Toa Fraser | Friends of Webb’s
We were really excited to have an Olivetti Valentine typewriter at Webb’s recent live auction, and even more so to see that it was purchased and now being put to good use by the one-and-only Toa Fraser. We caught up with Toa at his writing studio to chat about his new typewriter.
Renowned New Zealand director and writer Toa Fraser joins the ranks of other famous creatives — like Franz Kafka, Cormac McCarthy, and Leonard Cohen — who have used Olivetti typewriters in their artistic pursuits.
Toa Fraser is a prolific New Zealand filmmaker, playwright, and director. He is celebrated for his unique storytelling that seamlessly blends Pacific culture with universal themes. Known for films like No. 2 and The Dead Lands, Fraser's work is visually striking and emotionally resonant. His impact extends to theatre with plays like Bare, and Pure and Deep. A visionary pushing creative boundaries, his commitment to authenticity and storytelling excellence cements his legacy as a local icon in the realm of film and theatre, inspiring generations to come.
Congratulations on your Valentine! Does it have a name yet?
It hadn't occurred to me... but now that you mention it maybe ‘Masi’, which of course is the Fijian word for tapa, and the name of one of my oldest friend’s son. It is also the name of the company (after its founder Faliero Masi) that made my red simple, single-speed pushbike. I bought it about 13 years ago for $1,200, and have always loved riding it, especially at the cost of less than $100 a year. The bike has given me a lot of joy, and I'm hoping that the Valentine will do too, for many years to come.
Had you heard about these typewriters before?
I hadn’t heard about them and to be honest I first found out about this typewriter through Webb’s Instagram stories. The algorithm got me good. However, I have been banging away on an old Brother typewriter — solid, reliable like a Toyota Camry — I mean don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with a Camry. Indeed I have a Camry... but I express my flair on the bike... and now the hot red Olivetti Valentine. And you know, if it was good enough for David Bowie….
Do you do a lot of your writing on typewriters?
I do now... I only really started doing it this year. When I sit down at the typewriter, there are no distractions. If I want, I can leave my phone on the other side of the room. There are no notifications popping up, there’s no mucking around looking (if only for, you know, five minutes) at online shopping. No procrastination. Just one key at a time. I started running this year. I’ve never been a runner. With that, I tell myself one step at a time, just focus on the task at hand… it’s similar in a lot of ways.
And like running, there is also a rhythm to typing, is that why you have a metronome next to the typewriter?
Yes, I’m trying the metronome out at the moment. I set it relatively slow, between 140-160bpm, and try to stick to typing to that rhythm, one keystroke per beat. If you match your running cadence to 160bpm, you’ll run a mile in ten minutes. It’s an experiment. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Are you planning to use Masi as a working tool or more as a beautiful design object to look at and use sporadically?
Oh, I plan to use it as a tool, no question about that. But I also want to take care of it so in years to come somebody else can too.
There’s such a relief when you sit down at a typewriter. You don’t have to plug it in. It only does what it says. If something goes wrong, if the keys get jammed or something, you can fix it. There’s no concerns about privacy, or AI, it’s just me, a bit of physical effort, the keys, the ribbon, the paper… the typebars. That’s not to say I’m never going to use a laptop again. Analogue, digital both are great. There’s a place for both, but if I never have to write another email in my life, I won't be sad about it.
How do typewriters affect your writing — do you feel it makes you work differently?
I’m more playful using a typewriter. I’m way less concerned about spelling and mistakes in general. You don’t realise how much momentum you lose going back and editing on the fly all the time on digital. There’s only really one direction worth going on a typewriter: forward. The ding at the end of every line is a hugely satisfying feedback loop. There’s no slouching at a typewriter. You have to have good posture, and you have to hammer away at the keys. The simple physical act is creative and fulfilling in itself. Plus: you can pretend to be Samuel Fuller bashing out another yarn at the rate of two movies a year.
Do you collect anything else?
Let me introduce you to my coats! I have a few nice ones, like this Baracuta/Margaret Howell G9 Harrington jacket I got in London years ago. From Manchester originally, the G9 has become an iconic movie jacket, worn by James Dean, Elvis Presley and Steve McQueen. Most recently, the great Adeel Akhtar wore a couple of versions in Sweet Tooth [the Netflix series Toa is helping direct]. I have a couple from the show, and indeed a few other pieces of memorabilia from shows I’ve done, either crew gifts or wardrobe scores.
There’s a Dickies jacket I bought in Los Angeles on my first trip to Hollywood when I was 26 years old… found it on La Brea, in a non-descript humble shop full of pictures of people like Shaquille O’Neal and other local Dickies aficionados who went into that shop.
Are you a regular attendee at auctions?
No, I'm not a regular, but I have been lucky to get some nice things at auctions in the last few years. The aesthetic for my office is part-monk's cell, part-bounty hunter’s lair. I like mixing practical and honest with a little flair. In my work I don't think of myself as an auteur. I don't have a schtick. I just think of myself as a working guy who's fortunate sometimes to be able to tell stories and, occasionally, to make an impact. And the stories around material things are important to me. Objects have soul too.
mr mod: The Morrison Collection Part II
Decorative Arts – Live Auction | November 2023
Lot 47. An Ettore Sottsass Olivetti 'Valentine' Typewriter