Understanding how they talk and react to adverse situations allows them to speak for themselves, adding tremendous depth to the story. Writing the novel has afforded the opportunity to develop these complex characters further. A competition judge told me he shed tears when the gang thwarted Aroha's childhood friendship with her cousin Hunapo. I believe the success of Amiri & Aroha on the international film festival circuit is due to the audience's involvement with the characters. An interesting exercise at a table read of the Hīkoi screenplay was to remove the character headings from the actors' copies of the script and to see if it remains apparent to them when they are speaking.įascinating characters are essential for any work of fiction. Giving characters their own distinctive voice is the most profound lesson I have learnt from working with industry professionals. "Authors shouldn't write dialogue they should let their characters speak for themselves." I hope to bring you more exciting news soon! I believe Aroha’s story will resonate with a wide readership. Both were enthusiastic about the project and I have used their feedback to further refine the manuscript. She won’t let them claim the rest of her life.Īt Fiona McIntosh’s inaugural masterclass convention last October, I had the opportunity to pitch to two leading publishers. At the heart of Gang Girl, we have a strong woman determined to take charge of her own destiny. In reworking the story, I have contrasted Aroha’s innocence with the harsh reality of Once Were Warriors. ‘Make your readers feel the pain the kids endure when they’re chiselled.’ The result-a gripping opening chapter that Fiona told me was one of the most compelling she’d seen for some time. ‘Don’t be afraid to be brutal,’ she told me. Fiona showed me how to tighten the scene and ramp up the tension. Workshopping the first chapter with Fiona proved a revelation. On reaching adolescence, Gang kids are given a full facial tattoo in a barbaric ceremony to pledge their allegiance to the mob. Fiona was quick to point out the immense potential of my dramatic opening scene. Since then, I’ve spent every available moment working on a complete rewrite of Amiri & Aroha, which I have now retitled Gang Girl. I’m as excited as you are for the next chapter of Aroha’s story.īack in September 2018, I attended a masterclass in commercial fiction with bestselling Australian author Fiona McIntosh.
Can they take on the leaders and create a more just Gang?įor fans of the film trilogy, I can promise you the novel is heading in a new and thrilling direction. Sickened by the tyranny of the old guard, the young generation is determined to incite change. The birth of her son Arapeta throws Aroha into further conflict with the Gang. I am working on two companion novels, Gang Blood and Young Blood. While Gang Girl is in its final draft, Aroha’s struggle is far from over. But Aroha is a strong woman who refuses to let the Gang crush her spirit.
Like Beth in Once Were Warriors, Aroha faces brutality and repression day in and day out. Gang Girl is a work of fiction, but the story is solidly grounded in real life. Aroha’s struggle to escape from the Gang certainly resonates with so many of you. I am overwhelmed at the fantastic response to my post on rebranding Amiri & Aroha as Gang Girl. For our loyal fans, watch out for a book trailer made up of footage from the film trilogy and the release of a special director’s cut of the films to coincide with the launch of Gang Girl. To celebrate ten years of this remarkable journey, here are a collection of production stills. Walter ‘The Wiz’ Walsh became our casting director and the rest, as they say, is history. Local radio station Turanga FM saved the day running on casting calls, and we discovered the extraordinary depth of acting talent in Gisborne. Under pressure from their agents, one by one the lead members of our cast dropped out. We were about to start shooting when an industrial dispute regarding actors’ working conditions on The Hobbit hit the headlines. We’d assembled an ensemble cast of up and coming talent from various casting agencies, all of whom agreed to work for the experience instead of payment.
A decade on and rebranded as Gang Girl, this iconic New Zealand story refuses to go away.īack in 2010, the project didn’t have the most auspicious start. It’s hard to believe ten years have passed since the cameras first rolled on Amiri & Aroha.