I’ll admit, I’ve never watched an episode of Home and Away but Ray Meagher who plays Alf Stewart joined us this morning – and he’s a flamin’ legend. Slightly hungover, maybe. Hilarious, definitely. 26 years on the show, this boy might have a future.
Ya flamin’ gallah!
posted on November 13, 2013 by Justin in Random Style
Dick Pic – Safe for Work
posted on November 11, 2013 by Justin in Random Style
Looking forward to our radio show tomorrow. Artist Dick Frizzell explains the motivations and processes that went into the creation of the New Zealand Herald’s 150th birthday wrap cover. He’s always a good laugh – and way better at scribbling than I. Regardless, for you, Mr Frizzell, a Dick Pic.
Why having nine shots in your morning coffee is a dumb thing to do
posted on November 9, 2013 by Justin in Random Style
New Zealand boxer David Tua has nine shots in his coffee every day. No harm done – you’d think. Until I tried it during our radio show. Never have I found ads I hear every day so hilarious. I was so exhausted after this episode I had to go home for a lie down.
The Way Way Back interview
posted on July 30, 2013 by Justin in Random Style
I’ve spent the last few weeks in Hawaii lazing in the sun doing bugger all. On the flight home Juno and Little Miss Sunshine were two of the available movies, the latter of which was being watched by the bloke to my right who couldn’t stop laughing at the scene where the yellow van’s horn will not quit.
Which made me laugh as well.
The Way Way Back is a new movie made by the same studio that brought us the aforementioned flicks. Today on our Classic Hits radio show we spoke with the director/actors, Jim Rash (Minority Report; One Hour Photo) and Nat Fazon (Bad Teacher; Walk Hard.) Ultimately it’s a coming-of-age story about a mother (Toni Collette) and her son finding each other again, no thanks to evil step-dad (Steve Carell). The uncomfortable opening scene (where Carrell doubts his step-son would rate any higher than a 3/10) actually happened to Jim Rash growing up. What follows is a touching, endearing story with superbly cast characters.
Why set The Way Way Back in a water park?
(Faxon): ‘Many kids have a fondness for that world. It gives you a sense of independence. You were often dropped off by your parents and the people who worked there were only a few years older than you.’
Finding a teen lead actor, who can be both awkward and likeable, must have been a challenge.
(Rash): ‘There is always anxiety and trepidation. You hear stories of crews searching around the country, but we didn’t have the time or budget to do that. We completely lucked out with Duncan (Liam James). As soon as he walked in the room it felt right. He was right emotionally and physically. He was honest and natural, unlike some of the other well-rehearsed kids.’
As writer/directors you obviously reserved the best lines for yourselves.
(Naxon): Jim’s role got bigger and bigger.
(Rash): I’m such eye candy – it really was difficult to make myself look as ugly as possible.
The Way Way Back has been an eight year journey – you guys must be stoked with the result.
(Rash): ‘Absolutely. We wanted to make a movie that would connect with a lot of people. It’s been very rewarding – and emotional!’
Tim Balme from The Almighty Johnsons
posted on July 6, 2013 by Justin in Random Style
Actor and screenwriter Tim Balme visited us this week promoting the third season of the Almighty Johnsons. It’s the season that almost didn’t make it, but thanks to fans who went ‘troppo’ when they heard their favorite show might be kicked into touch, the Norse Bro Show is alive and well. And according to Tim it’ll be the ‘biggest and best series so far.’
I was most interested to know how the show’s writers go about their work. I once read that Michael Palin and John Cleese used to sit in a log cabin in the woods with pen and paper, but talk utter rubbish for the first hour. ‘How are the kids? I like your new shoes. Isn’t it funny how you never see baby pigeons.’ After that initial ‘download’ they could then begin their work.
According to Tim, writers meetings for the Almighty Johnsons are no different. ‘There’s always a certain amount of circling the wagons, or mucking around before you get the true gold.’ And given he is a writer and actor for the series, what’s the more challenging role? ‘I kid you not – the hardest lines to learn are the ones you wrote yourself.’
The third season of The Almighty Johnsons will also air in the US and Canada.
Sometimes it’s a good thing your first book was never published
posted on July 4, 2013 by Justin in Random Style
I think I was seven when I wrote BOMBARDED – The Maggot Adventure. Plot: two maggots get drunk on ‘flies eyes wine’, throw on Superman costumes and play car tennis using houses as racquets. And no one published it! Not that I sent it to anyone. But even so…
#Winning with Books For Change
posted on June 14, 2013 by Justin in Random Style
Last year I was appointed Ambassador for Cottonsoft Books for Change. This involved visiting Indonesia and speaking to kids in learning centres in the Sumatra region. Due to the lack of reading materials in those centres, a campaign was set up whereby Kiwi schools could donate books. The response has been brilliant. So far thousands of books have been donated by New Zealand schools. The plan is to make the initiative a worldwide one. Nice job!
Pic: Myself with Brooke Dobson on TVNZ’s ‘Breakfast.’
A pigeon with rabies and a dead man with jelly falling out of him
posted on April 12, 2013 by Justin in Random Style
This week I spoke at Birkenhead Primary School as part of their annual book week. What a cool bunch of kids. They even made me a throne.
As usual, the best part of these talks are the questions the author receives once their spiel is complete. In my case, reading from my new junior novel (Shot, Boom, Score!), performing some magic tricks and harassing them for liking One Direction. Or Beiber. Or Selena Gomez.
‘Any questions?’ I asked.
‘Yep. Would you rather be a duck or a goose?’
‘Um, a goose I think. They’re funnier.’
‘No! It’s a duck. Cos you can eat them!’
‘Ooo…kay. Any other questions?’
‘Have you ever thought of doing a book about a talking pie?’
(Should be noted this question came directly after I read them my soon-to-be-released e-book ‘The Dog That Ate The Bathroom.’)
‘Um, no I haven’t. Though that is an interesting idea.’
The kids lined up at the end to get something signed (mostly homework books) and I asked one of the boys what he might like to write about next.
‘A story about a pigeon with rabies and a dead man with jelly falling out of him.’
Damn, I thought when I drove off. Why didn’t I think of that?
Is it possible to piggyback a pig?
posted on March 15, 2013 by Justin in Random Style
A few weeks ago on our radio show we asked the question, can you beat a dog in a swimming race? This morning we wondered, can you piggyback a pig?
That’s our co-host Jason in the helmet, who drew the short straw and had to undertake the challenge. (I understand the need for gloves, but a helmet?)
Jam the pig was a good sport: calm, measured and happy. That is, until we got him out of his cage, when he squealed like a hungry baby in a wet nappy. With colic. The noise coming from Jam’s chops was simply unbearable.
Jason adjusted his helmet and dropped to his knees. He was ready, but Jam wasn’t. The noise abated once we put him back in his cage, where he munched happily on an apple. He was not distressed, nor upset. His was the equivalent of a toddler’s tantrum and we all fell for it.
So, unless you have a high tolerance of high pitched squealing, it is not possible to piggyback a pig? Or even get the little guy near your shoulders. Which leaves me with two questions. Why is it called a piggyback? And, if a piggyback is out of the question, how about a 100m sprint?
Why Mick Jagger should run your HR Department
posted on March 1, 2013 by Justin in Random Style
