Director/Producer Stephanie Bennett BIO

Rongo Productions is a media production company founded in 2008 by Stephanie Bennett in connection with her move to New Zealand. Stephanie has been producing, writing and directing documentaries and concerts since 1981 at her US based company, Delilah Films. For more information and history, please visit: www.rongoproductions.com or www.delilahfilms.net


Stephanie Bennett recently produced and directed a film on the life and work of sculptor Chris Bailey: Ringha Whao which was broadcast on Maori Television and currently available on home video through Academy Books. The film follows how a young man overcame adversity by coming to terms with his Maori heritage and culture and transformed himself into of the eminent sculptors in New Zealand attaining worldwide recognition. Filmed in the Italian Alps, Venice and New Zealand it features extensive interviews with Chris Bailey and those who have known Chris on his extraordinary journey as well as many works of art.

Another New Zealand documentary is about to be released entitled "Headland: Where Sculpture Meets Nature", a documentary about the now internationally renowned sculpture event "Sculpture in the Gulf" which takes place in Waiheke Island every two years and has been established for 12 years. The Sculpture event features sculptors and artists from New Zealand, Australia and overseas and now has over 40,000 visitors for the three weeks the works are on display. This film shows the behind the scenes of how the sculptures are installed and interviews with over 30 sculptors about their works during the 2011 show as well as interviews with the original founders of the event. It also features artist"s works from earlier shows going back to 2003.

Currently in production is a film on the history and architecture of the Britomart precinct which houses some of the oldest heritage buildings in Auckland and is fast becoming the most people centre in Auckland for restaurants, retail and a meeting place.

In development is a feature film based on the autobiography "A Bonfire in My Mouth" by Susi Newborn, founding director of Greenpeace UK and original crew member of the Rainbow Warrior Previously to moving to New Zealand she produced the first ever "rockumentary", The Compleat Beatles, which sold over one million copies, and set the standard for all of the company's music documentaries and concert films to follow.

Following this landmark success, Bennett established a reputation as an artist advocate awarding her with trusting relationships with music artists all over the world. Artists such as The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell, The Everly Brothers, Chuck Berry and Roy Orbison, began entrusting Bennett with their stories.

Bennett"s artist associations then produced, "Endless Harmony": The Beach Boys, "Woman of Heart and Mind": The Joni Mitchell Story and The Everly Brothers Reunion Concert and "Rock 'n Roll Odyssey". Soon after Bennett teamed with Rolling Stones', Keith Richards and "Ray" director, Taylor Hackford, to capture Chuck Berry"s unprecedented story, the Universal feature film release, "Hail, Hail Rock "n Roll".

With the advent of Home Video and Cable Television, Bennett created the innovative and successful Cinemax Sessions. Cinemax Sessions was a series focusing on music legends, supported by superstar artists, who paid homage to these music icons as significant career influences. Cinemax Sessions reached worldwide acclaim with Roy Orbison"s, "Black and White Night", featuring Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, KD Lang, JD Souther and T-Bone Burnett, backed by James Burton and Elvis Presley"s famous band.

Delilah Films has produced numerous documentaries and concerts for PBS, MTV, VHI, and HBO. Many of these shows have been distributed worldwide, including Tom Petty: Going Home, Black Sabbath: Volumes One and Two, Foreigner: Their Story, to mention a few. As the world continues to lose her music icons, Bennett has stepped up her contribution to the preservation of the American music heritage. Shows such as, Ray Charles Live 1991, preserve the memory of our most legendary music artists.

With the advancement of High Definition television (HDTV), Bennett was one of the early producers to embrace this format producing shows for HD broadcasters In Demand and HDNet, followed by releases on DVD. "Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at the Greek Theatre," produced by Delilah Films and released by Image Entertainment, Inc., was certified platinum less than two months after its release. Bennett also produced the Gram Parsons Tribute DVD with artists including, Keith Richards, Norah Jones, Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle also for Image.