NEWS... (:
updated 15.01.2013
Sorry for being so far behind
with this update!
I hope everybody had a wonderful CHRISTMAS and we all have a fantastic 2013!
Some of the Christmas mail I did sent out didn't make it because the
email address I had of you was out of date. If you have recently
changed your email address or provider let me know please! Thanks!
I'm still working on the other pages that haven't been updated yet as
promised.
'Cirque du Soleil - Worlds Away' was released in
the US on December the 21st (Worlds End...lol...) as planned. It
will be dripfed to the rest of the world for the next 2 month. The
release in NZ will be at the end of February. Please check with your
local cinemas for screening times in case you're keen.
More updates in the next few days once the summer holidays have
finished and work will be back in full swing.
updated 15.11.2012
This is to quickly let you know
that the biggest change is finally done!
If you haven't spotted it on the front page, the 'Production' section
is all new! Please have a look HERE.
More updates on this News page about all that happened apart from this
update will follow soon as well.
In fact the 'News' page itself will be all new soon!
I hope you like the changes and please let me know if anything doesn't
work. Or if you like it or not... you better... lol...
updated 25.07.2012
The below talked about music video
(1995 - Love Your Ghost) is out, and if you want to, you can find it HERE.
The first few more 'artistic' trailers for 'Cirque du Soleil - Worlds
Away' have been released as well. Nothing of our little local circus in
it as yet... Here is the so far main TRAILER,
and a PAGE with a lot more options.
I'm still 'flat out' with the subtitle files for 'Journey of a Story'.
On screen content (OSC) is finished and the English subtitles well in
work. The German ones for the September release in Graz (Austria) will
follow soon.
Quick in between update
and 'Add-On' to
the site has been done! There is a chat room now! Try if I'm just on
(might be a long shot!) or leave me a message directly on there please!
So if you wanna follow me to MARS, please click HERE
or in the future use the top button on the start page menu! THANKS! I
look forward to hear from you!
updated 28.05.2012
Sorry
about another 'update delay', but the main reason was a change of hard
and software causing all sorts of problems with previously used
software. It's hopefully all sorted now!
As a result of this, there will be a few changes done to this site
during the next few weeks. Especially for the production pages. But I
will let you know HERE, once that is done.
Journey of a Story was successfully released on
Anzac Day as planned and continues to amaze people with it's
extraordinary quality in photography and editing! Dimi Nakov the
DOP is in Cannes at the moment. He is displaying a later project of his
and is doing advertising for JOAS at the same time. Bare in mind that
this was an independent production and the first big project for 'Earthwire Productions. It might play in Rialto
cinemas soon. It played in more than 20 cinemas nationwide so far with
big success and fantastic reviews. To follow it's progress, please use
the link above.
I did another VO for Darbo, Called 'Die Jagd', which means as much as
'The Hunt'. It will be released under that title as well. I did 2
English and 2 German versions of this. They will be on the net too. But
if you want to get a first impression what it looks like, please click HERE.
Damien Shatford gave me a call to star in a music video he was doing
for the band '1995', called 'Love Your Ghost'. We went to 'Little
China' for the filming. More to that in the next update. The whole
production was supposed to look like a dark passage from a Wim Wenders
film and I think that Damien executed that beautifully! He is another
one of those directors with a clear vision for a project, the ability
to put that into picture and communicate it to everyone involved.
Great! Was fun all the way through! If you wanna look at Damiens web
page (still a bit in work!), do that HERE please. The production
company overseeing it all was STAKE.
Once the video is online, I will link you from here again. For the
moment there are 2 pictures from the opening scene and from Co-Star
Sue-Li with me.
For everyone waiting for the release of 'Cirque du
Soleil - Worlds Away', will still have to wait until the 21st of
December this year. This is when the world premiere is planned. I guess
it will screen in Las Vegas (where most of the artists are living) or
Los Angeles first. Let's wait and see!
Apart from all that I'm involved in the planning of another local
feature film, but more to that in the next update as well.
updated 19.01.2012
A
few things happened since the last update. We finally filmed my 2nd
part as 'Ringmaster' for Darcy Gladwin's movie 'GodPlex'
in Queenstown. We had a great time! Great weather and great people!
