I was also interested in the possibility of shooting in Northern Queensland in Autralia (offers tax rebates and grants) as I have strong ties to Australia, having lived there on and off for 18 years and working in the industry there. Plus there is a Papua New Guinean community in Cairns, a city in Queensland.
BUTTERFLY/BATAPLAI
A drama short film.
Inspired by a true story, a Papua New Guinean/American woman challenges her evangelist father's strict rules to find her voice as a makeup artist.
Written, Directed & Produced by
Veialu Aila-Unsworth
Running time: 8 mins
Country: USA
Languages: English, Tok Pisin
Open Subtitles: English
Instagram: @bataplai.film
Starring Regina Pande, Graham Pande, Joana Mate, and the voice of Olivia Korken.
Cinematography by Judd Overton, Music Composed by Maxwell Stone and Otis Kane, Sound Supervisor & Re-recording Mixer Tyler Proctor, featuring Photographs by Patrick Leahy and the song "Hypnotised" by Alyson Joyce.
Made in San Francisco / Ramaytush Ohlone land, California.
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival - World Premiere, USA
Māsima Pacific Islands Film Tour, USA
Micheaux Film Festival, USA
UPCOMING SCREENINGS
SYNOPSIS
Raya (Regina Pande) loves makeup but her family does not. She’s torn between her secret dream of being a makeup artist and her family’s strict religious beliefs. In a nightmare, she receives a profound message from her Papua New Guinean ancestor who encourages her to look at her Indigenous culture for answers.
MEET THE ACTORS
ARTIST STATEMENT
Pasifika women belong everywhere. We are multi-faceted, fierce, complex, curious, intelligent, imaginative, and so much more!
I want to challenge our invisibility on-screen.
For those of us in diasporas, living away from our cultural homelands, we are forging new identities, navigating multiple cultures, pushing against stupid stereotypes, finding acceptance and belonging, finding healing and freedom - finding our voice.
I explore this in Butterfly/Bataplai.
My intention with this film is to show what it's like for one Papua New Guinean woman living in the diaspora trying to forge a path between her Indigenous roots, spiritual beliefs, and the Western world she lives in.
Butterfly/Bataplai asks the question: Who defines us as Papua New Guinean women, and to want extent do we get to decide that for ourselves?
~ Veialu Aila-Unsworth
Writer, Director & Producer of BUTTERFLY/BATAPLAI
Find out more on Instagram @bataplai.film
BUTTERFLY/BATAPLAI SHORT FILM WAS MADE WITH THE 2023 ARMED WITH A CAMERA FELLOWSHIP
The Armed with a Camera Fellowship is awarded by Visual Communications (vcmedia.org), a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop and support the voices of Asian American & Pacific Islander filmmakers who empower communities and challenge perspectives.