Speak Up Documentaries — Episode 1: Photo Sharing
A powerful short film created for the Speak Up series produced with support from Netsafe. The documentary follows Hester Tingey, who experienced a serious incident of online harassment while working as a teacher aide.
The film became the most widely circulated of the series reaching hundreds of thousands of viewers across Aotearoa and overseas. It ignited nationwide conversation about online harm and the impact of digital abuse on young people and the adults who support them.
The story
Hester was only twenty four when a group of boys aged twelve to thirteen filmed up her skirt using a phone hidden inside a shoe. The incident changed her sense of safety trust and confidence. She chose to speak publicly in the hope that her experience could help others understand how damaging online harassment can be.
The documentary focuses on empathy and clarity not sensationalism. The goal was to create a safe environment where Hester could share her story at her own pace. Every part of the process was handled with care to honour her courage and protect her wellbeing.
The impact
Once released the film appeared on the front page of the Dominion Post and on the Stuff website where it quickly became one of the most viewed pieces of the week. It went on to receive more than half a million views across national and international audiences.
The film was also screened at the Auckland Film Festival. The online response showed how urgently this topic needed space and how strongly people connected with Hesters honesty and vulnerability.
For many teachers parents and young people the documentary became a starting point for important conversations about online harm boundaries empowerment and support.
The process
Creating a film on a subject this sensitive needed a careful production approach. A small specialist team was brought in to ensure Hester was supported and the film met the emotional and technical standard the story deserved.
- Makeup artist supporting on camera comfort
- Sound engineer creating the final sound mix
- Professional colourist shaping the final visual tone
All direction cinematography editing and post production were handled by Diego Opatowski to maintain a consistent emotional thread from beginning to end.
Credits
- Direction, Director of Photography, Editing — Diego Opatowski
- Second Camera — Andy Wharton
- Research and Interviews — Prue Cunningham
- Makeup — Alison Brewer
- Final Sound Mix — Shamir Rodriguez
- Colour — Colourspace
- Client — Funded by Netsafe NZ
- Most widely viewed film in the Speak Up series
- Front page coverage on the Dominion Post newspaper and Stuff website. National and international reach
- Screened at the Auckland Film Festival