Donato Fatuesi: Talofa Malo ‘E Lelei, and welcome back to the Fala. Here on the Fofala le Fala, Podcast we weave together stories of queer and trans pacific islanders that you wouldn’t otherwise hear anywhere else. And I’m your host, Donato Fatuesi, and I’m so excited to welcome a dear friend of mine, Kristian Fanene Schmidt.
Donato Fatuesi: Most of you already know Krit, as someone that is a host, community leader and advocate, really moving the needle when it comes to Pasifika representation in media and entertainment, and helping to champion other folks like myself in this industry. Welcome, Krit.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Hey! Thank you for having me.
Donato Fatuesi: Thank you so much. I want to open up our conversation. Of course I know you on a deep personal level. Some of our listeners might be hearing about your story for the 1st time. So I want to give you an opportunity to share with folks basically your origin story. Right here on the Fala, we invite people to share their journeys, you know, and how it is that they’ve gone to the points in which they are in their lives doing incredible things like you are.
Donato Fatuesi: And I think it’s really a Testament to your grit, your spirit, and your love for community. And I want folks to learn about how it is that you got to where you are.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Hey? Oh, gosh! Always, always gassing me up, Donato, I really appreciate you having me on here, and and yeah, so I’ll try and make this as succinct as possible. So I was born and raised in Porirua which is a city in Aotearo, otherwise known as New Zealand and both my parents were born in Samoa. So my mom is from Afega and Si’umu, and then my dad is from Lotopa and Safotu. And so
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: they met in the Wellington region, and they had me, my brother and sister
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: and and so Porirua is predominantly pasifika, like the school. The schools that I went to were predominantly pasifika.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: And so you know how.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: when you’re a kid, you just don’t know any different. So like I didn’t realize I was growing up in the hood like it was, it was just a better effect, right? And so I went through high school, and it wasn’t until probably in my senior years of high school when we started when I was on the debate team, and then I’d start going to other schools. And I was like, Oh, wow! Like these schools are fancy.
Donato Fatuesi: Yeah, yeah.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah, what do you mean they have a gym AND a hall, because ours was one of the same
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: like. And then, you know, just as far as subjects go. I did
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: French and calculus in my in my senior year.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I did those 2 subjects by correspondence, meaning I didn’t have a teacher because there weren’t enough students for them to justify assigning us a teacher. So so
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: in correspondence back home, basically, they send you books, and you have to like. Just teach yourself basically and like, send them back and and you go back and forth. So it was kind of like
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: it was wild to me that I was learning 2 subjects correspondence. When I think about it, you know, because I I am definitely someone, especially as a kid. I just do not have that kind of discipline to be.
Donato Fatuesi: Also teaching yourself.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah.
Donato Fatuesi: Part of the correspondence program. In addition to just regular degular school.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so you know, those. Those are some of the disadvantages of going to schools that they just don’t have the resources of, you know, of rich.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: whiter schools. Basically. So you know, cause cause Viard college was like, I want to say, at least 90% Pasifika.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: and then yes.
Donato Fatuesi: Incredible, though.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah, I know exactly. And like I said, I didn’t know any different, because that’s that’s the school, you know, I grew up in. So.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: And it wasn’t until I started going to other schools for the debates and stuff that I was like, oh, wow! Like they got some.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: This is what’s what it’s like on the other side, you know. This is how they live down, down the street.
