Two thousand and eight already! Happy belated New Year to you all!

This time last year I was in beautiful Budapest, Hungary, shooting the horror thriller feature film, Amusement. Given the film is not due in cinemas until Spring, it is a good sign that big bucks are been spent on an early promotional campaign; a fabulous booth set up at Comicon in San Diego last summer, the trailer played in cinemas before Saw 4 last year, and it can still be seen playing in cinemas today!

Check out the trailer at http://www.amusementmovie.com

Here's hoping the film goes off as work begets work! I also recall writing an update for my website whilst in Budapest and stating that I would be better at keeping my website updated in 2007. Not, not, not! Although my intention was good, the execution of my intention, sucked! Forgive me! I'm still a one woman show!

2007 took me into so many unexpected directions and I ended up spending a substantial portion of last year in New Zealand to work on Vincent Ward's film, Rain of the Children. The film is finally finished and has been submitted to the Cannes Film Festival. I am honored to be a part of this historic New Zealand feature film venture and it fulfilled a long time desire to work with Vincent. I loved collaborating with Vince and hope to do it again in the future!

I also performed acting duties in 3 independent feature films here in Los Angeles. All are scheduled for release this year but as I'm sure you know, it is only those films that go off that you'll hear about! In 2007 I also completed my epic screenplay, Behind The Tattooed Face. I have now moved into the next development stage of attaching my A-list director and Producing team. Once that is locked down we move onto raising a multi-million dollar budget to bring the vision to its cinematic life! A challenging mountain to climb I know but my passion for it fuels my mission!

Bttf will remain a big part of my life in this coming year, along with acting work, possible Scifi Conventions, and fulfilling my desire to have a much neglected personal life! Sadly the acting work I had booked for the first quarter of this year got cancelled due to the current WGA strike. I also missed out on the opportunity to meet with Michael Mann re his Johnny Depp feature film. A real bummer that one but I was in New Zealand. On the positive side, I got to meet Michael Mann for Heat in the 90s and I got to have Christmas and see in the New Year in with my family in New Zealand, been a while so it was a real blessing. I have such a wonderful beautiful family!

Now that I am back I'm having a hard time adjusting to the cold of Los Angeles following a beautiful New Zealand summer. Ain't use to these low temperatures in la la land and I surely hope it doesn't last! But hey, I couldn't have gotten a more warmer welcome back to the town. I was blessed to be invited to Beverly Hill's Crustacean Restaurant's 10 year Anniversary Celebrations. Wined and dined and entertained by the likes of Philip Bailey, Natalie Cole, Howard Hewitt, Johnny Gill, and I got the biggest best shout out that an actress could ever wish for from from Ms. Patti Labelle. Bless you Ms. LaBelle and thank you for honoring me! Check out the new photos.

So what looms in the month of February? Whilst the strike is still in process I am utilizing my time to deal with my backlog of paper work, filing, book keeping, tax returns, neglected fan mail, neglected exercise, etc, etc. I am booked to do a new Scifi Convention called Omega Con in March. Check our the website.

I anticipate a great show and may see you there! And I really will try my best this year to give you all more regular updates about the comings and goings of my eclectic unpredictable international life. Until next time, be happy, stay healthy, and celebrate God's greatest gift, LOVE, every day of every week, especially on Valentine's Day!

A lot of adventures since I last wrote. I had a great trip to my home country, New Zealand. Absolutely adored working with Vincent Ward. It was a very inspiring collaboration and will remain a highlight in my career. I look forward to seeing his final film, and hope I get to work with him again in the future! During my limited down time, I got quality time with my nearest and dearest friends, and got some time up North with my family. So precious! And you just can't beat that beautiful clean air! As always, a big part of me would love to be living there. I plan to reassess my situation here in Los Angeles at the end of the year, and if I feel the pull to return, I will re-organize my life so that I spend more of the year down there and less of the year here. Currently, I spend most of my year here in Los Angeles.

I came back in time to be a guest at Star Wars Celebration IV at the Convention Center, Downtown, L.A. Have to admit that I preferred the previous C3 and that location better. But I was grateful to be invited. Always good to catch up with the other actors, see old fans, and to meet new ones. Gratitude to my web master, Stephen, for coming up to Los Angeles to help me out! Also gotta give a shout out to Stein, my friend who originally created this website. Stein is getting married in July! I am so happy for you Stein, and we all wish you the very best!

