What is a Taika Waititi?

What is a Taika Waititi?! A brief introduction to our director of the month

Taika Waititi is a New Zealand filmmaker best known for his work on the cult television series Flight of the Conchords, What We Do In The Shadows and the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok. This month at Midweek Movies we are donating an entire season for the month of July to this quirky fellas filmography, so, perfect opportunity to get better acquainted!

Starting out... 
His debut short film Two Cars, One Night was nominated for an Oscar in 2005. According to Taika the motivational push needed to go ahead and make the short came to him while hanging out in a g-string, fully waxed for an acting role as a stripper for a TV show called The Strip in 2002. Quite the wake-up call...

Get a man that can do both...
Not only does Waititi write and direct his films, but he acts in them as well. Back in 2002 he performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with Jermaine Clement (a recurring collaborator) as 'The Humourbeasts'. Jermaine also performed at the festival that same year with Bret McKenzie as Flight of the Conchords. 

Taika means things in different languages...
'Magic' in Finnish and 'Tiger' in Maori.
That's nice to know isn't it.
(All words mean things though, that's just what words are...)

Words of wisdom... 
"A big part of the humour is in identifying with the tragic elements of the film. The New Zealand sense of humour is very dark. Our films are usually very dark and it's always someone being killed. Usually a child."

Taika Waititi season is screening this month of July at Claptrap The Venue, Stourbridge.
Eagle Vs Shark - Wednesday July 5th
Boy - Wednesday July 12th

What We Do In The Shadows - Wednesday July 19th

Hunt for the Wilderpeople - Wednesday July 26th

MIDWEEK MUST SEE MOVIES every Wednesday admission free, doors 7pm screening from 8:30pm