz/projects/the-rena-wreck-documentary and click on ‘donate'.

Anyone who is interested in supporting the documentary project in other ways such as sponsorship, match funding, providing footage, or has any query, is asked to email Rosalie and Anton. To do this please click here

The Rena grounded on Astrolabe Reef on October 5, 2011. Photo: SunLive.

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