Donato Fatuesi: Hmm.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: And so yeah. So when I went to university, I got a scholarship to go to law school up in Auckland.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: So I moved from Porirua up to Auckland, and you know Porirua was like
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: a few 100,000 people, and then Auckland’s like
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: a million. You know, there’s over a million 2 million people or whatever. So you know, I was kind of like moving to the big smoke. And and so, you know, I went to this. I went to law school up there, and it was just like, Oh, like, this is like.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I went from a school of 400 kids and and only 18 of us made it to our senior year, and only 3 of us got into university, and so to go from that to like this
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: campus of like 40,000 kids. It was like it was just like, Oh, but you know I was yearning for that, you know, like I wanted to be part of something bigger, and and I really thrived in it. It took me a little while, but I gained my feet, and I was joining all the different student associations, and I really loved it. And it was there that I really started to
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: like develop a passion for working for
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: like Maori and Pasifika students. And so, as part of a program where I was going out to high schools, and, like, you know, we would spend 3 hours every week like doing tutoring, and then would just hang out and and just basically let them know about our experiences in there so that they could kind of gear up for when they went to university. So
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: yeah. So there was a program that I came in on as a mentor. And then I eventually became a mentor coordinator. And it’s that really kind of solidified that this is what I want to do long term. You know, it’s just really spend time with our young people, and and just do whatever I can to help them, you know. Kind of.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I guess, follow in my footsteps, as far as you know, going from high school to university, and and
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: and giving some guidance that they might not necessarily have from their own families, because they might be the 1st in their family to go to university right.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Or.
Donato Fatuesi: Especially with the stats that you grew up with right
Donato Fatuesi: and and and the culture shock of experiencing going from a school of like what you said.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: 400. Yeah.
Donato Fatuesi: 400 students, to now 40,000.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Right.
Donato Fatuesi: Right, and only about 3 people from your graduating class. It sounds like made it to college, or at least this school.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah.
Donato Fatuesi: In particular.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: To college in general. Yeah, only 3 of us got entrance to go directly into
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: and to university. And so, yeah, so I, when I graduated from law school, I was like, I do not need to be a lawyer like
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I cannot see myself stuck in the office all day pushing paper. No shade, but that’s just not who I am. And so
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I opted to work for the University, and I became the civic equity advisor, and I was doing that for a little while, and then and then I decided to. Oh, yeah, I won’t go through the whole thing. But I ended up deciding that you know I’m doing this work in education, working with young people, but I don’t have an academic background to it, because my academic background was in law, right?
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: And so an opportunity came up to apply for a master’s in the States on a Fulbright scholarship. So I applied for that.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I moved to the States. I was successful. And so I studied masters in education more so the policy side
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: to look at ways that you know, we can.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Basically, I came into the States to look at the ways that
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: schools were working with marginalized groups out here, so I could take back ideas. And so I did that for a couple of years, moved back to the US. Excuse me, moved back to New Zealand, and I was teaching pacific studies when I moved back.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: And Mtv. Australia was looking for a host. So they put out this competition. And I was like, you know what I want to go for that, and
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: And so I auditioned halfway through the semester, and I got it, and then I ended up having to leave my students, which was, you know, which was like, not ideal but you know I I guess I was, you know, kid, with a dream, and I wanted to go do this thing.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: and and I had the support of my manager at the time. So I left Pacific studies, worked for Mtv. Australia, and
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: and you know it’s it’s I say this all the time like, be careful what you wish for, because I wasn’t specific. I remember at the beginning of that year I said, I really want to work in entertainment. And so I got this job.
Donato Fatuesi: Mhmm.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Wasn’t specific about like
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: what I want that to look like, you know where I want it to be? What sort of atmosphere do I want it to be, what sort of environment do I want it to to really foster? And so yeah, ended up being 2 of the worst years of my life.
Donato Fatuesi: Oh no!
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah, it was terrible
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: And then from there, after 2 years at Mtv, I’d had it. I was like, I want to get back to the States. You know this, this place where you know, when I did my graduate studies, I really loved it out there. And so I moved back to the US. And I was pursuing, acting.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: All the roles that I was being put forward for were really problematic. And I eventually started using the platform that I built from Mtv. To just speak out against things.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: And I started to gain traction, and I was being asked to speak for, like the different studios like Netflix and Amazon.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: And eventually I was like, you know what there’s.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: you know this is great, that
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: That
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: people are starting to listen. But you know there needs to be something more organized and the strength of numbers. So that’s when I decided to start PEAK and I approached
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: some of my friends, and then also people that I had kind of just met like
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: like just by chance on zoom calls, which was Dana Ledoux Miller. We were in a in a breakout room together.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: At Sundance actually, well online. And and we meet each other that way. And I, I basically said to them, Hey.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: you know I’m a nobody out here. Nobody cares what I have to say. But I can do all the heavy lifting when it comes to running this org. I just need someone who can back me and and kind of legitimize it by having, you know, someone like yourself who has standing in the industry, and they took a chance on me, and then that’s how PEAK formed. And so we’ve been around for
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: gosh! 2 and a half years now.