Since my return, I have also been consumed with finishing my new draft of my epic screenplay which fares very well. My deadline: end of June. I'm also booked to do an independent film, "A Beautiful Life". A very exciting project to be directed by Alejandro Chomski, written and produced by Deborah Calla. Nancy Schreiber, an award winning cinematographer, Ruy Folguera, a Golden Globe winner composer and a great cast: Denise Richards, Jesse Garcia, Angela Sarafyan, Debi Mazar, Dana Delany, Michael Madsen, and Mark Boone Jr. I'll be playing "Sam", the owner of a downtown strip joint and plan to have a lot of fun on this shoot, starting next week.

In closing, check out the new photos. and I must apologize to those fans who have sent me letters requesting photos and autographs, I promise I will attend to the backlog when I get some down time. A very rare thing in this self-employed gal's world, but I do get to them, eventually. Have a great month of June, and lets hope we don't get too much June Gloom in la la land. God bless and keep the peace!

Rena

PS... The last independent film I did, "Shattered Glass", has been renamed "Finding Red Cloud".

April, a third of the year has bitten the dust already! Time goes past too fast! More reason to relish each new day! My tax return and piles of paper work dealt with in the month of March. Had a few auditions, and am up for a few acting jobs but until they're in ink, I won't publicize them. Saw some good films and caught up with a few good friends. Hoped UCLA would win March madness, maybe next year.

Off to New Zealand soon to do a role in a Vincent Ward film which I am currently preparing for. I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with Vincent who was the first NZ Filmmaker to have a film in competition at Cannes. I love his early NZ films, "Vigil" and "Navigator". He went on to do "Map of the Human Heart", "Alien3" (writer), "What Dreams May Come", to name a few.

April 14th I will be honored to be a Presenter at the FAITA Awards (First Americans in the Arts Awards). Was a pleasure to meet one of the Dixie Chicks, Natalie Maines, at a screening of their documentary, "Shut Up and Sing", and the Filmmaker, Barbara Kopple. I had a great time shooting the Independent Film, "Shattered Glass", here in Venice. I played a Barfly Lush and enjoyed the kind of laughter that makes one cry!

More photos have been added to the site, so check em out. Have a good month. Happy Easter. God bless. Keep the faith and peace!

Rena

March already! Time goes too fast. It seems to be a permanent fact in my life; never enough hours in a day! February was full on with events, filming, networking, catching up with friends in town for the award season, and seeing all the films. My award favorites; Pan's Labyrinth, The Queen, and The Last King of Scotland. New Zealand's Waitangi Day event on Santa Monica Beach was an enormous success and the highlight of my month, meeting James Cameron at NZ's Oscar event. Keep an eye out as new photos are slowly but surely been added to the site. Gratitude to my awesome webmaster, Stephen!!

I had a great time filming the indy, Shattered Glass, and performing in West Hollywood's Charity Theater Event, Vagina Monologues, amongst an amazing group of Actresses. I was up for an A-list film that sadly has recently fallen over. It happens.

Talk going around regarding future acting work but I won't announce anything until it is in cement. I am happy to have been invited to Star Wars Celebration IV, Los Angeles in May. But for now, I gotta get on top of the more mundane work load in my life, an endless pile of paper work and tax season is upon us. Anxious to clear my desk as I will soon start work on the next draft of my epic screenplay. I know what happens when I get into the writing zone; all else in my life gets sorely ignored! God bless you all and here's to the approaching Spring!

Rena

Another busy month ahead. As well as on-going work on my epic Screenplay, keeping house, running my Company, and slowly but surely putting photos from the last two years on the website, I have been cast in an Independent Film, Shattered Glass. It will shoot here in Los Angeles. Nice not to have to catch another plane! A juicy cameo role playing a Barfly. Scheduled for later this month. Until then...

Monday February 5th

I will be attending the celebrations of New Zealand's Waitangi Day in Los Angeles, along with screen ex husband Jake "Jango Fett" Heke, Temuera Morrison, and rising Hollywood Movie Star, Martin Henderson. The day, a National Holiday in NZ, celebrates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between the British and the Maori in 1840. Lots of ex-pat Kiwis and friends are expected on the day to help the hugely talented Mike Mizrahi (who directed me in a stage play in 1992) build a giant NZ fern leaf on Santa Monica Beach. It will be broadcast back to NZ. I'll be sure to wave to my Mum! Should be a lot of fun, hopefully sun, and definitely a lot of sand!

