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Prolific filmmaker whose star shines brightly
By MEL FERNANDEZ
NZ On Air ’ s 2018 Diversity report reveals that Asian producers are underrepresented in proportion to their population – just three per cent of its funded projects featured a pan-Asian producer , five per cent featured a pan Asian director , and seven per cent featured a pan-Asian writer .
The good news is that in the shadow of the big budget international productions companies and Hobbit there is a small but dynamic group of Asian creators in New Zealand – Karpal Singh , Roseanne Liang , Shuchi Kothari , Selina Joe and Marc Laureano , to name
By ROWENA SINGH
Income stream from this sector vital to jumpstart economic growth , employment and progress , say insiders
There have been strident voices calling for New Zealand ’ s borders to be opened up so that international students can return and drip feed a substantial amount of money during their stay here which will help jumpstart our sluggish economy .
“ I see the future as very positive because there are thousands of stories that we need to tell from Aotearoa and from around the world .” – Karpal Singh
just a few – who are passionate about making content that resonates with the migrant population and also wows mainstream audiences .
Migrant News reporter Rowena Singh interviewed a member of the inner circle – prolific filmmaker , Karpal Singh whose star shines brightly in the industry and is an inspiration for neophytes who might feel some trepidation towards venturing into the Pakeha dominated celluloid world .
There are pros and cons of being an ethnic filmmaker in New Zealand says Singh . “ I ’ ve been privileged to work on many national and international productions on various roles in the last 3 years after studying .
“ Some of the cons are that it is still a challenging field ; not going in the racism aspect at all , but
Karpal Singh on extreme right . Photo supplied .
An inspiration for neophytes who might feel some trepidation towards venturing into the Pakeha dominated celluloid world
The loss incurred to the economy and to universities because of the border closure has been quite substantial . Questions are being asked why we are not tapping this income stream when New Zealand may be in a good position to manage the return of the international students safely .
In late April , there were 13,101 students from China in the country , 12,226 from India and 2788 from South Korea . The US was the only country with fewer students with valid study visas in New Zealand , 870 , than out of New Zealand , 1064 .
The figures highlighted the downturn of about $ 5 more around the culture . When you look at the percentage of the Asian population of NZ and compare it with how many of them are in the creative world , it is quite a shocker .
“ But I feel times are changing and this is the right time to ride that wave . I believe there are a lot of individuals choosing this field as a career .”
Editor : Karpal Singh can be contacted on 021 352185 .
Why NZ should open borders to international students
billion from the international student industry .
Universities New Zealand Chief Executive Chris Whelan said in an article , which appeared in Insidehighered . com , that it would cause New Zealand ’ s eight universities a loss of around $ 200 million in international enrolment this year
FINDING HIS ROOTS VIA FILMMAKING
By ROWENA SINGH
AUCKLAND – Karpal Singh is a Sikh from West Bengal , India , who came to NZ in 2001 . He studied hospitality at MIT ( Manukau Institute of Technology ) for two and a half years . He then worked in the hospitality industry for 6 years but being a bit bored and alone , he decided to move on to a different industry . He restarted his career in the banking field . “ I started as a bank teller in 2006 and continued in the banking industry for 10 years ,” says Singh . “ In 2016 my role was made redundant . But I think it was a blessing in disguise because it gave me a chance to reflect on what I really wanted to do in life . So I took that opportunity ; I was 35 at that time , to follow my passion .”
Singh joined South Seas Film and TV School ( now Yoobee Colleges ). He was one of the few senior students there and says he was supported by his tutors and school , otherwise he wouldn ’ t have gone down that path . He eventually graduated with a double major in Production Management and Drama Directing .
Singh ’ s student short film ‘ Best of Both Worlds ’ was part of the Cannes Film Festival ( on-demand platform ) was picked up by an American based film distributor , and later played on the Amazon ( In the US and the UK ). Currently the film is available on YouTube .
The concept for ‘ Best of Both Worlds ’ was drawn from Singh ’ s own life journey in New Zealand . “ It was an arduous journey for me trying to blend in with Kiwi
and that the loss would double next year if graduating international students went home and no newly recruited students were allowed in to replace them .
The loss applies also to the international students who miss out on their education and to the multi-cultural community that they contribute to New Zealand .
International students could pay for the 14-day accommodation while they are in managed isolation if they are able to do so . In society . At times you feel that you have lost your bearings in terms of who you are . So the realization of missing my own culture and reconnecting with my roots is where the story for my first film came from ,” says Singh .
Currently Singh is part of a TV drama series called ‘ Mystic ’, which is a co-production between UK between UK and NZ that ’ s on TV and on TV On Demand . The first 8 episodes of this show are now available on TVNZ On Demand .
“ The second stream of my work is my passion project . It is my second short film called ‘ Impossible ’, which is supported by the NZ Film Commission . It is another cross-cultural film .
“ We will be making a feature film of the same story for which we have the script ready ,” says Singh . My role in that film is as the producer and I ’ m working alongside a well-known Kiwi producer , Belindalee Hope . Belindalee has worked on many big Hollywood as well as NZ productions , including such films Peter Jackson ’ s The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies .
“ The third stream of work is my own production company called Kapow NZ . I make promotional videos for small to medium companies ,” says Singh . “ I have a team that works with me – camera , sound and editor – and I act as director , producer and writer .”
Singh says that as a creative person , you have to satisfy your soul , as that ’ s the reason you are in that industry , but you also have to earn a decent living .
some cases this could be considered under the hardship grounds and paid for by the New Zealand government .
As international students bring colossal amounts of revenue to the economy through enrolment , food and accommodation some commentators feel that supporting their quarantine costs would be deemed an investment .