Writer and director James Ashcroft (Ngāti Kahu and Ngāpuhi) studied at The Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School then spent seven years as chief executive and artistic director of Māori theatre company Taki Rua.
Ashcroft is in demand since his debut feature film Coming Home in the Dark debuted at Sundance Film Festival in 2021. He has just wrapped filming of his latest project, The Rule of Jenny Pen, a psychological thriller adapted from a short story by Owen Marshall. Filming brought Golden Globe winner John Lithgow and Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush to Aotearoa, alongside Once Were Warriors star George Henare.
James joins Susana Lei'ataua on The Weekend to talk about balancing family life with growing Hollywood demands.
Coming Home in the Dark director James Ashcroft Photo: Supplied
