Self Help is an eight-part online series that comically explores how to be a better being, produced with funding assistance from New Zealand on Air.
The original series follows hero Nikau, as he struggles to find healing, growth and self acceptance in the wake of a devastating breakup. Each mini-episode delves into a new practice or program in Nikau’s sometimes-reluctant journey of personal, spiritual, physical and psychological self-improvement.
The world of Self Help is full of humour and pathos, warmth and humanity, surrealism and ennui. Expertly crafted by writers and co-creators Kris Hermansson and Grace Palmer, and directed by Michelle Ang and Rawiri Jobe, the series reflects the hardwired need in all of us to believe in some kind of magic and wonder, even in our technologically connected world.
Self Help launched in August 2022 and rolled out online across four key platforms; YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. In the first month alone, the series reached over 244K Kiwi’s and generated over 260K video plays.
The series also won four NZ Web Fest ‘22 awards for - Best Show, Best Ensemble (Narrative), Best Actor (Narrative) and Best Director (Narrative) - and received a special mention for Best Writer and a nomination for Best Cinematography.