Pua Magasiva, star of “Shortland Street” and “Power Rangers: Ninja Storm,” was found dead in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday at the age of 38.
Magasiva got his start in acting through “Power Rangers,” playing Red Ranger Shane Clarke in the kids series’ eleventh season in 2003. Magasiva joined the show after Disney, which acquired “Power Rangers” from Saban, moved production of the series to New Zealand to keep costs down.
That same year, Magasiva became known in New Zealand on the soap opera “Shortland Street,” playing comic-relief nurse Vinnie Kruse. Magasiva played the role from 2003-06, later returning to the show in 2011. Magasiva also had a career in radio, co-hosting the morning show on Kiwi station Flava. He left the show in 2018.
Wellington Police told the New Zealand Herald that they received reports of Magasiva’s death at an address in the city’s central business district. No suspicious circumstances were found at the scene,...
Magasiva got his start in acting through “Power Rangers,” playing Red Ranger Shane Clarke in the kids series’ eleventh season in 2003. Magasiva joined the show after Disney, which acquired “Power Rangers” from Saban, moved production of the series to New Zealand to keep costs down.
That same year, Magasiva became known in New Zealand on the soap opera “Shortland Street,” playing comic-relief nurse Vinnie Kruse. Magasiva played the role from 2003-06, later returning to the show in 2011. Magasiva also had a career in radio, co-hosting the morning show on Kiwi station Flava. He left the show in 2018.
Wellington Police told the New Zealand Herald that they received reports of Magasiva’s death at an address in the city’s central business district. No suspicious circumstances were found at the scene,...
- 5/12/2019
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Pua Magasiva, who played the Red Ranger on “Power Rangers Ninja Storm,” was found dead Saturday in New Zealand.
Police arriving at a Wellington, New Zealand residence early on Saturday founder Magasive unresponsive, according to a New Zealand Herald report. He was 38-years-old and police said preliminarily there were “no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.”
Magasiva portrayed Red Wind Ranger Shane Clarke in the Power Rangers show, a spin-off of the original that aired in 2003. He also was known In New Zealandas nurse Vinnie on the medical drama “Shortland Street.”
Magasiva departed from Flava radio last April after a DUI arrest. He was born in Samoa and raised in New Zealand.
Survivors include his wife, Lizz Sadler, a 7-year-old daughter, Jasmine; and his brother, Robbie Magasiva, who is also an actor.
Police arriving at a Wellington, New Zealand residence early on Saturday founder Magasive unresponsive, according to a New Zealand Herald report. He was 38-years-old and police said preliminarily there were “no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.”
Magasiva portrayed Red Wind Ranger Shane Clarke in the Power Rangers show, a spin-off of the original that aired in 2003. He also was known In New Zealandas nurse Vinnie on the medical drama “Shortland Street.”
Magasiva departed from Flava radio last April after a DUI arrest. He was born in Samoa and raised in New Zealand.
Survivors include his wife, Lizz Sadler, a 7-year-old daughter, Jasmine; and his brother, Robbie Magasiva, who is also an actor.
- 5/11/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
'Power Rangers' star Pua Magasiva, who played the Red Ranger, is dead. Magasiva died early Saturday morning in New Zealand. Police called it a "sudden death" but neither they nor his spokesperson would be specific. He was found unresponsive in a building in the central business district in the city of Wellington. Magasiva appeared on "Power Rangers Ninja Storm" and played Red Wind Ranger, Shane Clarke. It was a spinoff of the original...
- 5/11/2019
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Hawaii International Film Festival
HONOLULU -- Romantic comedy gets a masculine makeover in "Samoan Wedding", a local hit from New Zealand. With strategic handling by U.S. distributor Magnolia Pictures, the film should appeal to mature urban audiences and fans of world cinema.
Guided by veteran producer John Barnett ("Whale Rider") and released domestically in March as "Sione's Wedding," it broke New Zealand's opening-weekend boxoffice record on the strength of wide multicultural appeal. Stateside, "Wedding" could make a fair showing in limited release when it expands following a Nov. 11 release in Hawaii.
Best friends and first-generation Samoan New Zealanders Albert (Oscar Kightley), Stanley Iaheto Ah Hi), Michael Robbie Magasiva) and Sefa (Shimpal Lelisi) are 30-ish former members of the Duckrockers breakdancing crew who still haven't outgrown their protracted adolescence. "The Boys" are notorious throughout their close-knit Auckland Samoan community for trashing parties and disrupting wedding receptions with their drunken antics.
To ward off any further misbehavior at his upcoming nuptials, Michael's younger brother Sione (Pua Magasiva) prompts the local minister (Nathaniel Lees) to ban the four from the event. Disbelieving at first, then desperate to attend their best boy's wedding, the guys strike a deal: If each can find a legitimate date for the ceremony, he will be admitted.
With only a month left before the big day, each faces daunting dating challenges: Hunky bike messenger Michael is popular with his selected demographic of affluent white women but can't find anyone who considers him more than just a boy toy. Albert is too shy to even get a date and blind to the affections of his cute co-worker Tania (Madeleine Sami). Party-hearty Sefa thinks he's set with girlfriend Leilani (Teuila Blakely), but she's increasingly fed up with his irresponsible behavior. Meanwhile, Stanley (aka "Tyreeq") scams short-term hookups on a phone-chat line.
When Albert's mother (Ana Tuigamala) tries setting him up with distant cousin and Polynesian beauty Princess (Maryjane McKibbin-Schwenke), Michael becomes a rival after suddenly discovering the allure of Samoan women. Meanwhile, Leilani moves out on Sefa, signaling that the Boys are headed for a world of heartache on the road to reforming their ways.
