Jillian White

Age

27.

Iwi

Tuhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Arawa, Ngāti Porou.

Whānau

father) Tuhawaiki (Tui) White, (mother) Judy, (sister) Cian, (brothers) Luke and Hugh. All the whanau in Rotorua.

Education

1998-2000 : Rotorua Girls High School, 1995-1996: Certificate of Journalism, Waiariki Polytechnic Rotorua, 1998-2000: Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts majoring in Directing and Writing for Screen and Theatre.

Tell us something you remember about school

Mrs Brown in primary school, she taught us how to dream and use our imaginations. Donna Grant from intermediate, she was strict but cool, taught us the importance of healthly mind, body, spirit and her favourite song "Up on the Roof". English Class at highschool, getting kicked out of Maths and Mr Steigerhouse cause he was a spunk!

Occupation

Documentary Director/Writer/Producer.

What did you want to be when you were young?

Madonna.

Who are your inspirational role models?

Mum, Dad, Merata Mita, Geoff Murphy, Barry Barclay, Lee Tamihori, Norelle Scott, Raymond Hawthorne.

What significant event has influenced your life?

Knowing that God is like the wind... You can't see it, but you can feel it and know it's there. Realising the power of the Arts to influence political change.

What is your favourite...

· food?

Hangi and Aunty Ellas Steam Pudding and Custard.

· music?

Hip Hop, R'n'B and anything with a good beat.

· person/people?

My whanau, sister and twin soul Cian, my cuzzies Jackie, Jazz and Ira. My friends especially my blood sista Sacha.

· movie?

Annie (American), In Spring One Plants Alone (NZ, Vincent Ward), Once Were Warriors, Mauri, Ngati, UTU, Goodbye Pork Pie, The Piano, Desperate Remedies, Snakeskin.

· TV programme?

Documentary NZ, Inside NZ, Mataku, The Sopranos, The Ozbournes.

· pastime?

Chillin with my cuzzies, crusin home to Rotovegas, making every day count.

Tell us about some of your personal qualities and attributes.

This is a hard one especially when your Māori ... cause the Kumara never says how sweet it is, right. But I will say that I've been blessed with drive, determination and surrounded with good people... to enable me to do what I'm most passionate about; to make Māori programming for Māori first and everyone else after that.

What would be your ideal day?

Doing something fun with my friends and family...like a BBQ at the lake with a few drinks and some good music, then heading down town for a bit of a boogie.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

I'd rather regret the things I've done than the things I haven't. But a tame one would probably be when I was waitressing. I was serving food to a large table of tipsey people and asked "who's having the lamb?" One fellow piped up saying "Baa Baa" like a lamb...whilst pointing his finger in the air, which then tiped the side of the plate I was holding. Hot mint sause spilled down the back of the poor guys neck, Ouch! Everyone cracked up laughing... I think it may have been more embarrassing for him than me but still embarrassing man!

What are your ambitions?

"Kia ta te ha o te reo Māori ki te Rangi" (To paint Māori Images Across the Sky). Well to be literal, to put Māori images and stories on television and film. To show us and the world what we're about, to tell stories by, for and about Māori.

What sparked your interest in following your particular career path?

Realising at a young age that there is a Māori - indigenous world view on everything. That the media, television and film in particular is the strongest medium to reach the multitutes with our stories and help to create possitive change for indigenous peoples. Merata Mita (Māori woman director) some of her films include; Bastion Point, Patu, Mauri, Hotere. And her inspirational philosphy to demystify, decolonise and indigenise the screen. The absolute desire to tell possitive stories about our Māori people who are absolutely the most extra-ordinary, unique, most beautiful people in da world! Amene.

December, 2003