Waitangi Day, Los Angeles, 2007
Check this out: http://www.madefromnewzealand.com

Saturday February 10th

The City of West Hollywood is co-sponsoring a production of "The Vagina Monologues" to be held at the Pacific Design Center's Silver Screen Theater. This is the third time the event has been done and it has been a big success every year, helping to raise money and awareness for local and international organizations that work to stop violence against women and girls. This year's beneficiaries are Jewish Family Services' Family Violence Project, The Nicole Brown Foundation, and Women in Combat Zones.

I will be performing along side Tony-award winner Tonya Pinkins, Ming Na Wen from "ER", Stephanie Weir of "Mad TV", teen actress Lindsey Shaw from Nickelodeon's "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" and Tanya Memme, host of the popular "Move this House", and others. Download the flyer

Sunday February 11th

I will be signing with Ray Park, Daniel Logan and Bonnie Piesse at the One Day Comic Book and Science Fiction Show, at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. Another event I can drive to, yay!

Friday February 23rd

I will attend the 6th Annual Celebration of New Zealand Filmmaking and Creative Talent in Los Angeles. Our big pre Oscar event, which I really look forward to!

I may also attend a few other Oscar events, schedule and energy permitting. I have to say, all that dressing up, hair styling, make upping, accessorizing, and socializing, is a lot of fun, but also chews up a lot of time and energy. I often find the thought of putting my pj's on and my feet up, more appealing. I must be getting old?! God, help me to age gracefully! Have a blessed month of February. Keep the faith, and may the force be with you!

Rena

I'm safely back in Los Angeles. I had a memorable time in Budapest. What a beautiful city, almost like a fairy tale! I really look forward to seeing the final film, "Amusement", which should be a good ride! Now that I am back, I have domestics, a constantly growing pile of paper work, an over-loaded email box, and a script, to attend to.

Whoever said, "There's no rest for the wicked"?? Thing is, I'm not wicked, but definitely a hard-working gal!

I will also be catching up with friends and seeing all the award films in the next two weeks. I was invited to the Sundance Film Festival for fun, but having just been away, I want to get my bags unpacked!

Enjoy the remainder of January!

Bless,

Rena

Can you believe it? Finally, a long overdue update for my poor neglected website! It is not because I do not care, but rather, never enough hours in a day, and not enough of me to go around!

I guess that is what happens when one takes on writing and producing an epic feature film. Between paid work, taking care of myself, family, friends, it seems to consume every spare minute I have. Okay I confess; I am obsessed with Behind The Tattooed Face! Especially when I get into the writing zone, all else gets ignored. Sorry!

Well I recently finished a new draft and am sitting here on location with time to spare. So I have no excuses not to do a much needed update that has been on my "To Do List" for far too long. I accept that doing long updates is probably not the best way to go, but rather short brief updates when I have something new to report, seems more achievable.

Allow me to wish you all a very "Happy New Year"! I have a really good feeling about the year ahead. Seven rhymes with Heaven and it is a number I have always liked. Maybe because I was born in July? My year is off to a great start. I just got a new BTTF draft sent off and boarded a plane for Budapest January 2nd. I am here to do a Newline feature film. An exciting thriller called "Amusement". Playing a Psychiatrist. Check it out http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0476958/

Budapest is beautiful and fortunately, the weather is mild. It is one of their warmest winters. It has been a while since I have been in Europe. Feels good to be back. You can’t beat the architecture and the sense of history that comes with it.

On the subject of Europe, I spent this past Christmas in Sacramento with my roommate from London in the 1980s! Thanks Sketch and family, I had a blast, and thanks for giving me the nudge to update my website!

Providing I return to Los Angeles as per schedule, I am due to appear at the "Celebrity Meet and Greet Show", January 13th, 10-3.30pm. Check it out at www.celebritymeetandgreet.com

Future paid work, only God knows what is next in store for me. Unpaid work is never in shortage for a self-employed soul! Trust me, my website isn’t the only thing that has been ignored, I have a growing mountain of paper work that requires my attention and emails to respond to that have grown cobwebs!

Got a big batch of fan mail done over the summer and a new batch to attend to when I get back. I also have a ton of new photos for the website. Photos from various gigs I did and functions I attended over the past two years. Check them out as they are added to the site. They should serve as a kind of diary for me.

A lot of changes have also gone on in my personal life, but personal means private, so I will not go into detail, just know that all is good. One thing that never changes in my world is my attitude of gratitude for my gift of life, my health, family, friends, work, and my love of the ultimate creator, God!

