NZ On Screen

Sara Wiseman - from stunts to the cult

2009-11-10T00:00:00Z

The Cult star Sara Wiseman first got the acting bug while volunteering on the set of Peter Jackson’s feature film Heavenly Creatures. She began her career as a stuntwoman alongside Zoe Bell, but gained her first big acting break in the drama series Street Legal. Her best known role was Dr Nicky Sommerville on Mercy Peak. Some of Wiseman’s other screen credits include Mataku, Sione’s Wedding, Outrageous Fortune and Jinx Sister. In this ScreenTalk interview, Wiseman discusses:

How Street Legal introduced her to television acting
The awkwardness of a sex scene with Jay Laga’aia
The agony of auditioning for Mercy Peak
Why she loved playing Nicky Sommerville
How Outrageous Fortune gives actors the freedom to explore their characters
The intensity of filming The Cult on location in winter
Breaking her foot on the set of Jinx Sister

This video is available on YouTube to embed and distribute via a Creative Commons licence. Credits: Interview, Camera & Editing – Andrew Whiteside

Michael Seresin

2009-11-10T11:39:19Z

Michael Seresin's talent behind the camera has taken him to Ireland (Angela's Ashes), New York (Fame), Turkey (Midnight Express), and Scotland (Harry Potter). Seresin, ONZM, began at Wellington indie company Pacific Films, where he mostly filmed docos. Since then - apart from commanding the camera on 70s Kiwi classic Sleeping Dogs - Seresin has largely worked overseas, often alongside powerhouse British director Alan Parker.

Old Man's Story

2009-11-09T16:11:33Z

A fictional memoir of a 12-year-old boy's holiday on his uncle's farm, Old Man's Story is also a character study of the personable, potentially dodgy ex-sailor who works there as hired hand. When an orphaned girl comes to stay, there are worries the man has crossed the line in his relationship with her. The first drama for Wellington company The Gibson Group, Old Man's Story also marks a rare screen adaptation of author Frank Sargeson, whose tales of losers and outsiders made him "one of the founders of a modern New Zealand literature" (Lawrence Jones).

Wise Women and Song

2009-11-06T16:52:53Z

Singer Jackie Clarke attends the NZ Smokefree Composing Women’s Festival at the Wellington Town Hall to find out what goes on there and to see if she can get the guidance and inspiration to write a song for the first time. Made for TV ONE’s Work of Art strand, the documentary features singer/songwriters including Moana Maniapoto, Jan Preston, Shona Laing, Janet Roddick, Hinewehi Mohi and Jan Hellriegel.

Michael Firth

2009-11-06T16:52:54Z

Michael Firth’s debut feature, 70s ski movie Off the Edge, was the first New Zealand feature to be nominated for an Academy Award. Noted American critic Andrew Sarris praised Firth's 1985 movie, Sylvia, based on legendary Kiwi teacher Sylvia Ashton-Warner, as one of the best films released that year. He now produces commercials for his company tourismNZpromotion and develops features.

Arthur Everard

2009-11-06T16:52:54Z

Arthur Everard spent almost two decades making films for the National Film Unit, including directing award-winning rugby short Score and joining the team behind Commonwealth Games doco Games ’74. In 1984, Everard became New Zealand’s Chief Film Censor, a position he held for six years.

Te Radar

2009-11-06T16:52:54Z

Te Radar (Andrew J Lumsden) is a writer and satirist with a habit for combining laughter and documentary-making: from intrepid journeying to stand-up comedy and sustainable living show Off the Radar (2008).

Song of the Siren

2009-11-05T17:17:42Z

This short film is one of writer/director Fiona Samuel’s first directorial efforts, and is a stylish and quirky tale of a plain woman with a beautiful voice who is trapped in a difficult life caring for her cranky elderly father. The singer waiting to bloom is beautifully played by actual singer Janet Roddick (Six Volts) in a rare on-screen role, and Desmond Kelly puts in a strong performance as the cantankerous Dad. The film won the Golden Mikeldi at 1997's Bilbao International Festival of Documentary and Short Film.

Dome

2009-11-04T17:08:08Z

The band has its origins in Christchurch, but this video takes their trademark sonic guitar to the subways and streets of their adopted home of New York. Shot in 1996 it feels more emblematic of the recession era as a robotic businessman crawls on its belly towards redundancy on Wall St. It's a striking key image as he/its battery runs down in front of the Stock Exchange Building amongst oblivious pedestrians. Liberty: Bailterspace style.

Long Ago

2009-11-04T17:08:07Z

As was often the way in the early 80s, this is a fairly basic TVNZ-produced video, filmed on a studio set to a DIY marae backdrop and under some red, green and yellow rasta lighting. But it's a great song and the band are natural born performers. There's puffer vests, Hawaiian shirts, and wristbands; and singer Willie Hona’s sleeveless leopard print top worn with bone carving necklace somehow feels just right for the Pacific reggae charms of the music.

Bailterspace

2009-11-04T17:08:08Z

Originally from Christchurch, Bailterspace began life in 1986, from the ashes of the Gordons. Following several releases with Flying Nun, including 1990's critically-acclaimed Thermos, their atmospheric guitar-driven, Richter scale-registering sound gained the attention of industry heavyweights in New York and they were signed to iconic indie label, Matador Records and name-checked as an influence by alt-NYC darlings Interpol. Bailterspace took an extended hiatus in 2004, returning to play the famed Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan four years later.

