Shauna Ray Ratapu, Screenwriter

Shauna Ray Ratapu (she/her) is a GenX California-Kiwi (aka New Zealander/Aotearoa - not the fruit or the bird). Originally from Southern California and raised by a single alcoholic archeologist mum & a bar-owning gunslinger grandma, Shauna writes intersectional, women-centric, character-driven dramatic comedy focused mainly on Motherhood, Women over 50, Diversity, Trauma, and Radical Self-Acceptance.  

 

A former actor, director, and producer of musical and social justice theater, Shauna founded a black box theater company in Gisborne, New Zealand. As the fearless leader of a filmmaking team called Area 61, Shauna co-wrote, directed and edited short films for the New Zealand 48-hour film festival five years in a row -  winning several categories, while having the best time not sleeping for two whole days!

 

Having returned to Southern California in 2019 after nearly 20 years in Aotearoa/New Zealand, Shauna's work is nuanced and layered by her experiences there as well as by the Worldviews of her Māori husband (Indigenous to Aotearoa/New Zealand) of 30 years and their three exceptionally talented grown-ass children - two of whom are queer, two are women, all are indigenous and one is disabled. 

 

After attending her son’s wedding in Finale Ligure, Italy in 2022 with her husband and two daughters - one of whom uses a wheelchair, Shauna’s new favorite non-writing-related pastime is researching accessible travel. 

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Last but not least - she is also mom to three fur babies: Nala, Milo and Keesha.