Donato Fatuesi: 3, almost going on 3.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah, coming up on 3 years. And yeah, really proud of how far we’ve come. In that time. We’ve we’ve had. We’ve got
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: like
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: partnerships with most of the studios and streaming services. And we’ve got a couple of fellowships along the way. And yeah, we’re able to really amplify and and just start really investing in in our upcoming talent. And so the hope is that you know
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: sooner rather than later, you know, when it comes to our stories. We’ll have our people, you know.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: behind the behind the camera and in front of the camera as well. And you know, because the history of.
Donato Fatuesi: In the writer’s room.
Donato Fatuesi: Exactly. Yeah.
Donato Fatuesi: Driving the narratives that represent us in in the ways that make us feel truly seen and respected and honored right, and I think it is a true Testament. To your gifts, especially like, and for those of y’all who don’t know
Donato Fatuesi: PEAK is the Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Committee.
Donato Fatuesi: And this was actually I got introduced to Krit when he was speaking at the Creating Change Conference about 3 years ago.
Donato Fatuesi: and it was around the same time, y’all, that I was moving to Hollywood and trying to figure it out and yearning for community spaces such as this. And so it it was profound to me, but also I feel like divine timing that we met at that conference in a room where you were also presenting on Pasifika representation. As well
Donato Fatuesi: get folks to understand that Pasifika issues
Donato Fatuesi: are often buried under the AAPI umbrella.
Donato Fatuesi: Right.
Donato Fatuesi: And I think in that room it it raised a lot of 1. Yes, curiosity from from from our AA allies, but also some. Some needed discomfort, like oftentimes, sometimes people shy away from generative conflict. And it was really to say, like, Hey, we’re here. Our issues are, you know, very
Donato Fatuesi: succinctly different. Some things, you know, are similar, like with all marginalized communities. But oftentimes we are the minority within the minority, right? And so I think, with the work that you do, especially as a consultant to some of these major studios that says, Hey.
Donato Fatuesi: this narrative, or whatever is not working in the best way. Or here’s how we can shift the paradigm to honor Pasifika voices and Pasifika people.
Donato Fatuesi: What do you feel has been like a challenge that you’ve been embracing while engaging in some of that generative conflict.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Gosh I mean, you already know, donna me and you have had to work on a project where.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: like behind the scenes, we’re really pushing and pushing for certain things to change right and in order for us to maintain that relationship, we can’t necessarily
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: speak out about things in public, and so to the community, it might look like we. We’re endorsing something when we’re actually not. But you know, that’s kind of the game, right is is, if you wanna stay in a place where you can, you know, have have some influence with, you know the studios or streaming services you you kind of have to
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: pick your battles. But then also
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: you have to understand that if if you’re gonna do that, you you do have to kinda do it behind closed doors like, like, you know, you can have it out. But as long as it’s not public, and so I think a lot of people don’t necessarily understand that. And so it doesn’t like, you know. That we’re compromising into a degree. You know, we we all compromise. So it’s that can kinda like
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: pull here at the heart sometimes, you know, in my spirit, but I think as long as
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: we move with with a degree of integrity, then then that’s what matters most. And and knowing that you know, this is for the greater good, you know. So it can be hard sometimes. But this, yeah, I I think
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: we won’t go into specifics, but you know you and I had to kind of deal with a situation on on a particular project, and it wasn’t the funnest, but we got through it, and and we did the best we could with what we had right. And so that’s what a lot of the work is, you know.
Donato Fatuesi: And and I think that really speaks to Kurt is is that is community organizing
Donato Fatuesi: right, like, we all have our unique strengths and our roles to play.
Donato Fatuesi: and and sometimes not everything that people might see being hashed out publicly.