Heavenly Pop Hit

2009-11-04T17:08:08Z

This one is the big shiny internationally-produced Chills video, but it’s still in keeping with the band’s low-key indie style. In majestic cliff-top scenery (Ireland stands in for New Zealand) Martin Phillipps looks like he is at the top of the world, and large rocks bounce across the screen like karaoke cues; perfect imagery to match the soaring sound of this classic pop song. Apparently Phillipps was nearly swept away by a rogue wave whilst singing furiously along to a non-existent backing-tape. The rocks were made of polystyrene.

The Face of Fashion

2009-11-04T17:08:08Z

Indie legend Chris Knox puts the mainstream posturing of Movember to shame in this animated single-frame clip. Knox goes from long hair to no hair, hairless to hirsute, bald to bearded, and every style in between. Has there ever been a more effective choreographing of one’s own personal style and grooming? A DIY high concept masterclass of Knox's directing talents. Brilliant!

Phil's Disease Day 1

2009-11-03T13:50:18Z

A simple line drawing animation for this little ditty from the Slugbucket Hairybreath Monster EP. The video features smoking sharks, animated versions of the Slugbucket character, Alec Bathgate, and Chris Knox himself. It’s delightfully low-tech as usual, but the clip still manages to use correct apostrophes throughout!

Jack Body

2009-11-03T13:50:19Z

Arts Laureate Jack Body, OMNZ, has composed for opera, gamelan orchestra, film, and America’s Kronos Quartet. In 1974 he created the soundtrack for Uenuku, the first film with all-Māori dialogue. He followed it with iconic soap Close to Home. Body’s award-winning collaborations with director Vincent Ward include scoring Ward’s atmospheric breakthrough Vigil, and 2008‘s Rain of the Children, with John Gibson.

Phil's Disease Day 4

2009-11-03T13:50:18Z

More doodle-tastic animated craziness for another short track from the Slugbucket Hairybreath Monster EP. This one is slightly more complex and Len Lye-ish than its partner Phil’s Disease Day 1.

Second-Hand Wedding

2009-11-03T13:50:18Z

A classic case of the little movie that could, Second-Hand Wedding is a feel-good tale of garage sales, and the ties that bind. Worried that her mother’s endless enthusiasm for bargains might even infect her big day, Cheryl (Holly Shanahan) delays unveiling her wedding plans. When Mum (Geraldine Brophy) finds out the information second-hand, she does not react well. Both actors won NZ Film and TV Awards for their work, and the film was a bonafide Kiwi hit; it currently ranks as New Zealand’s seventh most successful in its home territory.

One Fell Swoop

2009-11-03T13:50:18Z

More DIY ingenuity from the man who has made an art form out of simplicity. Who would have thought such a basic idea as type-written words flashed on the palm of an opening and closing hand could make such a mesmerising music video?

Hori Ahipene - Queen of the Screen

2009-11-03T00:00:00Z

Hori Ahipene could perhaps be described as New Zealand’s most 'diverse' actor, having played both male and female characters in TV comedies and dramas. In the 90s Ahipene gained a loyal fan base by appearing in the TV sketch shows Away Laughing, Skitz and Telly Laughs. Two of Ahipene’s popular gender-swapping roles were Mrs Semisi in Skitz and The Semesis, and Beverley Best in the Maori Television sitcom/chat show B&B. Ahipene has also appeared in TV dramas such as Maddigan’s Quest, Mataku, and Shortland Street. In 2009, Ahipene returned to wearing a frock on screen playing ‘Angel’ - a transgender prostitute in Outrageous Fortune. Ahipene’s film credits include Jubilee and The Piano. In this ScreenTalk interview, Ahipene discusses:

His love of Skitz and the chance it gave him to become a director
Why hosting the 1998 Hero Parade terrified him
Dedicating his role in Jubilee to the memory of his father
How satisfying it was to work with Māori crew on the TV series Mataku
Working with Te Radar on the sitcom/chat show B&B
Learning acrobatic skills on the set of Maddigan’s Quest
And playing a transgender hooker in Outrageous Fortune

This video is available on YouTube to embed and distribute via a Creative Commons licence. Credits: Interview, Camera & Editing - Andrew Whiteside

My Only Friend

2009-11-01T13:25:55Z

Chris Knox has described this love song as being “about as naked as I get” and “utterly heartfelt in a way that ‘Not Given Lightly’ only hints at”. So it’s no surprise the video is perhaps his most personal, with striking images of his long-time partner Barbara Ward’s face, sometimes projected on and merged with Knox’s own image. Mix in some classic low-tech Knox animation and the simple big red heart image of the Beat album cover - and it’s a poignant little gem.

NZ On Screen

Sara Wiseman - from stunts to the cult

Michael Seresin

Old Man's Story

Wise Women and Song

Michael Firth

Arthur Everard

Te Radar

Song of the Siren

Dome

Long Ago

Bailterspace

Heavenly Pop Hit

The Face of Fashion

Phil's Disease Day 1

Jack Body

We're Here to Help

Phil's Disease Day 4

Second-Hand Wedding

One Fell Swoop

Hori Ahipene - Queen of the Screen

My Only Friend