Three Chords and the Truth

TCT fits the generic parameters of documentary made for New Zealand television (specifically, TVONE). It was originally funded by NZ on Air for the Documentary New Zealand (DNZ) strand, but will instead play during primetime within a dedicated one-off slot for New Zealand Music Month (Friday May 8th, 8.30pm). The broadcast of TCT is timely given media attention since late 2003 paid to local crossover/pop artists such as Hayley Westenra, Brooke Fraser and Bic Runga – young women with very different profiles and each at various stages of 'success' within the global music industry.

Different cameras document stages of Anika's journey over a twenty-month period, and the story is largely told through montage, music tracks, 'Voice of God' narration, and interviews. Anika's interview audio is also used extensively over images, taking on a narrational function and underscoring the extent to which this is Anika Moa's story. The narrative incorporates aspects of music video aesthetic to the extent that, somewhat paradoxically, non-narrative music videos end up contributing to the documentary narrative. Although TCT does work to educate, inform, persuade, and is interested in issues that challenge the status quo, the documentary also has an eye to the aesthetic pleasures of the text.

This study guide has been written with close attention to NCEA Levels 1-3 Achievement Standards for the discipline strands of English, Media Studies and Social Studies. As a resource, it is designed with flexibility in mind, recognising the productive possibilities of cross-disciplinary exchange between English, Media Studies, and Social Studies. For convenience sake, the Study Guide has been divided into two sections: 1. Genre & Narrative (English/Media Studies), 2. Keeping It Real: Identity Formation (Social Studies). It is expected that teachers will be able to modify exercises to suit each level and/or discipline strand. Where relevant, this Guide also makes reference to online resources for Media and Visual Language Studies in the New Zealand Curriculum.