KJ Apa In ‘Altar Rock
KJ Apa has landed a lead role in Altar Rock, an indie thriller from director Andrzej Bartkowiak.
Kristin Alexandre and A. Wayne Carter wrote the script. The film is described as a millennial romantic thriller where family loyalty threatens the new love between an American girl and a young immigrant boy on the island of Nantucket.
Apa’s profile will get a boost when he stars as Archie in the CW’s midseason drama series Riverdale. The New Zealand native also has a role in A Dog’s Purpose, Lasse Hallstrom’s pic about one dog’s quest to discover his purpose in life over the course of several lifetimes with multiple owners. Apa’s other credits include the NZ drama series The Cul-de-Sac and Kiwi nighttime soap Shortland Street.
India Eisley will star alongside KJ Apa in the indie thriller Altar Rock, the millennial romantic thriller from director Andrzej Bartkowiak. Eisley and Apa will play star-crossed lovers on the island of Nantucket whose romance is threatened by family loyalty. Sydney Park and Scott Adkins also have joined the film in unspecified leading roles.…more
From Oakland To Auckland: Emory Douglas and The Polynesian Panthers
When the Oakland Black Panther Party recruited Emory Douglas as their Minister of Culture, one thing that no one knew, is how his image of the Black Panther would start movements across the world in the city of Auckland with a group of Polynesians.
Lana Lopesi is a Samoan artist, based out of Auckland, New Zealand. She's currently preparing for her show called 'Seize the Time' based on the Pacific New Zealand history of the 50s to the 80s. Working very closely with the Polynesian Panthers she is attempting to educate Pacific youth about the history as a way of empowerment and breaking the cycles of oppression Pacific people face.
Lana Lopesi's Posters From her upcoming show that will be wheatpasted in Oakland(photo by Louisa Afoa)
In her project guide she quotes a man from the place I call home, "We want education that teaches us the true history and our role in the present day society". Huey P.…more
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is now the highest paid actor in the world!
Professional wrestler turned Hollywood blockbuster mainstay,Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, was officially declared the world’s highest paid actor according to the Forbes Celebrity 100.
Johnson, who has garnered quite a tally of top-grossing films in recent years, has brought in a total of $64.5m earnings in the 15 years since his silver screen debut in The Mummy Returns. He is ranked 19th on Forbes’ coveted list, on which he first appeared in 2012.
“Receiving news like this will always serve as my anchoring reminder to continue to work even harder,” the Central Intelligence actor said in his announcement on Instagram. “We not only want to ‘embrace the grind’, but take the grind to new levels.”
His drive, he described, is akin to a "wolf" scratching at the door.…more
Samoan NBA player James Johnson signs with the Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are finalizing a flurry of weekend moves to restock the roster in the stinging aftermath of franchise icon Dwyane Wade's free-agency departure to the Chicago Bulls.
The Heat on Sunday reached a deal to re-sign veteran forward Udonis Haslem, according to a league source, and announced the signings of shooting guard Wayne Ellington and forward James Johnson.
James Johnson is of African-American and Samoan decent, joining the likes of Steven Adams as the growing number of poly players in the NBA.
James Johnson was the starting power forward for the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest University from 2007 to 2009. He was drafted 16th overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls. Since then Johnson has gained experience in playing with the Raptors, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies and back again with the Toronto Raptors before being signed by the Heat.
NBA isnt the only sport Johnson shines in, he holds a second-degree black belt and fought in his first mixed martial arts bout at aged 18.…more
First look at Frankie Adams as Bobbie Draper
The young actress/model was cast in Season 2 of Syfy's The Expanse earlier this year- a space-drama set in the future, based on the novels by James S. A. Corey.
Adams’ breakout role came at the age of 16 in the local NZ drama series Shortland Street, and her most recent credits include Australian TV series Wentworth Season 4, Tusi Tamasese's latest feature1000 Ropes and starred in her debut theatre show P***Y in 2016.
Here is the first look at Frankie Adams as Bobbie Draper in season 2 of The Expanse!
SUGGESTED LINKS: Frankie's World on Fresh
Jarryd Hayne's Olympic dream. Over.
Jarryd Hayne's Rio adventure has ended after he was told he would not be selected in the Fijian sevens squad.
Hayne quit the NFL to pursue rugby sevens, but announced on Facebook that during a meeting with Fijian coach Ben Ryan last week he had been informed he not made the cut.
“Last Friday I had a meeting with Ben to discuss my future with the team and I was informed that my time has ended. As much as I would have loved to go to Rio, I too knew I wasn’t ready yet. During my time with the team, I pushed my body above and beyond. I used all my experience as a professional athlete and have tried everyday and in every way possible to make this team and make it better but unfortunately, time has been against me,” Hayne said via Facebook.
Hayne shocked the sporting world on May 16 when he announced he was retiring from the NFL to chase Olympic glory with the Fiji rugby sevens team.…more
What dark skinned people will never tell you
The issues for those of us with darker skin are similar in many societies - how many Pacific people experience the same cast racism in our communities?
Living Myth and Unlocking the Metaphor
Check out this beautiful talk looking at the use of metaphors in our Pacific languages - mainly the Hawaiian language!
Like her ancestors, Pualani Kanaka'ole Kanahele epitomizes cultural brilliance, beauty and power. A renowned scholar and author who is steeped in the hula tradition, she leads a team of researchers in reestablishing an ancient Hawaiian system of cultural intelligence. Dr. Kanahele is of pure Hawaiian descent and was raised in a hula tradition that spans many generations.
Humans Of The Islands - Michel Mulipola
Michel Mulipola
Samoan
Comic Book Artist / Professional Wrestler and owner of 'Bloody Samoan Art' company.
Michel Mulipola is a self taught Samoan comic book artist from Auckland. He is currently working as a Story Artist for Walt Disney Animation Studios on an upcoming project. You also may regonise him as the wrestler "Bloody Samoan".
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As a little kid I pretty much remember my Uncles being into comics. I stumbled across their stash of comic books and instantly fell in love with it. I think it was just the characters, the costumes, the bright colours, just everything about it captured my young imagination. Eversince then, it’s been a constant in my life - just comic books.
Being a kid, naturally I loved to draw and when I found those comics, all I wanted to be was a comic book artist.
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So were you that kid in class drawing comic characters while the teacher was teaching?
Yeah.…more
Take a look inside UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt’s rented $5 million Las Vegas mansion
MARK Hunt looks out across the pool towards a pair of gardeners. His gardeners. A duo who, right now, are sweating and hedging their way around a luxurious backyard estate.
Source: The Daily Telegraph
“Ah, schucks,’’ he grins. “I’m sitting here in this Las Vegas mansion, watching gardeners work in my backyard.
“It’s incredible. And why nothing in life surprises me anymore.
“I’m just waiting now for a pink elephant to fly overhead.”
Indeed, who can blame him?
Unsigned even to fight four weeks ago, Hunt is suddenly three days off the most hyped bout in UFC history - facing WWE megastar Brock Lesnar here in Las Vegas at UFC 200.
Already, the stacked card is being billed as the biggest of all time.
With Lesnar and Hunt the undeniable feature.
Which is why, to help the Sydney slugger through his preparations, UFC president Dana White has secretly gifted Team Hunt the lease on a private $5 million mansion.…more