Web celeb Rose turns to cinema
NZ actress Jessica Rose – who found fame on YouTube as lonelygirl15 – has made her first foray into Hollywood, starring alongside tabloid queen Lindsay Lohan in the psychological thriller I Know…
News of New Zealanders via Global Media
Not Your Average Winery
Americans can finally appreciate the work of artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser on home soil, with the opening of the Quixote Winery in California’s Napa Valley. Owner Carl Doumani commissioned the eccentric Viennese-born artist to design…
Cash Versus Creativity
Auckland-raised author Fay Weldon mourns the death of literary creativity in a passionate column for The Times. “Time was when popularity was the mark of artistic failure,” she complains, “These days it’s the other…
South Pacific literati
Five NZ writers are finalists for this year’s Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, one of the most prestigious literary awards. Ocean Roads by James George, Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones and The Fainter by Damien Wilkins…
NZ connection in artUS
ArtUS magazine featured reviews of two exhibitions by NZ artists in its February edition: Michael Parekowhai at Sydney’s Roslyn Oxley Gallery and Simon Reece’s High Tide exhibition at the Contemporary Art…
Ex-Neighbour a Star in US
Dunedin-born Alan Dale has scored a lead role in yet another hit US TV series. Fresh from his success in The West Wing, CSI: Miami and The O.C, Dale is now playing publisher Bradford…
New Zealander of the Year
Wellington architect Jonathan Rennie was named New Zealander of the Year at the annual NZ Society Waitangi Day dinner in London. The award recognises an outstanding contribution by a NZ or British national…
This is NZ: Take two
A NZ film made over 30 years ago has won an award at the prestigious New York Festivals Film and Video Competition. This is NZ was originally screened at the Expo 70…
A New Sheriff in Town
Russell Crowe has signed for US$20 million to play the Sheriff of Nottingham in a “revisionist” version of the Robin Hood story. Titled Nottingham, the Hollywood film will follow “the premise that Robin Hood…
Bro’ Town goes global
With a slew of national awards under its belt, NZ animation series Bro’ Town is now taking its unique brand of humour to a world audience. The cartoon is already showing in Australia, Canada…
Hurricane warning
NZ artist Lisa Ferguson is aiming to crack the competitive New York market after a successful period in London. The former graphic designer has already made a strong impression, with Art World News…
Abstract revisited
NZ artist Angela Dwyer is staging two solo exhibitions in Italy in early 2007. The first is at the AMT Gallery in Como, the second at Milan’s Magrorocca Gallery. Born in Palmerston North, Dwyer…
Muse to Tarantino
Waiheke Island-born stuntwoman Zoe Bell makes a cameo appearance as herself in Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming slasher film Grindhouse. Bell impressed Tarantino as Uma Thurman’s double in Kill Bill, and has since joined a list…
Kahurangi in Kuala Lumpur
The Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre will celebrate Waitangi Day in Kuala Lumpur, performing at the Malaysia-New Zealand Cultural Extravaganza. Founded by Tama Huata in 1983, Kahurangi has showcased the songs and dances of the…
Don’t Dream it’s Over
A new album and world tour by Crowded House, has made headlines across the globe. According to chief songwriter Neil Finn, he and bass player Nick Seymour have been considering regrouping since the tragic death of…
Online Superstar
The inaugural Forbes Web Celeb 25 – “a list of the biggest, brightest and most influential people on the Internet” – is topped by Mt Maunganui-raised actress Jessica Rose. Last year the 19-year-old…
Musical milestones
The Guardian gives a whirlwind overview of NZ music history, from kapa haka to deep house. Milestones of note include the formation of Split Enz in 1971, Flying Nun in 1981, and hip hop…
Kilgour flies solo
David Kilgour of seminal Flying Nun band the Clean has launched a new solo album entitled The Far Now. “The songs sprung into my lap and pretty much decided how they wanted to…
Star on the rise
Variety magazine (US) named Taika Waititi one of ten directors to watch in the lead up to the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, where he made his feature debut. His first full-length project, Eagle vs….
