Room 103, 83 Fairlie Terrace

Abstract

My current feature documentary project explores the creative shamanic and sorcery practices of a rainforest dwelling community in the islands of Papua New Guinea. The film, What Lies That Way follows the filmmaker on a journey into the spiritual and magical practices of the region using an embodied and deep participatory method. This methodology and the resulting film seek to approach the perspectives of those who participate in the sorcery of the Buai cult. This presentation explores the embodied approach through which the film was produced and seeks to understand what this ‘deep participatory methodology’ can offer to filmmakers and ethnographers.

Bio

Dr Paul Wolffram is a Senior Lecturer in the Film Programme of Victoria University of Wellington. He is a filmmaker and ethnographer who has worked among Pacific communities for over 15 years. His recent film, Voices of the Land 2014 was a finalist in four categories of the Moa New Zealand Film Awards in 2014 and won Best Cinematography at an international film festival in 2015.