Funny was that the Circus we were filming with was the same as in our
Cirque du Soleil movie! Same tent and mainly same artist! What a big
hello that was!!! If you got the chance to see 'Circus Aotearoa'
somewhere at a location close to you, DON'T miss it! You can check by
clicking on the name above. Absolutely lovely people and a great
performance! And take the kids!
And our Cirque du Soleil movie finally has a title and will screen
sometime this year somewhere near you! Can't wait to see it myself! To
find out why read this write up from MovieWeb. That should explain why I'm 'shivering
with anticipation'...(:
'Journey of a Story' will officially be released on
Anzac day. I look forward to that too!
There are a few more things underway, but more about that in the next
update...
A very MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone and a fantastic 2012!!!
This year went by really fast! A lot of things happened, but not too
much to write about here...
The Andrew
Adamson / James Cameron 3D movie for 'Cirque du Soleil' still
hasn't got a title or release date yet. But you can follow the progress
by clicking HERE or check it (or me)
out on IMDb.
Darcy (Gladwin) renamed 'GodSpell'
into 'GodPlex'
to avoid further 'mental collisions' with the musical 'Godspell' which
was around in the 70's. Godplex has nothing to do with that. But if you
forgot all about it, time to visit Darcy's page again. You can do that HERE.
I'll be flying to Queenstown at the beginning of January to
finally shoot the 'Ringmaster' circus scenes for the movie. Shooting is
nearly finished. There was a very nice feature about the movie on TV3 nightline a few days ago.
'Journey of a
Story'
is still in post production but won't be that far off from being
finished. Jonathon (Rayner-Burt) is trying to tweak the last bits to
perfection. The link to page and trailer are below.
Samuel Wheeler
contacted me to possibly play a part in his next upcoming feature 'Someone To Carry Me'.
Check the teaser out HERE
Last updated 26. April 11'
Sorry
to be a bit behind with this update!
During the last 3 month work that was already in progress was either
continued or completed.
In March I went down to Wellington to do additional voice overs for my
part in the below mentioned 'Cirque du Soleil'
movie. While there, I was asked to voice another artist of the same
movie, which went quite well I think. I really have got no idea how
editing progressed so far, neither do I know if there was a decision on
the title yet. But the release can't be that far off. Check back for
that please!
ArtChoo was
finally released on DVD and Romain did sent me a copy. Looks great!
Thanks Romain! Good luck on the festivals!
The music video by 'Rover'
plays on C42 (former C4) and 'Juice'
now. It had really good reviews. Good luck to 'Black Tuesday'!
Somewhere below is a link to the video, but in the meantime it's on
'YouTube' as well and the quality there is slightly better. So if you
wanna watch it again (huh!), here is the link >>> Black Tuesday /
May 15
We had the first private screening of 'Journey of a Story'
yesterday. Looks fantastic! Little things still have to be smoothed
over, but what a great movie! Congratulations Jonathon! A master class
in creating something incredible on a shoestring! Please watch the new
trailer and help us spreading the word. We hope to have it screened for
this years NZ Film Festival. More about the progress in the next
update. You find the new trailer HERE.
Darcy, the man behind 'GodSpell'
has returned from India where he did some more work for the movie. I
hope to see him soon back in NZ. More about 'GodSpell'
once I caught up with Darcy.
Last updated 1. January 11'
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!
Have a wonderful 2011!!!
This is a quick update
in regards to the mentioned jobs and the incredible luck and fantastic
time I had since the last update...
As you know I was waiting for the results of the Weta Workshop game job
and a part as 'Ringmaster'
for an apparent 'Cirque
du Soleil' production. Little did I know that this was a
3-D movie made by Andrew Adamson
and James
Cameron for Cirque!
A day after my last update I was on 'hold' all of a sudden, had a
recall a few days later which ended with me getting the job! Andrew
(Adamson) increased my lines massively, my filming days doubled and I
found myself as No.3 on the local cast list! But don't get me wrong! On
the 'final cut' you only see me for a VERY short while at the beginning
of the movie, as this is NOT about MY circus, but about displaying
Cirque du Soleil brilliance from their Las Vegas Show to the rest of
the world! What a wonderful idea! And what a Christmas present for me!
I have to say that Andrew is the nicest 'Billion Dollar Maker' anyone
can imagine! What an absolutely incredible man! It was a total pleasure
and honor to work for him! I hope to have a chance for a 'repeat'
performance!