May 2007 bring you all that your heart desires, and then some! Relish every day and dare to do what makes your heart sing cause we only get one shot at it, so give it your best shot! I promise I will not let two years pass before my next update! God bless.

The month of August was another action packed month with an eclectic mix of activities going on and we're already nearly at the end of September!!

As a temporary measure, the Guestbook of my website is currently closed, due to some very naughty people diverting all visitors to my guest book to a disgusting pornographic website. Some people really do stoop low! Apologies to all visitors for this temporary inconvenience.

I completed another Voice Over session for Lucasfilm on their highly anticipated game, Republic Commando. Oh how I love revisiting Taun We! I also taught a workshop, From Script to Screen for IFP West's Project Involve. Presented a Once Were Warriors screening for WIFT (Women in Film and Television). And played a very cool role in a friends Pilot called Flats, release date unknown.

I was due to head to Minnesota this week to shoot the independent feature film, Horrible Flowers, but sadly it has now been delayed till next spring. Talk about a year of productions falling over on me. My film in Vancouver, Tahiti, and now the USA, lets hope their new dates don't all clash next year!

As one door closes, another opens! I've booked another film for the beginning of October shooting here in LA, refreshing not to have to catch another plane! More news to come on that once it's a done deal.

On my Producing front, I composed and submitted my application for a second round of development funding for Behind the Tattooed Face (BTTF). My application was successful enabling me to re-commission my Screenwriter to start work on the next draft in October.

I’ve also committed to working as a Writer and an Associate Producer on a friend's Spanish New Zealand Co-Production called Sylvanshine, a quirky romantic comedy set in both countries. I've had a lot of fun working on the script, I totally love writing; it brings me much joy and creative satisfaction. I can definitely see myself doing a lot more writing in my future.

I recently had some brothers in from Aotearoa, Mike and Bodie, who have a television show in NZ. They’ve been on a world tour catching up with Maoris living and working abroad. I was only too happy to grant them an interview and timing was on their side. The night we got together, my husband was working on an event at the Playboy Mansion. They jumped at the opportunity to check out the Mansion, a first for me too and a good night had by all! Check the bros out at-
www.bro-tour.com

On the Sci-Fi front, Wizard World in Chicago was a really good show; I shared a booth with the very lovely Orli Shoshan who plays Jedi Shaak Ti in Ep.II and III. Steve Sansweet did a fantastic Star Wars presentation on all the new products coming out plus we got a glimpse of Episode III. His presentation served to remind me of how honored I am to be a part of a world that means so much to so many people around the world.

Dragon Con is a convention like no other, with over 350 media guests, non-stop panel discussions, constant shows of music, theatre, film screenings, the list goes on. I sat next to the lovely Simon Williamson from Return of the Jedi at the show. Took part in a Star Wars Kids Hour, was one of the Judges for the amazing Costume Contest and was also auctioned off for an hour to raise funds for the Make A Wish Foundation. Many thanks to the Star Wars Chicks who paid a truck load of money to have lunch with me, next time ladies, you won't have to pay for it! And I salute your cause in the fight against breast cancer!
Check the babes out at www.starwarschicks.com

I take my hat off to all those folk who put so much time into some of the most amazing costumes I have ever seen, and they wear them so well. A couple of my personal favorites were Elvis Presley and Austin Powers Stormtroopers, check out the photos. In brief, Dragon Con is one big excuse to dress up and party for four days!

I was very spoilt by the 501st Legion, the Midwest Garrison, the Florida Garrison and Rebel Legion. Thanks guys and gals for dinners, drinks, tee shirts and a dang rockin good time!

My future appearances-
Texas Superhero, October 8-10th. San Antonio. www.texassuperhero.com
Chiller Theater, October 29-31st. New Jersey. www.chillertheater.com

And that will be it for Sci-fi 2004 as I am booked to return to New Zealand mid November to mid December. I have producing duties and my property to take care of and my old Moerewa Primary School is closing down due to Government Budget cuts, a very sad occasion. I'm happy that I can be there for the closing ceremonies at the beginning of December.

I will also enjoy quality time with family and friends and return in time to spend Christmas in Philadelphia with my husband and his family. For now I wish you all the best for the remainder of September and have a rockin October!

God bless and Clone Love!

My birthday month of July went by too dang fast! I guess it's what happens when one always has too much to do and there never seems to be enough hours in a day? At least the June gloom departed and the LA sun shone brightly!