Donato Fatuesi: There. There are ways that things are moving behind the scenes to to affect the change that really helps drive certain things to where they can go or where we would like it to go, but that also sometimes takes time, and it takes a lot of trust right? Like it’s knowing that when I’m in community with you and with the next person with the next person, and we understand what’s at stake.
Donato Fatuesi: right? Whether or not it might directly impact us right? And and I think about this a lot when it comes to like trans issues. Specifically, right or queer issues is, I might have a relationship to someone that may not be trans.
Donato Fatuesi: But I know that loves and cares for me, and I can make specific asks to help move things, to make spaces safer and more accessible for queer and trans people
Donato Fatuesi: right? And I might not name that publicly to shame folks right but but trust that the work is being done. I’m finding the access point somewhere else to get it there.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Right.
Donato Fatuesi: And that could.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah.
Donato Fatuesi: Because it could feel like a push and pull between different interests, right? Or or the weight of that might feel heavier on one side than it does on the other.
Donato Fatuesi: But it’s understanding that we’re all part of like this ecosystem when we know that we’re in community with each other, and we can trust each other
Donato Fatuesi: to show up in ways that maybe we can’t or don’t yet have the access to.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah.
Donato Fatuesi: So with that, said Krit. I’m curious to hear. What would you say is, is a north star for you, right, or a guiding principle within within this work.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah, I think.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Gosh, it’s too yeah. I think for me, a big one is just to
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: be yourself, I guess you know, like. And and when we’re talking about storytelling, you know I I always
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I always want to come from a place of truth and authenticity, and I think you know that goes for whether you’re an actor or a writer, you know I’m always like.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: what what is it that can? That I can pull from myself, that is.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: is honest and and comes from the heart, you know, and I think that’s that’s what guides me and and my relationships, and how I deal with people, and the the projects that I pick and and just the
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: the like themes of our panels and things like that. It all comes back to like what what feels right here, you know. So I think that’s.
Donato Fatuesi: And.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Something I’ve been working on for a long time, you know, especially as a queer person who who hid who I was for such a long time. Now more than ever. It’s like I want to be honest about. You know everything. I want everything to come from a real place for me, you know. And that’s not any that’s not to
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: look down on on
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: the ways that we have to survive a lot of the time by by hiding who we are, you know that’s there’s no judgment at all. It’s just now that I’ve
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I’ve come on the other side of your place. It’s like I don’t want to go back to it, you know, because.
Donato Fatuesi: Yeah.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Me back to a place that that
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: that isn’t light. So things as light as possible. I really try to. Yeah, do everything from from that place of love and and truth. You know.
Donato Fatuesi: Yeah, I mean, and you say, you know period of your life where you were hiding.
Donato Fatuesi: A a personal part of yourself, right for such a long time. I know what that means. I don’t think many of our listeners might know what that means. Are you able to share that part of your story.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Oh, I mean, I’m I’m specifically talking about like coming out as well, you know, like being gay and and having to. You know I didn’t come out until I was gosh, I was 32 like to my family, and then 33 more publicly.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: You know I’m I’m old and ugly at that point, you know. It’s like.
Donato Fatuesi: No! Far from it.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: But you know I’m just like fire out. Why did it take me so long, you know, and I try not to judge again. But
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: yeah, when you’ve just lived that long, you know. And it’s like, okay, like everything I want to do. Now, I want it to reflect
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: like the real me. Yeah, I guess that’s sort of what is you.
Donato Fatuesi: Yeah, and it’s empowering. And I think you know, for for some of our listeners to hear, you know, a a coming out story that maybe has been decades in the making. Y’all like it’s still possible. And you know, even though we are in a political time right now, where it may be scary to
Donato Fatuesi: right like for me. Right now I’m telling people like, Do what’s best for you. Sure, I work in an industry where, like
Donato Fatuesi: media and representation. Is just part of the job, right?
