Love at Nine

'Love at nine. What a wondrous thing.' 

A short film that focuses on 9-year-old Lucia's walk down Karangahape Rd as she discovers what world her older sister, Nina, lives in... After Nina cancels on picking Lucia up one day, Lucia decides it's time she ventures out into the real world to find her. Along the way, she meets eclectic strangers that point her in the right direction - in one way or another. This is a film that focuses on the beautiful complexities of familial relationships through the innocent eyes of childhood. As the run time progresses, we reach into the past to discover the future.

Hi! I'm Paris, a 22-year-old aspiring writer and director. My professional creative background is mostly in culture and fashion writing, and event production with Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa. This is my directorial debut, but filmmaking has been apart of my life since before I can remember - my childhood was full of forcing my cousins and friends to star my my 'movies', and film & TV have always been my biggest inspirations.

My team is made up of other hugely talented creatives that I have been lucky enough to meet throughout my budding career. All of whom are from a array of backgrounds - from film, to events, to runway fashion. The eclectic mix of skills is something I am eternally grateful for, because no good art is ever made singularly! Oliver Hill, the producer, has an events background and Ash Kelliher, my first AD has been a powerhouse in film for the past couple of years. 

Although we're a youthful team, the collective vision between us is something truly special.

• Paying actors
• Feeding cast and crew
• Gas vouchers for crew
• Equipment hire
• Prop sourcing and hire

'Love at Nine' is a semi-autobiographical work. The events themselves are works of fiction, but it's telling my story. As the daughter of a teen mum, her sisters were a huge part of my upbringing. My age gap with my aunties is identical to my age gap with my younger siblings, so I played the role of both youngest and oldest in large age gap 'sibling' relationships. My real life baby sister is even starring!

These connections are complex and hard at times, but the most beautiful that I have ever known. It is also a unique experience, and one that has played a large role in my formation. 

My favourite stories - to tell, read, watch, or learn - are ones that focus on the human condition. To be human and to connect with those around us is an infinite web of beauty, inspiration, desperation, struggle, and love... I believe it to be powerful. 

That is what this film is - a study of what it means to be human. To love, fight, and always come back to each other. In a time of such strife around us, a heartfelt recount of familial love is important.