For those about to rock, we salute you
Buskers Max Tetley (11) and Alex Philpott (10) opened the show for US rock-comedy duo Tenacious D, after impressing singer Jack Black with their performance in Christchurch’s Cathedral Square. Black (School of Rock,…
CG Cameron
Titanic director James Cameron has enlisted the help of Weta Digital for his upcoming US$200 million sci-fi epic, Avatar. Cameron also plans to shoot sections of the film at Peter Jackson’s Wellington studios with…
Life of a Legend
A film based on the life of NZ motorsport legend Bruce McLaren is rumoured to be in the works. According to Grand Prix website, the production has been linked to “some of those…
Local? Outrageous!
NZ TV series Outrageous Fortune has caused a storm across the Tasman, but not for its adult content. Australian screenwriters are threatening protests and possible strikes over a decision by Channel Nine to include…
Master of noir
The newfound appreciation of NZ-born artist James Boswell continues, with a second feature in the Guardian. The article focuses on Boswell’s post-WW2 illustrations for film posters, commissioned by Ealing studio’s head of marketing…
San Diegans fall for NZ designs
Christine Nottingham and Andrea Peach have opened a gallery-cum-store in San Diego to showcase designs by established and emerging artists from their native NZ. Moana Design on Solana Beach features works by glass…
Dance film tackles domestic drama
Shona McCullagh’s short film Break was a highlight of the Dance on Camera Festival at New York’s Walter Reade Theatre, according to the New York Times. Set in rural NZ, ‘Break’ illustrates, with surprising subtlety, the breakdown…
Not your average leading man
Not one to be pigeon-holed, Martin Henderson is busy building a reputation in Hollywood for his impressively diverse range of acting roles. For every Britney Spears music video (Toxic) or action flick (Torque)…
Scene Stealer
The Guardian introduces its readers to up-and-coming NZ actress Emily Barclay, star of In My Father’s Den and Suburban Mayhem. Born in Plymouth, Devon, Barclay escaped the period drama/soapie route of her English acting…
Images from the Outskirts of War
James Boswell: Unofficial War Artist: Drawings of Army Life in Iraq and UK 1939-1943 by William Feaver offers a fascinating insight into the “unpretentious, unheroic, unsmarmy” work of the NZ-born artist and political activist….
Linda Niccol notches British Screenplay Prize
Wellington writer Linda Niccol has won the prestigious British Short Screenplay Prize ahead of 200+ other screenwriters. Her script for The Handkerchief was judged best script by a panel that included Kenneth Branagh,…
Darkly brilliant
Award-winning NZ author Carl Shuker has released his second novel to immediate acclaim. Set in NZ, The Lazy Boys is a harrowing account of a group of friends spiralling out of control during their…
Demon talent
NZ’s Emily Barclay was named Best Lead Actress for her role in Suburban Mayhem at the Australian Film Industry (AFI) awards, December 7. The 22-year-old beat heavyweights Laura Linney (Jindabyne), Abbie Cornish Candy) and Teresa…
Keisha treads softly in big role
In a bright spot among reviews, The New York Times applauds director Catherine Hardwicke’s sensitive re-telling of a central Christian narrative with The Nativity Story, released in time for Christmas on December 1. Some…
Maori Mary’s Nativity
Keisha Castle-Hughes’ new film The Nativity Story opened to praise from the Vatican at its world premiere, when the film was greeted with applause by an audience of more than 7,000 at the…
Cool New Attraction
NZ is making another quality addition to its roll call of tourist attractions with the development of a state-of-the-art glacier museum on the South Island’s west coast. The NZ$6.5 million Hukawai Franz Josef Glacier…
Kudos for Kahurangi
The Kahurangi Maori Dancers made a big impression on natives of Penticton, British Columbia, this month. The dance group, which comprises graduates of NZ’s Takitimu Performing Arts School, regularly tours North America, as well…
Starlet with an edge
Rising NZ star Emily Barclay has been named Best Actress at Australia’s Inside Film Awards for her role as an amoral teenage single mother in the black comedy Suburban Mayhem. In what are referred…
No opportunity wasted
