Brutal Lives is a new bold drama series that showcases the Tongan culture in a South Auckland contemporary setting and combines a traditional Tongan world view of the spirit world through the Tala Fekau. The six-part web series, Brutal Lives – Mo’ui Faingata’a is the first Tongan bilingual drama funded by New Zealand On Air as part of its Pasifika and Asian Storytellers initiative.

Jason Manumu’a is a graduate of South Seas Film & TV School. He has been in numerous stage plays and is the Creative Director of the Royal Polynesia Fashion Week. 

Jason has held many roles in front and behind the camera and is currently working on a new play. He was also the first Polynesian actor to be accepted into the highly competitive, Actor’s Programme, a one-year intensive, industry-related course for actors. 

Brutal Lives film premiered last night and Jason Manumu’a plays the role of Salesi.