Handle the Jandal is the annual competition for Do-It-Yourself New Zealand filmmakers to create music videos for local bands and artists. All videos must be completely self-funded and may only use New Zealand music.

With a video that featured loads of colour, plenty of lips and lots of lollies, Lisa Dunn and her Parallel Dance Ensemble won the Golden Jandal for best video, as voted by the audience at the Radio Active 89FM Handle the Jandal DIY Music Video Awards.

Lisa is about to finish her third year of studying Directing at Unitec, where she has worked on a lot of “short” projects, including an ad, two short films, short documentaries, and some theatre. “One of the first films I ever made was when I was about 8 or 9. It was stop motion toy mice travelling across a treacherous bedroom with rollerblades as cars, trying to get to a crystal that was hanging above a window . My friend Anna had a really cool camera that you could just put a VHS in and then watch it straight away on the TV afterwards. We probably made a movie a week for about a year. We were a production powerhouse.” Says Lisa.

“I love making music videos because I love music as much as I love film/theatre. I also like making stuff for free because I think when there’s less money there’s more creativity. I am pretty broke though. Wouldn’t mind some money for a pie every now and then.”

Lisa has a number of things on the go at the moment. Right now Lisa and two writer friends are planning on getting on as much theatre as they can in the next few years so look out for that. Also Lisa and crew have two more music videos lined up and some other projects possibly in the works. “I guess ultimately I’m working towards a situation where I can afford to live, and am able to do what I love!” - Lisa Dunn

Check out Lisa's video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQRJTVraV1M