Emmy Award winning, adventure TV producer and presenter, Phil Keoghan returns to New Zealand to host new local series N.O.W. – No Opportunity Wasted. Based on the hugely successful Discovery Channel series and…
Kiwi shakes up Bond
Hastings-born director Martin Campbell has created the best James Bond film since the days of Sean Connery, according to ecstatic critics from over the world. Variety: “Casino Royale sees Bond himself recharged with…
Bring on the Sheep Jokes…
Following a rousing reception at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, NZ film Black Sheep has sparked a “bidding frenzy” amongst distributors in Asia, Latin America and Europe. The film was recently acquired by IFC…
NZ research centre opens in London
NZ film No.2 received a gala screening at last year’s London Film Festival, which ran from 18 October to 2 November. Festival sponsor Air New Zealand hosted the event, which included a panel discussion…
Jackson gets his game on
Peter Jackson has extended his relationship with Microsoft by signing on for two further film adaptations of the company’s computer games. Wingnut’s Jackson and Fran Walsh are currently executive-producing a film adaptation of the…
Film delves into darkest past
Cinematical reviews Out of the Blue, Robert Sarkies’ controversial new film about the 1990 Aramoana massacre. The film stars Matthew Sunderland as David Gray, the gunman who killed 13 of his neighbours in the…
Loving the lovemarks
An Australian is looking to NZ for inspiration in re-branding itself at home and abroad; hoping to shed its “where the bloody hell are you” ocker image by emphasising its sporting culture, vibrant food…
Lonely no more
A young NZ actress has been outed as global internet sensation LonelyGirl15. Otherwise known as Bree – a naive home-schooled 16-year-old – LonelyGirl15 has captured the hearts of teenage boys the world over…
Conchords take flight in US
America’s HBO network has commissioned a 12-part series based on Kiwi folk music parody duo Flight of the Conchords. Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement are to star in the series, which will feature…
Another Outstanding Achievement
NZ singer Hayley Westenra has been named one of the 10 outstanding young people in the world in the Junior Chamber International‘s prestigious annual awards (the Jaycees). The 19-year-old diva was selected from a pool…
Good Things Come in Threes
The Royal NZ Ballet’s recent tour earned high praise in the Australian national media. The RNZB performed a trio of works by Christopher Hampson, Javier de Frutos and Michael Parmenter, collectively entitled Trinity. The…
Another Classic Set for Edge Treatment
Peter Jackson is heading a big budget remake of classic British war film, The Dam Busters. Jackson will produce the movie, with fellow Kiwi and long time collaborator, Christian Rivers, making his directing…
Free at Last
Kiwi Fox News cameraman, Olaf Wiig, has walked free after being held hostage for two weeks in Gaza. Wiig and Fox correspondent Steve Centanni were captured by a previously unknown militant group, the Holy…
Fourth Emmy for Keoghan, Amazing Race
Christchurch-born Producer/Host Phil Keoghan lined up for his fourth successive Emmy Award in Los Angeles for Outstanding Reality/Competition Program. The Amazing Race is now in its 10th season. Teams race for more than…
No rocky road for Natasha
Natasha Bedingfield, has a cameo role in the sixth Rocky sequel, starring Sylvester Stallone. Originally asked to write and perform the film’s theme tune, she was convinced to make her on-screen debut by…
World class visionaries
Weta Digital is to provide special effects for upcoming Hollywood blockbuster Avatar. Directed by James Cameron, the US$200 million sci-fi epic will be almost entirely made up of computer generated action. Cameron used…
The Edge in 24
The tense, edgy feel of the Emmy Award-winning series 24 is largely propelled by the work of New Zealander Rodney Charters csc asc, who has been Director of Photography for all five…
All grown up
Veils front man Finn Andrews is compared to Tom Waits, John Lennon and Nick Cave in a glowing Guardian review. “Andrews’ voice is no longer that of an anguished child, but the trembling…
Douglas Wright’s “poem of love, cruelty and death”
During his dance career Douglas Wright was said to resemble Nijinsky in his face, his flair and his soaring leap. He now has the taut, high cheekbones, full lips and furrowed brow of…
