Christchurch
As a showcase history of Christchurch on screen this collection is backwards looking; but the devastation caused by the earthquakes gives it much more than nostalgic poignancy. As Russell Brown reflects in his introduction, the clips are mementos from, "a place whose face has changed". They testify to the buildings, culture and life of a city now lost, but sure to rise.
Queer Nation - Wellington Queer People, Queer Places, Queer Stories
This Queer Nation episode, presented by Max Currie, is an overview of the capital city's queer history. The literary demimonde is first up: Katherine Mansfield's lesbian affairs and a scandal involving Norris Davey (aka Frank Sargeson). Then the role is explored of the Dorian Society (1962-1986) and its subgroup the Homosexual Law Reform Society, which paved the way towards decriminalisation in the 1980s. The programme also introduces viewers to NZ’s most famous trannies: Carmen and then-MP Georgina Beyer. Interviews and archive material spice up the history.
Legendary NZ TV Moments
This collection celebrates the legendary moments that New Zealanders — huddled around the telly — gawked at, chortled with, and choked on our Choysa over as they played out on our screens. "There's a generation who remember where they were when JFK was shot", but as Paul Casserly asks in his collection primer, "where were you when Thingee's eye popped out?"
Sugar and Spice - Funny As Interview
Jonathan Brugh and Jason Hoyte were once the shirtless, high energy, tights wearing 90s comedy duo Sugar and Spice. Here the pair reminisce about having fun on stage, thriving on failing and more...including: Being introduced through mutual friend Brendhan Lovegrove, and immediately hitting it off Feeling exhilarated after their second ever gig was a "hideous failure", with the audience throwing ice at them "Pretending" to be comedians by wearing no clothes and being messy, because they didn't know how to make jokes Performing on comedy show Pulp Comedy for the first time using baked beans and shaving cream Hoyte recalling the "tremendous thrill" of acting in TV comedy Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby — "I still get teachers coming up to me and telling me how much they love Gormsby" Brugh's joy in working and improvising on hit movie What We Do in the Shadows — including the beloved scene where his character Deacon showcases his erotic dancing skills
Eli Matthewson - Funny As Interview
Starting out in Christchurch with the aim of becoming a serious actor, comedian Eli Matthewson has found his place further north — in stand-up, and as a writer for television.
The Topp Twins - Funny As Interview
Guitar-playing yodellers The Topp Twins have been bringing audiences together for decades. As this Funny As interview demonstrates, Jools and Lynda Topp make for a formidable team. Among other topics, they talk about: Six decades of making each other laugh, starting from when they had to share a bath as children Making yodelling funny How an empty petrol tank and a prison cell launched their career; how busking taught them showmanship Protest, politics, loose elastic bands, and the value of "beautiful mistakes" Winning over an audience of London punks How Lynda got married before gay marriage became legal
Stephen Stehlin
Stephen Stehlin has been involved with flagship Pacific show Tagata Pasifika for over 30 years. Alongside Ngaire Fuata and John Utanga, he launched SunPix in 2015. The company took over Tagata Pasifika after Television New Zealand outsourced its stable of Māori and Pacific programmes. Of Samoan descent, Stehlin has been honoured as both a Samoan matai chief, and as a Member of the NZ Order of Merit.
Jess Feast
Jess Feast is a documentary maker whose work covers everything from Berlin and ballet to the Flight of the Conchords. Cowboys & Communists examined cultural conflicts in post-cold war Berlin via a US-themed bar and residents of the tower block it’s housed in. 2013 breakout hit Gardening with Soul follows a year in the life of a vivacious nonagenarian nun and won the Best Documentary Moa (NZ Film) award.