Lealani Siaosi
Development Producer and On-Set Producer, Kevin & Co
Freelance Screenwriter
Bachelor of Communication Studies in Television and Screen Production
What she loved most about her studies was the practical teaching approach, says Lealani Siaosi who studied a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Television and Screen Production.
“My biggest highlight at AUT was spending long nights in the edit suites alongside my classmates. We went through phases of delusion, exhaustion and slight insanity, but those were the same nights where we had the greatest laughs, feeds and memories. AUT’s hands-on approach is what drew me to the university in the first place, and it’s something I’m incredibly grateful for. It was through holding a camera and working in that space that I truly understood the impact of capturing stories visually.”
There is one assignment she still strongly remembers today.
“My final assessment was a documentary centred on a conversation between a grandmother and her grandson, where she shared her experience of the Dawn Raids. I’ll never forget sitting in Academy Cinema and seeing their entire family in the audience as their story was shared with everyone. In that moment, watching the grandmother’s reaction, I truly understood just how powerful film can be.”
A passion for storytelling
She has always loved storytelling, says Lealani whose studies were supported by an AUT Vice-Chancellor's Significant Student Scholarship.
“I went to AUT believing that my pathway to do storytelling would be through journalism, but the communications degree gave me the chance to explore a variety of avenues before choosing a major. That’s when I discovered a deep love for telling stories through the screen.”
She has some great advice for other students who are only at the start of their own university journey.
“My advice is to keep an open mind and give everything a go. The options are endless – you just need to figure out which option is best for you.”
Turning ideas into films
After graduating from AUT at the end of 2019, Lealani now loves splitting her time between working as a development producer and on-set producer for Kevin & Co and as a freelance screenwriter.
“Development is working in the very early stages of a project, usually when it’s still just an idea, and helping flesh the idea out into something real. This often includes reading pitch decks and scripts, collaborating closely with other creatives to deepen the world and characters, and giving feedback as the project begins to take shape. I also work as an on-set producer, which means being on set while the material is filmed. That involves working closely with the director and actors to make the best choices, and get the strongest performances, while also ensuring the overall vibes of the set are good, supportive and safe for everyone.
“The people in the screen industry are easily my favourite part. Jumping from project to project, you’re always bound to meet new faces, alongside familiar favourites. Crew members are genuinely the best people, and when you spend the majority of your life working, it’s a blessing to do it alongside people you love.”
She says her greatest achievement so far has been becoming the kind of producer she is proud to be.
“I care deeply about the stories we tell, the way we tell them and the way we treat the people we tell them with. I love my job, and I feel incredibly lucky that I can say I do.”