Donato Fatuesi: And and I’ve conditioned myself in a lot of ways to handle like public scrutiny around my identity, and so many people that even young people
Donato Fatuesi: who are still finding their voices and their identities, and and taking the time to try things on and figure out if it feels right, right, might not feel safe enough to do so right now and like to them, I just want to say, yeah, that is okay, that is completely okay. Do what’s best for you.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah, I agree. Yeah, there’s no judgment around it. You know this, just we’re at. And again, sometimes it’s a matter of survival, right? And it’s a, it’s a coping mechanism. And and it can be a lot more grave for some people than others. And so
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: yeah, it’s just yeah, it’s just an unfortunate thing that we we deal with in this society, but you know as time goes on, I just hope there’s more support for people who are kind of going through that. And and that’s what we’re here for, too. So yeah.
Donato Fatuesi: Yeah. Yeah. And my hope is like for young people that are feeling that way. Or just anyone like find a trusted mentor. Right?
Donato Fatuesi: find, find a confidant in that that can help guide you.
Donato Fatuesi: Throughout your experience. And so with that, I’m curious to learn from you. Krit, who is a mentor, a trusted advisor, someone that you’d like to shout out, that has helped guide you along your individual journey.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Oh, gosh!
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I’ve been fortunate to to really benefit from a number of mentors, you know, throughout my career.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: But I think I think in this moment I would.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I would just like to give my mom a shout out. You know somebody who’s kind of held my hand through everything. And she continues to do so. So while she doesn’t like necessarily play a professional role, she has been a role model for me in every kind of way, you know, and that includes you know how she conducts herself in the workplace, too. So
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: yeah, lot of love for my mom. And and I actually have. This is me plug in my my little short film.
Donato Fatuesi: Yes, yes, I know you are working on a very special project about Mom’s story.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah. So you know, when I think about a lot of the migration stories in Aotearoa, at least
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I haven’t really seen anything that reflects my mom’s journey and her family’s journey. So I have a film called A short film called Otila coming out. I’ve got a trailer for it. And it basically just talks about
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: how her family came to New Zealand in the fifties from Samoa. And you know they they make the move.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: as you know, as a in search of
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: a better life right and.
Donato Fatuesi: Yeah.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: And like, I guess, the questions that I want to ask people and my mom and her family, and and just everyone who who makes that journey to like whiter country, you know, basically.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: as was their dream of a better life realized
Donato Fatuesi: Yeah.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: So at what cost, you know, and quite often it’s it at the expense of
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: our culture and our language, and and our mental health and and just a bunch of things like this. So
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: so you know, sometimes it’s like, Were we better off just staying, you know. So this kind of, you know, when I look at you Donato and I look at a lot of the the girls to come out of American Samoa. I’m like yo. I should have stayed, you know, like I would. You know I I feel like our families did not need to go on their journey, you know, like.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: because you look at. So many people have come out of the islands, and and they’re just, you know, there’s a fullness there that
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: that so many of us are missing right? And so that’s another thing that there’ll be another story of me trying to get.
Donato Fatuesi: I mean there’s a longing in my heart to return.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Alright! Exactly.
Donato Fatuesi: I tell people I am going to retire and live happily in American Samoa one of these days.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Right?
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: But yeah, that’s basically it. Yeah. So keep an eye out for that. AAPI Heritage Month, holler!
Donato Fatuesi: Yes, amazing. So we’re looking forward to it being released next month. Is that what I’m hearing.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Well, the trailer will release, and then, a lot of the the flashbacks are animated sequences, and so I’m trying to raise money to
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: pay animator to do all that you know.
Donato Fatuesi: Okay.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: That it’s all good.
Donato Fatuesi: So how much are we needing to raise.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah, I wanna say, between 10 and 15 k, so yeah, that should be enough to pay the animator and the crew who have been voluntary up to this point. So.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Fingers crossed. But yeah, otherwise, I’m gonna it’s just gonna be self funded. Because I’m like.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I want to tell my mom’s story, you know, regardless of something to document. You know our family’s history, and this is one way I can do that.
Donato Fatuesi: That’s amazing. And stepping into, you know, filmmaking right? Beyond all of the many wonderful gifts that you have. I want to go back a little bit to ask like at this point, now that your career is
Donato Fatuesi: excuse me, is journeying into filmmaking how and along with like your consulting work.
