Chelsea Green: Founder of Kiwi Film House
PHOTOGRAPHER: Oana Catalina
HAIR: Aaron Firmstone
CHELSEA GREEN: @csgluxx | http://www.CSGLux.com
CLOTHING: ASOS Bride Collection
Can you explain how you started Kiwi Film House and the inspiration behind the name of your company?
I’m a Kiwi or New Zealander myself. I grew up there before I moved to Sydney. I left Sydney in 2014 and moved to London, solo. I originally moved here and began modelling full-time, something I was doing for my entire life. Throughout my years at high school and university (where I studied at both film and business school). Though, I always knew that I wanted to be in the film industry… but it was very challenging in Australia. This was more so due to my ethnicity and being part Maori. Not something that the Australian film industry welcomed at the time. So, I spent a lot of time modelling and doing stage work. When I moved to London I fell straight into the higher society circles. At fashion shows or shoots I was invited to different events, functions, galas and balls. It was during this time that I met some very affluent Business people. I was even invited to Elton Johns Oscars gala. All the while I was pitching different film ideas and they always revolved around female led narratives, female driven stories, female teams of directors, producers and writers, and always ethnically diverse women at that. Especially Maori, a people group that I hadn’t seen a lot of in TV and film growing up, unless they were in derogatory roles. After pitching to the right billionaire my idea took off. That led to me to gaining investment to begin my company, Kiwi Film House and I paid homage to my homeland with the companies name, New Zealand.
Your short film, Titrio, won you multiple awards and recognition in the film industry, but what can you say was the most difficult hardship you had to overcome throughout the process?
Yes I am very proud of myself and also the entire team and crew. Titiro was my first “proper” film project. I had made many other indie shorts but Titiro was a 20minute (19min 19 seconds to be exact) piece of art. It had a 60 woman/man cast and crew. It was a really large scale short. Basically, the same size as shooting an hour-long TV episode. I had the pleasure of working with some amazing talents who had worked with Peter Jackson on Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and King Kong. I think the most difficult part was taking on a project of that scale and being the director, writer, creator, producer and lead actor. Also giving some people what you call “step up roles” (where they were in a more junior role before and I made some of them heads of departments or more senior) was difficult whilst I was trying to wear so many hats because one of them didn’t work out and I had to end up doing that role as well. I didn’t have enough time in the day, so I ended up working 17-21 hours a day during that shoot and burnt out. My grandma and grandad were my absolute rocks. I remember toward the end of the location shoot calling them and all I could do was breath into the phone and weep. I was exhausted. They made me feel strong. They reminded me that this is who I am. That my dreams are coming true. Sadly my grandfather passed away in 2017. But I was able to set up a special screening of my film in the local cinema. A private showing for the two of them. They were incredibly proud and blown away by the film.
Can you tell us what your latest project is and how you balance that with modeling for Oxygen Models?
Right now im wearing many hats, but I thrive on it. Im co-producing (with Dale Armin Johnson) the $10m USD feature length version of Titiro, its called War Lands. Directed by Ron Yuan, original screenplay by me, rewritten with myself and Janet & Lee Batchler (who wrote Batman and Pompeii). I created and wrote a TV series called Model Citizen which we look to shoot the pilot episode this year with Belladonna NYC. Im also writing and directing a feature film called “Tranny” about a transgender supermodel from a lower socio-economic background, who beats the odds - an underdog story. At the same time im still auditioning for acting roles and casting for modelling jobs each week. My agent, Barrett at Oxygen Models is phenomenal. He is really hands on, always there for advice and really cares about my career development. Most importantly he is an action man and has strategy in raising my profile, different brand partnerships etc. Hes very strategic, thinks outside the box and I couldn’t think of anyone more brilliant to work with for my modelling.
You are very open on your platform about your relationship with your husband; what is the best advice you have learned through marriage and how to grow together with your significant other?
Honestly you have to support each other. Its not about demanding change or being hurtful to the other. Its about being best friends, truly. If you aren’t best friend, then don’t get married. You have to be a strong team and really attack all issues together, as that team. The most important thing is to have your spouse as your first priority…above work, above children, above family and friends, your other half must to come first, otherwise it doesn’t work. Its your other half, you have to be in sync. Without believing that marriage is the most important thing, you will lose it. You need to work at it every single day. Prioritise it, schedule weekly date nights, weekly movie nights, nightly dinners together, daily exercise together and whatever else youre into (for us its daily prayer, coffee, walks with our dogs and sauna). We try to go away on a trip at least once a month, if not more. We really value each other and truly enjoy spending time together. We both also have a strong faith as we are Christians and invite that faith into our marriage, it helps immensely when dealing with issues or conflict. I also strongly believe that conflict within a marriage is so healthy, without conflict you can never have change and change means growth.
If you could star in any type of film, what genre would you choose and why?
I absolutely love action. Anything where I can be kicking butt and using my body and physique. I love being in shape and training. I do weight/strength training 4-5 times a week, cardio 3 times and martial arts whenever I can or for a specific role. That type of action is so exhilarating for me. I truly love it. I also love women in power so that’s probably another reason why I gravitate toward action-based roles. I love ethnically diverse films and anything where women wear the pants. I would love to do something like Million Dollar Baby or Gladiator. Again, both intensely physical roles but also an amazing evolution of a character within the story.
What is your best advice for anyone wanting to get into film?
Honestly it is hard. There is so much rejection, so you need to get over that and just accept it. You will hear “no” more than you will hear “yes”. A lot of people will tell you that you cant do it, something ive always found weird (most likely their projection onto you because they’ve failed and never got back up). You can do anything you want, anything you put your mind to and focus on. So, get out there and keep pushing. Get an agent if you can and if you cant start networking and find producers or casting directors who you can start chatting to. Get into some student films or create a short yourself. There are so many ways in. Try them all. Never stand for disrespect or let anyone cross the line. Always be strong and speak up. And most importantly never give up!
