Comedy Fest Questionnaire: Geraldine Quinn

Comedy Fest Questionnaire: Geraldine Quinn

1) Tell us what your show is called this year?
You’re the Voice: Songs for the Ordinary by an Anthemaniac

2)  Why?
It’s all in the title – original songs in rock anthem styles by someone who is a maniac for rock anthems, all about the glory of being ordinary.

3) Can you give us a few hints as to what broadly your festival show is about?
Celebrating how wonderful and power-ballad worthy very day things and experiences can be, and realising you’re probably in a pretty good place in your life.

4) How much time have you spent crafting the show over the past 12 months since the end of the last festival?
None! This is its 6^th festival, so it has settled a lot since it was first performed.

5) The comedy festival is turning 21 this year – it’s a big age 21 – what are you’re your memories of being 21? Or if you’re not old enough yet, you lucky person, what are your hopes for being 21?
I am old enough, and my abiding memory is: I wasn’t single.
A lot’s changed.

6) The Comedy festival is one big party and catch up for a month - is there anyone you’re looking forward to seeing over here either socially or on stage?
I miss Juzzie Smith and Urzila Carlson, who I met in Adelaide years ago. I don’t know if Wilson Dixon is around, but I would love to see him again. It’s been far too long! And any other friends from around the world who may be attending.

7) What’s the comedy scene like at the moment who do you rate and why?
Oh, I am a bit strange in that I am in cabaret, but I do have a soft spot for people pushing boundaries, like Tommy Bradson (who just trounced me for Best Cabaret in Adelaide Fringe), Dr Neal Portenza, stand-ups Lori Bell, Geraldine Hickey and Anne Edmonds and various other sundry nutbags like Lessons With Luis, Slutmonster and Friends, Slow Clap and others in that talent-rich, Melbourne group.

8)  What’s the best piece of audience interaction you’ve had?
It wasn’t so much interaction, because I’m quite scripted, though cabaret tends to avoid the fourth wall – but one year in Adelaide I did have a couple snogging up the back of my show. Which was interesting.

9) What’s the most memorable part of performing for you within the last 12 months?
Selling out this show in Adelaide, and both winning a Weekly Award (Cabaret) and being nominated for Best Cabaret overall. It was a pretty fun season. We danced so much…

10) When we say New Zealand International Comedy Festival to you, what’s the first thing you think of?
All my dreams of going to New Zealand coming true…I was a Split Enz nut in the late 1970s/early 1980s in Wagga Wagga, so I became very fascinated by place names and folk tales. I’m frankly embarrassed it has taken me this long to come over!

11) How would you persuade people to come and see your show?
Original rock cabaret with balls-out singing, heart, laughs and lashings of PVC and fluro tulle. Please come.

Comedy Fest Questionnaire: Pax

Comedy Fest Questionnaire: Pax

Pax’s Magic Carpet Ride

*2013 BILLY T NOMINEE

1) Tell us what your show is called this year?
My Show is called Pax’s magic carpet ride

2)  Why?
Because everyone who comes to my show will be taken on a magical ride through my mind (Isn’t as profound as it sounds). Also because I’m Middle Eastern. It’s cute

3) Can you give us a few hints as to what broadly your festival show is about?
It’s just about everything and anything I’ve been pondering for the last year. Stuff that’s relevant to me and relevant to everybody else. Marriage, The Middle East, Popular culture, how to win over the ladies. I just want to talk about the world and everything therein with a bunch of strangers.

4) How much time have you spent crafting the show over the past 12 months since the end of the last festival?
I’ve been spending the entire 12 months coming up with this show. The things I talk about haven’t been thought of in a short span of time. I’ve been thinking about these things for some time now.

5) The comedy festival is turning 21 this year – it’s a big age 21 – whatyou’re your memories of being 21? Or if you’re not old enough yet, you lucky person, what are your hopes for being 21?
I remember getting married 10 days after I turned 21 so I’d rather not think about it…
No really. Beautiful memories of stepping on a path with my wife and also having access to a whole new bunch of situations I can draw from. I was just happy about the new material really.

6) The Comedy festival is one big party and catch up for a month - is there anyone you’re looking forward to seeing over here either socially or on stage?
James Roque, Jamaine Ross, Tim Batt. Im just really exited for the and for NZ comedy that there up an coming talent on display at the festival. (Including me)

7) What’s the comedy scene like at the moment who do you rate and why?
I feel like the NZ comedy scene is really exiting at the moment. Stand-up comedy is starting to hit the mainstream more and more. Even compared to when I started, which is only 2 years ago, there seems to be some many more people wanting to be comedians. That’s sick because it means more and more talented people are going to be hitting the stage and lifting NZ comedy.

8)  What’s the best piece of audience interaction you’ve had?
During a show someone randomly yelled out “You’re just a sandman wearing some boat shoes!” Probably the worst most un-thought out piece of racism I have ever heart. If you’re going to be a racist cracker put in some effort ok guys, I’d appreciate that…. lets me know you care.

9) What’s the most memorable part of performing for you within the last 12 months?
The performing itself. Writing comedy isn’t easy for, because allot of my comedy comes from real life. So being on stage an performing is the part of this job that I truly love.