Donato Fatuesi: How have you seen Pasifika representation in media and entertainment shift over the last couple of years?
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah, I mean, you can kind of see the obsession with
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: the Pacific like increasing, you know, pretty gradually. Right?
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: you know, especially with Moana 2 having crossed, you know, the 1 billion dollar mark. And then we have
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: like projects like Lilo and Stitch coming out this year, Chief of War coming out like this. There’s so many things that indicate that things aren’t going to slow down right? And so yeah, that’s why it’s more important now than ever to to really
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: get our people up to scratch, you know, so that we can be in those places, because, as Hollywood.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: that that obsession grows like, we need to be able to make sure that
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: we’re in those you know, part of those projects. Because, yeah, it’s it’s a. It’s a bit of a cult. And you know, we gotta push people in one thing at a time to be able to do that. But yeah, we won’t get into the whole thing, but you know, if I had my way we would burn Hollywood to the ground and start something else completely new. But you know this is the system we’re working with.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: And so, while you know, as you said before, like, we all have our roles to play some within the system, some without some outside of it. And so, you know, if we’re talking about within the system, this is where PEAK can, you know, really make a difference.
Donato Fatuesi: Yeah. And much of those gaps, too, is like filling the Talent Pool or building up. The Talent Pool, right.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: You know.
Donato Fatuesi: And I know peak runs a number of programs like executive producing, writing. What can folks look forward to within this next year, and also please share. I know PEAK has an event coming up within the next couple of weeks.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah, so just with the administration, like, there has been a rollback, and you know, funding and stuff. So there was a program they were hoping to roll out in the summer. I’m not sure if that’s gonna go ahead, but if it does keep an eye out for that but maybe next year, you know, there’ll be another initiative that I won’t talk too much about. But on May 9th we do have PEAK Conversations, and that’s every year we have this Talanoa.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: where we bring in talent to, you know, highlight an issue within our community, right? And so this year given that May is both AAPI heritage month and mental health awareness. Month.
Donato Fatuesi: Yeah.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I thought it’d be great to just speak about. You know the the toll that using your voice and visibility to
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: to advocate for our people what they can take on you right? Because, again, given the climate we’re in
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: now, it’s more important than ever for us to take care of each other, and that starts with taking care of ourselves. And so we have Jordan Mailata from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Donato Fatuesi: Okay.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: We have Brianna Fruean, climate change activist.
Donato Fatuesi: Oh, my! Gosh! Amazing! I love her so much.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: All right. We have Elvis Lopeti, the International Dance Sensation, and.
Donato Fatuesi: Yes.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: And then we also have Vaelupa Ma’aele who is a clinical therapist. And you know she’s there to
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: really give insights as a professional who can really offer support and advice to help you get through whatever it is we’re getting through. So you know, it’s important for us to create spaces where people can share and be vulnerable, and really talk about their issues. But then I feel like it’s our responsibility to also have
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: solutions and and offer, you know, guidance on how to deal with those things, because you kind of open up that door. It’s like you should really have someone to.
Donato Fatuesi: Yeah.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: You know, kind of hold that.
Donato Fatuesi: And and be able to hold space for it right like and and Vaelupe was also last month’s guest. So I love that. Yeah, we already love her here on the fala and are so excited for all that’s coming. How can folks stay connected and or support you or peak
Donato Fatuesi: please share.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Yeah, you can check out whatever I’m doing at @whatwouldkrit do and then you can follow PEAK with either go to the website. www.peakpasifika.org, or @peakpasifika, on Instagram.
Donato Fatuesi: Period. Well, thank you so much. Krit, for hanging out on the Fala with us today and sharing your story and the amazing impact that you’re driving and making in the Media and Entertainment industry, and beyond it has been truly an honor, and I love you so much.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: I love you all. Thank you Donato.
Donato Fatuesi: Alright, signing off. See you all next time. Here on the Fala.
Kristian Fanene Schmidt “Krit”: Hey!
