“It’s a great time to be an indigenous storyteller,” says Isaac Te Reina
Avatar fans already know that the 95th Academy Awards nominated Avatar: The Way of Water four times. James Cameron’s blockbuster included Best Picture, Best Sound, Best Production Design, and Best Visual Effects. The National Board of Review and the American Film Institute named the blockbuster one of the ten best films of 2022 — and rightly so. The film was magnificent. Our interview guest, New Zealand actor Isaac Te Reina, played a role within that magic as the Sea Dragon First Mate (and small reminder that we’re related; Isaac’s my dear nephew.)
Part one of our interview lives here. In part-two of our interview series, compressed and transcribed from our podcast interview in late December, Te Reina shares his path from acting to directing, producing, and even inventing. He reminds us of the power that creative play and an experimental mindset has on our ability to wow our audiences, even land the part, something he achieved after auditioning directly with James Cameron.
Host, D G McCullough
I’d love to hear about your acting training and how that served you in a critical moment to present yourself both in that audition and in the shooting itself.
Guest, Isaac Te Reina
I’m so grateful for my acting training. Professional acting training has taught me to be attentive and always listen to the words, body language, and the way people look around the room. I’m trained to notice the energy and vibe. By putting all your attention on something else, you follow that energy inside that fictional space. You fall into this wonderful dream, living out what your idea of a character or a moment, a scenario would be.
Being that attentative and in that land of make believe is such a fun exercise, and something children are great at. Actors need to enter that space of wonder and dreaming to feel (and be) more light, fun, and free. It felt affirming being on a massive Hollywood production and know those basic human qualities belong and get recognized.
McCullough:
What was it like to notice that the same joy and wonderment and losing of self on the smaller screen also exists on the bigger screen?
Te Reina:
I had to really trust who I am. So that’s really meaningful for me and for my friends and my family and the people that believe in me too. To know that there’s a bit of Isaac within the movie feels over the moon. Ecstatic.
McCullough:
So happy for you Isaac, with your ecstatic over the moon feelings and long may they continue. The journalist in me wonders about the shooting itself of a movie of that scale. What does that outsider never truly get? And the insider can only truly know part of it. You’ve already told us the fast pace, spontaneity, unknown, that comfort of working in that space of not knowing. What else?
Te Reina
Many underestimate the amount of people on the film set bringing to life the action and story. I’ve worked on film sets for feature films, short films, documentary and music videos in New Zealand. When an American production comes here, I was in awe of so many people working together to serve James Cameron’s vision. And that’s what we’re all there to do.
You’ve an immense amount of equipment in that ship and so much happening. You really have to trust in yourself to be present and trust that those with you believe in the story as much as you. That presence and trust helps when you’ve big cameras in your face, a hydraulic crane with 10 operators. And then James is really energetic and lively with his direction, trying to make it all happen. You just have to be so on.
McCullough:
Describe some other big joys, just from being there. Was it just pride and unity and being part of something so big?
Te Reina:
I got to share the space with my good friends. We’re all like just pinching ourselves that we’re actually on set with the man and making this film. In one stunt, I launched myself into it, mimicking the damage that would happen on board and how my body would react to that. When they called cut, I heard silence; then, the head stunt coordinator came straight up to me and said, “That was a rock star move. Can you do that again?”
McCullough:
[Laughs.] Amazing.
Te Reina:
Yeah. It was amazing. He says, “Amazing kid. Like you’re a rock star. You wanna be a rock star? Do that again. Take two. You’re great. You got it. All right everybody, look at what this guy’s doing. That’s how we’re going now.” Like, oh man, I just couldn’t believe it. The head stunt coordinator of Avatar propping me with James right behind him. For whatever reason, that moment did not get into the film. But I was so happy with everything else that did make the end cut.
McCullough:
And I wondered, we’ve spoken of the joy from starring in Avatar. What about the adversity or any setbacks you encountered along the way?
