The Randell Cottage Writers Trust, in collaboration with Wellington City Council and the Embassy of France, hosts an Aotearoa and French writer for six months alternately through the year.

It’s been a privilege and delight to document the visits of recent writers and their personal response to living and working in the Cottage.

French writer Caroline Laurent described a vivid writerly epiphany on sunny, crowded Oriental Beach. We duly took her there to film in situ, only to hand her an umbrella as the rain descended on the deserted bay…

This was shot and edited by Thaïs Ehinger who was helped by her native French. Sound recorded by Emma Duncan.