Director & Producer

Wei Li is a Canadian comic artist, filmmaker and storyboard artist residing in the unceded territories of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (also known as Vancouver). In 2020, he was awarded the Daytime Emmy for Individual Achievement in Storyboards for his work on Netflix’s Carmen Sandiego. Wei’s has contributed to shows for Dreamworks Animation, PBS and Netflix Animation. For their 2021 Venice Biennale exhibition, Henriquez Partners Architects invited Wei to create a graphic novel about their project on the refugee crisis. His comics and personal work revolve around themes of body autonomy, movement, trauma and healing.

Tehura is Wei’s debut film. It has also become one of his greatest teachers.

Dance Choreographer

Raised in Tahiti by an established Ori Tahiti dancer, dancing has always been part of Nahema’s life. Her dance even allowed her to travel the world as a performer. In 2014, representing the renowned dance group, Temaeva, she took 3rd place in the solo category at the Heiva, the biggest Ori Tahiti competition in the world.

Only with Nahema, could we find our vision for Tehura’s dance. Not only did she choreograph the dance, the narrative of the dance was inspired by her relationship to Ori Tahiti.

Nahema now resides in Mo’orea, Tahiti’s sister island. She runs her own food truck, Pura Vida Moorea.

Art Director & Co-Producer

Originating from the Netherlands, Mei-ing Nieuwland is a Vancouver-based illustrator and art director. She has worked in games and animation, specialising in cohesive visual development of new IP's, like the rich fantasy world of Lionheart: Dark Moon (2017) or the pleasant seaside town of Netflix's Starbeam (2020). Her special interests lie in colour design, mid century cityscape illustrations and costume design.

For Tehura, she designed the colour script, painted the backgrounds, and helped to establish a visual language for each of the perspectives in the film. She was the film’s second pair of director eyes, constantly raising our bar.

Follow Mei-ing’s work on @Ming85Art.

Tahiti Music Composer

Moana is a renowned musician in Tahiti. He currently teaches traditional music at the Conservatoire Artistique de la Polynésie Française.

He generously shared with us the approach and philosophy behind Tahitian music, deepening our connection to it. Not only did Moana compose the music for Tehura, he played each and every instrument individually for the recording. He was our one-person band.

Translator & Associate Producer

Holly is a performing artist, musician, producer, anti-oppression facilitator and expressive arts therapist. They are queer, half Chinese and resides in the traditional unceded territories of the K'omoks nation.

Wei and Holly are frequent artistic collaborators. In 2019, Holly accompanied Wei on his second project trip to Tahiti. It was only with Holly’s help that we were able to record the music, voices and sounds for Tehura.

Their artistic alter ego is @Senyué.artist.

Supervising Sound Editor & Re-recording Mixer

Mark serves the film, television and animation industries as a supervising sound designer, re-recording mixer and composer, circa 2006.

Mark edited together all the recordings from Tahiti - everything from the music to voice acting to the sounds of nature - into the soundscape of Tehura. He was so generous in his guidance in everything audio related.

Visit Mark at markdolmont.com.

Voice of Tehura

Tainatea is a passionate and prolific Ori Tahiti dancer. She trained with Moon Urima at the Conservatoire Artistique de la Polynésie Française. She now performs with Hei Tahiti.

Tehura is Tainatea’s voice acting debut. She was recommended by her Tahitian oral traditions teachers.

Follow Tainatea’s many passions on her Youtube channel.

Voice of the Dance Chief

Moon is a beloved dance chief and a pillar in Tahiti’s dance community. She also teaches at the Conservatoire Artistique de la Polynésie Française. Beyond just dance training, she has given love and support to many young Ori Tahiti dancers. She opened her classes to our film project so that we can study Ori Tahiti through our drawings.

In real life, Moon is nothing like the character she plays in Tehura. Nonetheless, she embraced the villain with the same playfulness and commitment that she puts into her dance.

Voice of Paul

Ben is a Canadian character designer, currently residing in the unceded territories of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (also known as Vancouver).

Fully understanding that the character of Paul is a reflection of the male gaze, Ben successfully taps into past experiences with machismo and misogyny, in himself and his peers. A part that he now cringes at.

Follow Ben’s artistic journey @artbybenluckhart.