I won't say anything about the story line here or publish any photos as
you will understand. That will happen after the movie is released,
which could be during the northern hemisphere summer this year. July or
August maybe.
If you would like to find out more about this movie, join the line by
following the link below... It hasn't even got a title yet! We just had
a working title.
The only picture I include with this (can't be enlarged!) is the
'GoodBye' photo with Andrew. For the rest you will have to wait a bit
longer... Sorry! By re-checking the link below in the next few weeks
you might find out more anyway! Lots of entries on the net about this!
And as usual, I will keep you updated!
Find out more here...
Last updated 3. December 10'
The last 3 month went by
in a rush! Here is what happened:
Journey
of a Story
has wrapped completely now and we had a great wrap party in Posonby! If
everything goes well with the editing I think release is planned for
April 11'. Links to the movie and newspaper articles are in the update
below. Thanks!
ArtChoo has
screened in St.Lukes and was a real success rating the reaction of the
audience. It is planned to be released on DVD in January. An extra page
with more pictures and bits will be added soon. Please check back for
that! Some pictures and more info are in the previous update below.
Thanks!
The music video I did with 'The Rovers'
of 'Flying
Fish', May 15
by Black
Tuesday
was finished and uploaded last week. I don't think it's on telly yet!
Again, more info about this is in the update below. Thanks! If you
would like to watch the video or find out more about the band, please
follow the links below. I think 'The Rovers'
did a really great job editing!
The Video The Band
We were filming some more scenes
for 'GodSpell'
on Muriwai Beach while Darcy was over here from Melbourne. We would
have needed an open fire for those scenes, but apart from being
prohibited to do so at Muriwai, we had a mighty storm that evening and
the fire wouldn't have worked out anyway. Apart from that, I think
Darcy was quite happy with what we got. We needed a 9 year old girl for
those scenes as well, able to say some lines. I casted Maria for this
part, Maria has played my daughter in Journey of a Story previously. She is great! Next
week she will sign up with a fantastic agent here in Auckland! Good
luck for your future Maria!
Some more shots were done in Wellington as well and we are on a break
until February 11' now. Then filming will continue and hopefully
wrap in Auckland.
Apart from all the above I had
a few auditions, mainly for a Weta Workshop computer game in which I
would play a head monk, blind, and new recruits will turn blind as
well as part of the initiation. Hmmm... This is planned to be filmed in
February 11', so well off, but I hope to find out before Christmas if
it's a 'yes' or 'no'...
Another fantastic audition was
as a Ringmaster in a doco drama for Cirque de Soleil. Quite funny as I
play a Ringmaster in 'GodSpell' as well at the moment! The
decision here can only be days off as filming is planned to be finished
before Christmas.
You'll find out more in the
next update again! As usual, I will keep you updated!
Last updated 26.September 10'
The
sad news first, my
mum died on the 30th of April this year, after a long struggle! She was
a very big part of my heart and my every day life! She will be VERY
dearly missed! I hope she is resting in peace and will still 'check in'
occasionally...
The working year started well
with another job for Darbo (Austria), in which I worked as voice and
language coach. More than 40 models had to perform 9 rather difficult
sentences in German! It worked well! I have to say that they really ALL
gave their best!
The final choice was Natalia, a Russian born Kiwi. She only needed to
get the lip movement right, as it was planned to have the ad dubbed.
But she picked it up so well that she was asked back into the sound
studio to have it re recorded with HER voice! Fantastic!
Congratulations Natalia! Natalia plays as well ALL(12!!!) parts in the
clip!
If you want to watch the 'Final Product', you find it HERE!
That job led directly into an ad for 'Cadbury', or
better 'Pascal
Marshmallows'.
This featured 4 'unlikely' SuperHeroes in a very surreal setting. There
was 'Robotron', 'Mystique', 'Lord Evil' and 'Skeletron'. I had the part
of 'Skeletron'. The 'Weta Workshop' was going to do the final editing
on this, but somehow this might have never taken place. At the moment
it looks like this ad will never be released.
I didn't take any photos there, so the few displayed here were
distributed to me by the producers and the copyright lies with Cadbury! I
purposely didn't tell anything about the storyline here, NOT to
infringe on any copyrights!
A short while after I had a call from a very well known local agency, TWA.
