GURL

GURL is a 2020 New Zealand short film directed, written and produced by Mika X.^[2][3] The film premiered at the New Zealand International Film Festival as part of the "Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts 2020" selection curated by Leo Koziol and Craig Fasi.^[4] GURL tells a story of Carmen Rupe experience in the context of being both Maori and LGBT: "The infamous Māori Drag Queen Carmen 'Gurl' finally accepts her-true-self when she falls in love with a fading rugby star on an ill-fated night in New Zealand 1975."^[5][6] This short film is a prequel to the feature film "The Book of Carmen" which has been in pre-production since the release of GURL.^[7][8]

GURL
Film poster
Directed by	Mika X
Written by	Mika X
Produced by	Mika X Georgina Allison Conder Philippa Campbell
Starring	Jay Tewake Brady Peeti Jackie Clarke Regan Taylor Aaron Ward[1]
Cinematography	Darryl Ward
Edited by	Anastasia Doniants
Music by	Mika Haka
Production company	Mika Haka Foundation
Distributed by	Independent
Release date	26 July 2020 (2020-07-26) (New Zealand International Film Festival)
Running time	20 minutes
Country	New Zealand
Language	English
Budget	$380,000

Plot

GURL is about night of the life of Carmen Rupe. While she is working the streets in the evening of K road, Carmen lives in a fantasy as a younger transgender woman "Gurl", working as a sex worker, waiting for her White Knight to take her away. When the white knight isn't what he makes out to be, Gurl escapes a violent. While she collects herself, an unexpected person comes to her aid, A dying All Black. The two spend an evening together as they fall in love.

Cast

• Jay Tewake as Gurl / Young Carmen
• Jackie Clarke as Sapphire
• Brady Peeti as Gypsy
• Regan Taylor as Ed
• Aaron Ward as White Knight
• Mika X as Carmen
• Rosanna Raymond as Mystik Maiden
• Ramon Te Wake as Mystik Ra
• Amanaki Prescott as Mystik Ama
• Amanduh La Hoare as Lofty Queen
• Danielle Hayes as Terracotta Blade
• Whetu Fala as Whaea
• Richie Cattell as Rugby Lad

Credits

Director

• Directed and Written by: Mika X

Producers

• Executive Producer: Mika X
• Consulting Producer: Georgina Allison Conder
• Consulting Producer: Philippa Campbell
• Line Producer: Lance Loughlin
• Associate Producer: Alex Plumb

Music department

• Music Composers: Mark Dennison
• Music Composers: Penny Dodd
• Music Producer and Mastered by: Alan Jansson
• Music Manager: Benjamin Thomas Watt

Design

• Production Design: Shaun Dooley

Sound Department

• Sound Recordists: Tipene Rogers
• Sound Recordists: Mark Storie

Editing

• Editor: Anastasia Doniants
• Editing Studio: Department of post

Releases

The film premiered at the New Zealand International Film Festival at ASB Waterfront Theatre on 26 July 2020. The film was also available to watch online until 2 August.^[9] The film was screened in the first weekend of August at Rialto Cinema Tauranga, Monterey Howick Cinemas in Auckland, Regent cinema in Dunedin, Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth and Roxy Cinema in Wellington.^[10]

Soundtrack

Single

"What Kind Of Coffee Do You Like?"
Single by Jay Te Wake, Jackie Clarke & Brady Peeti
from the album GURL Original Short Film Soundtrack
Released	17 July 2020 (2020-07-17)
Recorded	2019–2020
Studio	Uptown Studio
Genre	Soundtrack Musical
Length	2:26
Label	Patangaroa Entertainment Ltd
Composer(s)	Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison
Lyricist(s)	Mika Haka
Producer(s)	Alan Jansson
GURL Original Short Film Soundtrack track listing
12 What Kind of Coffe Do You Like?

Track listing

Digital download^[11]

1. "What Kind Of Coffee Do You Like?" – 2:26

Album

GURL Original Short Film Soundtrack[12][13]
Soundtrack album by Mika Haka & The cast of GURL
Released	24 July 2020 (2020-07-24)
Recorded	2019–2020
Studio	Uptown Studios
Genre	Soundtrack Musical
Length	46:37
Label	Patangaroa Entertainment Ltd
Producer	Alan Jansson

All tracks are written by Mika Haka.

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"I Te Wa"	Mika Haka	Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison	Brady Peeti & The cast	1:29
2.	"The Lonely All Black"	Mika Haka	Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison	Regan Taylor	1:28
3.	"MELANCOLY"		Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison		1:35
4.	"Mirror Mirror on the wall"	Mika Haka	Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison	Jackie Clarke & Gail Tipene	4:59
5.	"Room 1334"	Mika Haka	Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison	Rosanna Raymond feat. Jackie Clarke & Gail Tipene	4:14
6.	"Himi Hendrix"		Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison	Neil Watson	1:00
7.	"Eggs, Baked Beans, Rainbow"	Mika Haka	Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison	Frankie Stevens feat. Jackie Clarke & Gail Tipene	0:47
8.	"Shake it up baby"	Mika Haka	Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison	Gail Tipene	4:03
9.	"Mambo Fantasy"	Mika Haka	Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison	Mika Haka	1:24
10.	"Hawaiian Love Duet"	Mika Haka	Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison	Jay Te Wake & Regan Taylor	0:38
11.	"In The Morning"		Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison		0:49
12.	"What Kind of Coffe Do You Like?"	Mika Haka	Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison	Jay Te Wake, Jackie Clarke & Brady Peeti feat. The Cast	2:26
13.	"I Ta Wa (Instrumental)"		Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison		1:29
14.	"The Lonely All Black (Instrumental)"		Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison		1:28
15.	"Mirror Mirror on the Wall (Instrumental)"		Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison		4:59
16.	"Room 1334 (Instrumental)"		Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison		4:13
17.	"Eggs, Baked Beans, Rainbow (Instrumental)"		Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison		0:48
18.	"Shake it up baby (Instrumental)"		Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison		4:04
19.	"Mambo Fantasy"	Mika Haka	Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison	Jackie Clarke	1:29
20.	"Hawaiian Love Duet (Instrumental)"		Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison		0:37
21.	"What Kind Of Coffee Do You Like? (Instrumental)"		Penny Dodd and Mark Dennison		2:26

Reception

Accolades

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
NZIFF	2 August 2020	Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts Best Film Award	Mika X	Nominated	[14]
		Ngā Whanaunga Māori Pasifika Shorts CineMāori Audience Award		Won
Wairoa Māori Film Festival	25 October 2020	Whenua Jury - Best Māori Director (Short Film)		Won
Calcutta International Cult Film Festival (Films of the Month – Jan-Feb 2021)	17 March 2021	Best LGBT		Won	[15]
		Outstanding Achievement Award		Won
Brazil International Monthly Film Festival	September 2021	Best Actor For Median Length Film	Jay Tewake	Won	[16]
California Indies Film and Script Awards	January 2022	Best LGBTQ Film	Mika X	Won	[17]