22/05/2026
Back into the hub today.
It's round 2 for DON TE HAUTE at the Film Up Lab hui.
We spoke with CCF Founder and DTH Producer, Angela Cudd, to hear what came from the first Film Up Hub session.
Q: What’s one thing that shifted for DON TE HAUTE after the first FilmUp Hub?
A: A big shift forward for us is having access to dedicated mentors active in the industry, who are creating mahi that we aspire to. Mentorship is so valuable but can be hard to access, especially from people whose time is their most valuable consideration.
Q: What feels clearer now - and what is still a work in progress?
A: The power of a proof of concept was clear to me. Another project had a really strong proof of concept that allowed us all to understand instantly what he wanted to achieve with his feature. The fact that we have a proof of concept in post-production for Don Te Haute will help us illustrate our intentions for the feature.
Q: What’s been sitting with you since the first hub?
A: Getting to create is a privilege. And just because you have a story to tell, it doesn't mean you are entitled to support - financial or otherwise. It's on us to be persuasive with our film or scrappy in how we make it.
The other thing I keep coming back to, and honestly think about a lot, is why we don’t talk about audience more. There can be a real resistance to considering the audience, as though they’re somehow a threat to creativity. And sure, if you’re only creating to satisfy other people’s tastes, or beginning with audience as the driving force, the work probably won’t be very good. But if you don’t consider the audience at all, and you’re only making something for yourself, you can’t be surprised if no one else feels compelled to watch it.
Is the balance being bold enough to back your own creative instincts, while being honest with ourselves that the work is eventually going to meet other people? I'm still thinking about it.
Let's see what how things evolve from here!
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Pic: Kirk Torrance, DON TE HAUTE Writer/Director, starring and directing on set for BRO