The new owners and managers were completely revamping the business and
I was asked to give the occasional acting course there! That was great,
as I haven't done that for about 10 years then and I always loved
teaching! Totally down my alley!
To check out the newly reborn TWA, you can
click HERE. More
about my acting course is HERE.
The last scenes of 'Journey
of a Story'
for me are finished as well. During the location search and during
filming I met some fantastic people and former countrymen! Tom Bichler
and Margareta Lammer were an incredible help to find our final
'Austrian Location' here in Aotearoa and Margareta was straight
'utilized' as actress, playing my Austrian wife in the movie! Great!
The location was the 'Swiss Club', an
hour north of Auckland and the same place where parts of 'The Cult' (great
local series!!!) was filmed. Tom Is President and Margareta Vice
President of the 'Austrian
Club' in Auckland.
We had a few features in Newspapers and Magazines with the movie and
here are some links. In the Austrian Times article you find me half
way down the page, in the Magazine Viewfinder (click on the cover)
is a picture of me with my Austrian Family on page 17.
Austrian
Times Magazine
Viewfinder Journey of a Story Page
Photos,
Videos etc.
That was followed by a Unitec student
production, a 'Mocumentary' called 'ArtChoo'. Absolutely
fantastic! Here I'm playing 'Marko',
a totally self overrated and mis orientated abstract artist, having his
best(?!?) ideas for new artwork after sneezing! I really loved this
part! I suffered a rare BAD flu during filming (NO punt intended!!!
39.3 fever!), but the whole crew was just fantastic and kept me going!
Everybody there was absolutely determined and totally professional! I
worked on a good number of productions during my life, but this team
has to be in the top 5!!! Really EVERYBODY was incredible! Romain,
'Nurse' Lisa, Renee... and... and... and... Watch out New
Zealand, there are some fantastic people on the rise!
Here are a few pictures from the production. There is more to come soon!
I nearly forgot about the music video! I suddenly had a call from the 'Rovers'
(Jacob & Mat) to be starring in a music video being filmed
somewhere along Desert Road in the middle of Winter! I knew I had to
run for the shoot, but NOT that this was planned to be in a
singlet(!!!) by freeeeezing temperatures around the zero degree mark,
half past 6 in the morning behind a Diesel Truck!!! Huh!!! At least the
Motel had a hotpool! VERY much appreciated! The scenery was
breathtaking though! Next to Mt.Ruapehu with a slight ice and snow
cover everywhere! Great! The music video was for 'Black
Tuesday' and the track is 'May
15'.
I haven't really heard very much back from the Rovers in regards to
progress of the video. I hope they are not stuck in some elevator
somewhere with flat cell phone batteries! {: But promise to keep you
updated...
'Godspell' was
planned to continue filming in November, but might be delayed a bit due
to
unforeseen circumstances. I try to help a bit with production and have
a small acting part in it as well. I keep you posted...
'Time
Machine'
is finished and Liam did send me a first DVD copy. Nice cover and the
movie looks really good! I'm sure it'll be turning up somewhere
sometime soon! And again... I will keep you updated!
Some slightly 'older' bits...
I did the 'Newsreader' in 'Last Flight'
filming and editing is still going on. I attach a part of the text as
well as JPG, in case you don't get to read all the text on the site.
I was talking to Darcy Gladwin when he came back to NZ about more
details of 'Godspell'
I'm playing the 'Circus Ringmaster' and owner here as mentioned, but in
this one I'm trying to help with production and maybe directing as
well. That depends on Darcy entirely!
I was working as assistant Producer for 'Earthwire Productions' for a
few month for free, but got really busy and we split ways in this
regard. I still help out occasionally with this or that. I finished my
acting part in this movie as 'Hans' the
Austrian farmer hiding our hero.
'Santa Is Dead' (no
site yet) is a Korean / NZ production
with only 2 main parts and 1 additional short role in it. I am 'Santa'
(one of the main parts). Quite complicated story in this movie, with 14
pages of script for me, a car chase scene and me shooting people in
passing cars, on a very remote road around Taupo. I'm still waiting for
the re scheduled time table here. First shoot didn't work out as we had
horrible weather...
That's pretty much it I think! I just love this work, so I'm 'sucking'
it up as much as I possibly can...
;-)
