Regina Tito: from sleeping rough to helping the homeless

20160701-RNZ-300px-x-200px
Portrait of Regina Tito standing against a wall

Regina Tito Photo: Supplied

Regina Tito has bravely put her life’s story on show in a short documentary talking about wellington’s homeless community. She works with the Downtown Community Ministry in the capital, helping some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. And she knows what they’re going through. Regina has first-hand experience living on the streets after periods of, as a very young teen, walking out of a violent household to fend for herself. She slept rough and she’s had some stints in prison, but she has turned her life around, she’s got herself an education and she is now helping the community she knows well. She has also raised a family and is a grandmother.

Read more

Louise Leitch and Byron Skinner: transition and friendship

20160701-RNZ-300px-x-200px

Louise Leitch is a Christchurch director whose short film Same But Different features the true story of her husband’s best friend Byron Skinner who transitioned from a man to a woman at age 50 after a marriage and three children.

Byron Skinner (right) tramping with his best friend, Neil.

Byron Skinner (right) tramping with his best friend, Neil. Photo: Kirk Pflaum

Same But Different features in Loading Docs, the annual short film initiative which funds ten filmmakers (this year working on the subject of ‘change’). The series launches online on 4 August, and will also be broadcast on TVNZ ON Demand.

via Radio New Zealand