by Zeal Newsdesk
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Zeal announced today the premiere of the feature length documentary on kiwi teenagers, Me, So Far, on 3 December.
In this revealing and quirky memoir, nine everyday teens from across Aotearoa capture a two-month period in their lives, unfiltered, on smartphones. These young people’s life-experience is as diverse as where they come from – as far north as Moerewa and as south as Dunedin – including stories of family loss, stereotyping and state care. Me, So Far removes the labels and reveals complex and resilient teens finding their way in an ever-changing world. Shot entirely by the young people themselves, Me, So Far offers a unique look into the lives of kiwi young people today and their perspective on our society, their families, media culture and mental health.
Filming all took place on smartphones, making Me, So Far New Zealand’s first feature length film shot using such technology. Nine out of ten young New Zealanders now own or have access to a smartphone (Research New Zealand, 2015).
“Teenagers are spoken to, but often don’t have a chance to speak to the wider world,” says documentary director Brooke Benton. “Me, So Far hands the camera and the voice to young people, offering Aotearoa first-hand insight into their family, friends, thoughts and experiences.”
Me, So Far is a production of the youth organisation Zeal, by means of its youth issues arm Live For Tomorrow. Known as the home of young creatives, Zeal has creative arts youth facilities around the country.
The independent documentary will be released online on the 3rd December 7.30pm.
