Renae Maihi
Consultation
Screenplay Development
As well as a Writer | Director, Renae is a skilled screenplay consultant who has taught screenwriting and master classes in the Cook Islands, Canada, and Aotearoa, New Zealand. She worked with Script to Screen New Zealand in 2017 - 2018 leading workshops in Northland and South Auckland prior to moving to Toronto where she continued her skill sharing mentoring by First Nations storytellers.
Her understanding of story structure, character development, thematic premise and dialogue technique has been developed over many years working with some of the best in the world. She has a honed understanding and innate instinct for story, and, as a writer herself, she understands the pitfalls and challenges that come with the writing process.
If you need someone to read your screenplay and give you clear and focused notes, or you just need a coach to keep you writing, then click below, Renae would be happy to support you. Still not sure? Read the testimonials below for confirmation that Renae is the right consultant for you.
Testimonials
"In 2018 Renae came to Ottawa, Canada to teach a Masterclass on filmmaking as part of The Asinabka Film Festival. I learned more in 2 hours with Renae than I did in 3 months on a previous course. I definitely recommend her for all things filmmaking."
- Anonymous Feedback, Ottawa First Nations Masterclass Participant
" I worked alongside Renae in 2018 as the co-consultant for Script to Screen in Northland. I'm not sure how she did it but within 2 hours she had helped a young writer outline his entire short film and the story that resulted was strong. Additionally, Renae is a powerful storyteller with a singular and compelling voice. Her films have left me in tears, and her fearless commitment to fight for the things she believes in is extraordinary. I highly recommend her skills."
- Michael Bennett
Writer, Director, Producer
" I asked my friend Renae to read my feature film screenplay and deliver notes. The notes I received from her were exceptional. I applied them and, the following year with my writing partner we won a major NZ screenwriting award for best feature film screenplay. I definitely recommend her skills."
- Siobhan Marshall
Actress, Writer, Director
Cultural Consultation
In the early 2000's Renae Maihi was trained specifically in cultural protocols pertaining to creative projects at Te Wananga O Aotearoa, the largest Māori university in New Zealand. She has contributed as an interviewee to numerous Indigenous filmmaking thesis's around the world specifically around this topic and, due to her upbringing, she has a solid foundational knowledge of appropriate processes for productions with Indigenous themes. Her experience of living in New Zealand, Australia, the Cook Islands, New York and Toronto has also given her a deep understanding of the global cultural landscape, the similarities and differences and the appropriate approach needed when working with Indigenous projects around the world.
Recently in 2023, Renae successfully negotiated filming rights from the City of Toronto to a location where filming was not historically permitted. She did so on the grounds that the film was led by a Haudenosaunee woman and the production wanted to film on this ancient Haudenosaunee site of significance.
Her understanding of best practice and protocols saw her advise as one of the National Executive Board on The Directors and Editors Guild of New Zealand in recent years, a contribution that opened deeper discussions around Indigenous Intellectual Property and the way forward.
If you have a project that needs consultation to check it's Indigenous health and wellbeing, would like to connect with the appropriate Indigenous partners or you are a non-Indigenous production that would like to engage with Indigenous protocol and process then see below, reach out and Renae will be happy to support you through this process.
Choose your pricing plan
Short Film Consultation
500$Expert Development Support- 1 x script 'read' of your 3 - 15 page screenplay.
- 2 - 3 page written notes (depending on need).
- 45 minute video call session to discuss development.
- 1 x additional read of screenplay post notes integration
- NB. Prices are in New Zealand Dollars
Feature Film Screenplay Consultation
2,500$Perfect if you wish to take your screenplay to the next level.- 1 x read of your feature film screenplay (120 pages max)
- Comprehensive screenplay notes (5-15 pages)
- If applicable, notes on the cultural elements
- 2 hour video call session
- 1 x additional read of screenplay post notes integration
- NB. Prices are in New Zealand Dollars
Production Cultural Consultation
2,000$Planning advice for productions wishing to embrace cultural protocols.- Initial 45 minute meeting to discuss the project.
- 5 - 10 page overview of cultural recommendations.
- Final 45 minute meeting to discuss recommendations.
- Connection facilitated to appropriate Indigenous consultants
- NB. Worldwide. For Feature Film or Television Productions.