Hosted by Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury’s (UC) Kōawa Studios, the lecture explored authentic storytelling and the role of feeling in creativity.
Sarkies spoke candidly about the responsibility of telling a true story and the care required to honour those at its centre. He described authenticity as “an intangible quality” that comes from being grounded in place and connected to the people whose stories are being told. “You start with a feeling,” he said. “It’s not about going straight to the visuals. You have to feel the scene, what does it smell like, what does it sound like, and then build from there.”
Based on the 2010 Pike River Mine disaster, Pike River follows the years-long fight for justice led by Anna Osborne (Melanie Lynskey) and Sonya Rockhouse (Robyn Malcolm), whose husband and son were among the 29 men who lost their lives.
He explained that directing mostly happens before you get on set; it is built on preparation research and the ability to translate feeling into a story. From early script read-throughs with the women who inspired the film to filming in Greymouth with local extras, Sarkies emphasised collaboration and preparation as key to keeping the story real. “It’s about trust and making sure everyone is doing their best work. That’s how you create something meaningful,” he said.
Students, including those from UC’s Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours and writing programmes, alongside UC staff and community members, gathered to hear how five years of research, writing and filmmaking shaped the powerful retelling of one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most devastating events.
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