10) When we say New Zealand International Comedy Festival to you, what’s the first thing you think of?
Elmo…… Don’t over think it.
11) How would you persuade people to come and see your show?
I’ve thought about this a bit. Hopefully the persuading happens when people see my performance on stage and think to them self “That guy was funny, I wouldn’t mind hearing talk for an hour”.  So if you see that I’m performing at the classic or any venue near you it’ll pay of to come in and have a look. ‘

Comedy Fest Questionnaire: The Bad Taste Hour

Comedy Fest Questionnaire: The Bad Taste Hour

Ed Caruthers & Reuben Lee

1) Tell us what your show is called this year?
(Ed) The Bad Taste Hour
(Reuben) I agree

2)  Why?
(Ed) It is an hour long. It features Bad Taste comedy. That’s about it, its not like the title is sarcastic or anything.

3) Can you give us a few hints as to what broadly your festival show is about?
(Reuben) Again, the title pretty much sums it up.

4) How much time have you spent crafting the show over the past 12 months since the end of the last festival?

(Ed) 12 months. The answer is in the question. These questions are way too easy – you should try and stump us.

5) The comedy festival is turning 21 this year – it’s a big age 21 – whatyou’re your memories of being 21? Or if you’re not old enough yet, you lucky person, what are your hopes for being 21?
(Ed) Getting it on with all the hot female guests at the party. The bad thing was it was an exclusive family gathering.

6) The Comedy festival is one big party and catch up for a month - is there anyone you’re looking forward to seeing over here either socially or on stage?
(Ed and Reuben) No

7) What’s the comedy scene like at the moment who do you rate and why?
(Reuben) The scene is like one big family. Incest, jealousy, uncles we don’t talk about, its all there (Ed’s that Uncle). I rate, Anthony Wilson, Nick Rado, Tarun Mohanbhai, Scott Blanks, Jared Fell, Alan McElroy & David Oakes, oh not to forget Parrot, because they run gigs and I need to work. Its dog eat dog out there, especially for the Topp Twins.

8)  What’s the best piece of audience interaction you’ve had?
(Reuben) I had a heckler shout ‘Why don’t you hang yourself and go back where you came from you piece of s***. I didn’t have the heart to point out the logistical issues of transporting a corpse

9) What’s the most memorable part of performing for you within the last 12 months?
(Ed) When the news broke about David Bain getting a decent job and getting engaged I was making fun of how it was a lucky break for him (not for the first time), then stopped as I suddenly realised he was doing way better than me.
(Reuben) Someone said ‘I really like your new cancer stuff’ it doesn’t get much better than that

10) When we say New Zealand International Comedy Festival to you, what’s the first thing you think of?
(Ed) Apart from watching the Black Caps, the funniest thing to happen in New Zealand.
(Reuben) Mundane questionnaires

11) How would you persuade people to come and see your show?
(Ed) If you like jokes that push the boundaries or are in poor taste, come. Don’t come if you’re a cancer-ridden paedophilic David Bain supporter who has just performed an abortion - things might hit too close to home.

Iron Man 3 Movie Clip unveiled

Iron Man 3 Movie Clip unveiled

It's not long now until the new Iron Man 3 movie with Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark.

And with just 3 weeks to go until the release of Iron Man 3 in New Zealand, I've got a clip of Iron Man 3 for you to enjoy.

In the brand new Iron Man 3 Movie clip, Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark is taunting Ben Kingsley's Mandarin...

Brand new The Great Gatsby trailer is here

Brand new The Great Gatsby trailer is here

Now for something a little cultured.

The brand new trailer for The Great Gatsby has dropped.

Starring Leonardo di Caprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire and from director Baz Luhrmann, it's already garnering much anticipation.

So, watch the new trailer for The Great Gatsby and love the music...

The Great Gatsby is due later this year.

On The Road: Blu Ray Review

On The Road: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Home Entertainment

Jack Kerouac's infamous book has long been deemed unfilmable - but that doesn't appear to deter Walter Salles.

Sam Riley stars as Sal Paradise, KStew as Mary Lou and Garrett Hedlund as Dean Moriarty in this road trip ramble of a movie.

After the death of his father, Sal, a fledgling but struggling writer, heads out across America with his friend Dean in the hope that the travelling will inspire his writing.

And that's, erm pretty much it in this adaptation which is a sprawling, well acted, but emotionally detached road movie that pretty much encapsulates the feeling I imagine the book would have.

I say imagine, because I've not touched Kerouac's tome so can't tell you if it's true to the tone or the feel or plot points (if they even exist).

In terms of atmosphere, there's certainly plenty of hepcat hedonism and feeling of young pretentiousness afoot but I never really felt deeply engaged in these self absorbed poets/ writers as they shamble through a form of life.

Kristen Stewart finally gets to really emote on the big screen and brings a bit of vibrancy to MaryLou and Riley seriously impresses as Sal, who only really comes to life when others around him flourish.

Beautifully shot with cinematography that really captures the mood of the era, there's as much of a rambling freeform narrative here as there are beats in an ever lasting jazz piece and to be honest, it was a struggle to really care about these guys and the girl who's caught between the life on the road or the fiancee back at home, patiently waiting.

The hedonistic approach of the wannabes lacked any real emotional captivation and despite them giving it their all, it failed to muster any kind of empathy or excitement within.

Though cameos from Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen and a brilliant Steve Buscemi liven up proceedings, if it weren't for the captivating performances of Sam Riley and Kristen Stewart through a story which weaves and rambles as it winds on its merry way, I would have demanded this ride pulled over mid-way through and let me off.

Extras: None

Rating:

First full Carrie remake trailer drops

First full Carrie remake trailer drops

Within the last few minutes, the first full Carrie remake trailer, starring Chloe Grace Moretz has just dropped.

Watch the full Carrie remake trailer below.

Carrie, the 2013 remake releases in New Zealand on November 14th.