Although endearingly acted as it deploys pointed sendups of male romantic foibles, the film only occasionally hits the heights of hilarity to which it aspires. First-time feature filmmaker and music video director Chris Graham capably modulates the tone between conventional and more outrageous comedy, assuring that the film's well-meaning humor is ultimately infectious, even if some important plot points remain neglected.
Culturally specific comic performances by central members of the ensemble cast were honed in the Naked Samoans theater group, but strongly accented dialogue could dull the delivery for American viewers.
Graham brings a snappy, polished style to the picture, en-hanced by Aaron Morton's crisp widescreen cinematography and Iain Aitken's locally flavored production design. A score featuring hip-hop and soul-inflected numbers, along with a selection of traditional Polynesian songs, tunefully anchors the story in its colorful cultural milieu.
SAMOAN WEDDING
Magnolia Pictures
A South Pacific Pictures presentation in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, NZ on Air, Village SkyCity Cinemas, Joseph P. Moodabe
Credits:
Director: Chris Graham
Screenwriters: James Griffin, Oscar Kightley
Producers: John Barnett, Chloe Smith
Executive producers: Paul Davis, Mark Horowitz
Director of photography: Aaron Morton
Production designer: Iain Aitken
Music: Andy Morton, Dawn Raid Entertainment
Costumes: Jane Holland
Editor: Paul Maxwell
Cast:
Albert: Oscar Kightley
Stanley: Iaheto Ah Hi
Sefa: Shimpal Lelisi
Michael: Robbie Magasiva
Sione: Pua Magasiva
Leilani: Teuila Blakely
Tania: Madeleine Sami
Princess: Maryjane McKibbin-Schwenke
Albert's Mom: Ana Tuigamala
Minister: Nathaniel Lees
Running time -- 97 minutes
No MPAA rating...
HONOLULU -- Romantic comedy gets a masculine makeover in "Samoan Wedding", a local hit from New Zealand. With strategic handling by U.S. distributor Magnolia Pictures, the film should appeal to mature urban audiences and fans of world cinema.
Guided by veteran producer John Barnett ("Whale Rider") and released domestically in March as "Sione's Wedding," it broke New Zealand's opening-weekend boxoffice record on the strength of wide multicultural appeal. Stateside, "Wedding" could make a fair showing in limited release when it expands following a Nov. 11 release in Hawaii.
Best friends and first-generation Samoan New Zealanders Albert (Oscar Kightley), Stanley Iaheto Ah Hi), Michael Robbie Magasiva) and Sefa (Shimpal Lelisi) are 30-ish former members of the Duckrockers breakdancing crew who still haven't outgrown their protracted adolescence. "The Boys" are notorious throughout their close-knit Auckland Samoan community for trashing parties and disrupting wedding receptions with their drunken antics.
To ward off any further misbehavior at his upcoming nuptials, Michael's younger brother Sione (Pua Magasiva) prompts the local minister (Nathaniel Lees) to ban the four from the event. Disbelieving at first, then desperate to attend their best boy's wedding, the guys strike a deal: If each can find a legitimate date for the ceremony, he will be admitted.
With only a month left before the big day, each faces daunting dating challenges: Hunky bike messenger Michael is popular with his selected demographic of affluent white women but can't find anyone who considers him more than just a boy toy. Albert is too shy to even get a date and blind to the affections of his cute co-worker Tania (Madeleine Sami). Party-hearty Sefa thinks he's set with girlfriend Leilani (Teuila Blakely), but she's increasingly fed up with his irresponsible behavior. Meanwhile, Stanley (aka "Tyreeq") scams short-term hookups on a phone-chat line.
When Albert's mother (Ana Tuigamala) tries setting him up with distant cousin and Polynesian beauty Princess (Maryjane McKibbin-Schwenke), Michael becomes a rival after suddenly discovering the allure of Samoan women. Meanwhile, Leilani moves out on Sefa, signaling that the Boys are headed for a world of heartache on the road to reforming their ways.
Although endearingly acted as it deploys pointed sendups of male romantic foibles, the film only occasionally hits the heights of hilarity to which it aspires. First-time feature filmmaker and music video director Chris Graham capably modulates the tone between conventional and more outrageous comedy, assuring that the film's well-meaning humor is ultimately infectious, even if some important plot points remain neglected.
Culturally specific comic performances by central members of the ensemble cast were honed in the Naked Samoans theater group, but strongly accented dialogue could dull the delivery for American viewers.
Graham brings a snappy, polished style to the picture, en-hanced by Aaron Morton's crisp widescreen cinematography and Iain Aitken's locally flavored production design. A score featuring hip-hop and soul-inflected numbers, along with a selection of traditional Polynesian songs, tunefully anchors the story in its colorful cultural milieu.
SAMOAN WEDDING
Magnolia Pictures
A South Pacific Pictures presentation in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, NZ on Air, Village SkyCity Cinemas, Joseph P. Moodabe
Credits:
Director: Chris Graham
Screenwriters: James Griffin, Oscar Kightley
Producers: John Barnett, Chloe Smith
Executive producers: Paul Davis, Mark Horowitz
Director of photography: Aaron Morton
Production designer: Iain Aitken
Music: Andy Morton, Dawn Raid Entertainment
Costumes: Jane Holland
Editor: Paul Maxwell
Cast:
Albert: Oscar Kightley
Stanley: Iaheto Ah Hi
Sefa: Shimpal Lelisi
Michael: Robbie Magasiva
Sione: Pua Magasiva
Leilani: Teuila Blakely
Tania: Madeleine Sami
Princess: Maryjane McKibbin-Schwenke
Albert's Mom: Ana Tuigamala
Minister: Nathaniel Lees
Running time -- 97 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 11/28/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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