I have a constant workload in my life now that I have taken on producing the epic New Zealand feature film Behind The Tattooed Face, but oh, I do believe in it! The script is shaping up well, and by the end of the year I aim to have my key creators in place, in terms of producing partners, my director and leading actors.

I've just returned from the Sundance Independent Producers Conference, an exhausting but excellent learning and networking opportunity, plus much fun was had. How blessed I was to receive a fellowship through their Native Program to attend. Enormous gratitude to those responsible for investing in me, the day will come when the fruits of your Sundance seeds will be enjoyed.

Have to say, the actor in me has been somewhat ignored, along with my poor fans who have written to me over the past months, and a much needed holiday seems like a constant dream! I did do a couple of great auditions but didn't get the jobs, have thought a lot about doing some exercise but still haven't made the time, have attended my weekly accent lessons, though not put the practice time in, which is where it matters as practice makes permanent!

All will change during this month of August. I have two reasons to get the standard American down and to be looking good. I'm shooting a pilot this month for a friend here in LA. And next month I'll be shooting an Independent feature film called Horrible Flowers, written and directed by the most talented Eric Tretbar. It's a rock road movie that I've been attached to for a long time. I'm very excited for Eric that we are finally going to be shooting his baby in Minnesota next month. Sadly, I had to turn down a television gig in NZ as it clashed with the dates.

Other highlights in July, I enjoyed the company of my NZ Barrister and friend, Karen Soich, and her partner Toni, who passed thru LA. We had a blast at the Women in Film and Television's Golfing Tournament in Malibu, I didn't win any of the raffles but I got a great gift bag. Saw a great NZ film, Perfect Strangers, and enjoyed the company of its awesome writer, director and producer, the formidable Gaylene Preston. And had a beautiful birthday with my beloved husband. No offense baby, but I still think Crystal Champagne is overrated!

On the Sci-Fi front, I will be a guest at the Wizard World Convention in Chicago this month and at Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia at the beginning of September, I'm looking forward to both and my first time to both destinations!

Happy August everyone, enjoy what's left of the summer holidays, and may God bless you all!

And didn't we know what month it was in LA with June Gloom dominating our skies. Trouble is, we're now in July and it's still hanging around. Hope it's gone by my birthday later this month because I'm missing the sun!

Had another busy month of producing duties and refining the Bttf script, also applied for the Sundance Producers Conference. I'm now composing my next development finance application, and attending to an enormous back log of paper work, all part and parcel of been self employed and running your own production company!

I attended a couple of very interesting Industry events, of note, the celebrity packed premiere of Mike Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 at the Academy, and a preview of the romantic Notebook followed by a Q&A session with James Garner, oh how I love old time Hollywood! Was saddened by the passing of Marlon Brando, one of the greatest actors of all time! Attended Margie Haber's ongoing June acting classes once a week and started back with my American accent lessons.

The film I was booked to do in Tahiti, August/September, has been delayed till next year, along with the film my Canadian Agent was in negotiations for, to be shot in Vancouver, October/November. It happens regularly in the film world, films get delayed, lose funding, get brought forward, and sometimes collapse completely! It does force one to live day by day, which is really the only thing that is guaranteed to any of us, I guess that's why it is called the present, because it is a gift! As one door closes it means another can open. I auditioned last week for an independent film, which I'm now on the short list for, fingers crossed!

Had a great trip to Mexico City for the Sci-Fi Convention. Great hospitality, great staff, and I found the Mexican people in general to be humble, gentle folk. A very kewl wee group of guests, Brad Dourif, his manager Jay, Jeremy Bulloch, his very beautiful wife, and Sala Baker, a pleasant time had by all. More good memories, thanks Julio, Oscar and your awesome crew! I definitely want to come back again!

The first stage play I wrote, Te Awa I Tahuti (The River that Ran Away) produced in London in 1988, is currently enjoying a successful theater season in New Zealand. I have been accepted and granted a scholarship to attend the prestigious Sundance Producers Conference, via their Native Program, so I am now an official Sundance Fellow! I feel very blessed to have been chosen amongst fierce competition, I will indeed relish and maximize the opportunity at the end of this month!

In the meantime, a constant flow of paper work to attend to, a husband to adore, a few friends to catch up with, and with the Tahitian film delayed, I'm hoping to finally attend to a big backlog of fan mail. I thank all those who have written to me, for your understanding and patience! I did a couple of interviews via cyber and telephone, posted in the media section, and do check out the new photos, especially the Mexican Taun We look-a-like!

Have a great July, God bless you all, and keep you and your loved ones happy and healthy!