Te Reina:
I’d say not getting too excited challenged me as I tried being the best for James, my career, vocalizing an American accent (as a New Zealander), and offering ideas he could potentially buy. I had to feel confident I understood prompts vs. risking looking like a fool when the camera rolls. And then curb my enthusiasm. On one occasion, I embellished something James offered me. And he said, “Yeah. Do that. But don’t be creative.” I knew at that moment: It was his vision. This is his ship and he’s the commander. My job is to follow the script. So I got a bit cheeky with them and yeah, it was fun to just tussle that.
McCullough:
Awesome. Can I share what I have not heard when you share adversity? I did not hear fatigue. I did not hear exhaustion, despite giving your all.
Te Reina:
We did have long, 15-hour days. But we were really well looked after with beautiful food, rest between shots in which I did yoga, read a book, and kept my body active. I also stayed grateful and appreciative for what I was part of — a feeling which stayed with me, long after the work was done.
McCullough:
Beautiful. And with the work done (and now two years after the shooting and the movie in the box office) how has this experience guided you, your acting and what comes next?
Te Reina:
Currently I’m creating a TV series created shortly after my Avatar experience. We posed with a young male’s struggle with anger and learned from horse therapy as a way of healing and reconnecting with yourself and nature. We smashed it out of the park and won an award at our local film festival. We’re also creating a TV series about placing men in more positive ways, creating spaces for vulnerability, empowerment, and masculinity. There’s much to tell on Maori men, our power, and navigating traumas from colonization.
And I’m working to entertain and tell stories in new ways. It’s a great time to be an indigenous storyteller in the world today. Seeing Avatar’s success inspired by Polynesian Maori whakapapa on the world’s biggest stage reminds us: It’s our time to shine and I’m proud we’re having such a strong voice and representation and reflection of Polynesia Maori world views and culture in this film.
McCullough:
Oh, lovely to hear how you’re harnessing your successes with Avatar through narrative, storytelling, and your enduring creativity, too. I know also you’ve invented a product designed to bring children together through technology. What threads and consistent values and hopes or even leadership skills do you draw from as you create this tapestry of your work?
Te Reina:
Do you mean like who I’m inspired by Debs?
McCullough:
I guess I’m thinking as a fellow creative. I’m a communications coach and I’m a podcaster, writer, reporter, artist, former professor, facilitator, and now a coach. And yet threads of my skills from before live in what I do today. With all that you touch, what threads lie within? Cognitive agility? Presence? Active listening? Intuition?What overlap do you see?
Te Reina:
I think I always come back to how I can help others and serve others best in the world and do right by Papatūānuku, the land, and by our natural gods. With the world turmoil, I wonder: How can I help our struggles as humanity and what does that look like? Whatever I do, I want to bring us together and continue to draw strength from community.
Because I’m the last generation of children introduced to smartphones, gaming, and tablets, I’m also the last generation to remember when all we had was each other. I remember time in nature, fewer toys and material things, and social time, often outdoors, with my mates. Today, kids social time’s often isolated, playing games online; and while that’s fun, detrimental effects come from that.
My technology I’m inventing aims to bring kids together through technology in ways which build presence with each other and strong social bonds, something many struggle to learn when they don’t know any different. That’s what drives me.
McCullough:
Well, Isaac, last question. From all of the wonderful wisdom you’ve shared today, what felt clearer about you and your work from our interview today?
Te Reina:
You’re my aunt and I like and trust you. You’ve always got my best interests at heart. I feel clearer of how I feel so appreciative and thankful for you and this time and space to speak my mind. Also, we didn’t quite touch on the controversy that surrounds Avatar, and perhaps we touch on that in another interview. I think at the end of the day, we all want the best for one another. Kindness exists and should always be promoted. So I, I feel that through you. I’m happy we’re able to do this.
McCullough:
Aw, thank you nephew. It’s been a real pleasure having you on the show. And huge congratulations on your Avatar victory and all you’ve done to this point. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Te Reina:
Love you so much, auntie. Thank you.
You can follow Isaac Te Reina on Instagram here. Contact his agent for acting and other creative opportunities here and find his IMDB page by clicking here.
Debbi Gardiner McCullough coaches and trains immigrant leaders to become more confident, concise, and mentally fit communicators. From Wisconsin, she owns and runs Hanging Rock Coaching and coaches worldwide with BetterUp.