Remembering Ian Watkin ..

Ian Watkin passed away this week at age 76. The character actor and writer was a giant of the New Zealand screen big and small, and here at BehindTheFirstScene we revisit some of his most memorable characters.

Dr Rhyder of ground breaking drama “Pukemanu”. Set in a small North Island timber town, it was our first taste of seeing and hearing actors talk in their own (our own!) accents. But fellow cast mate Bruno Lawrence was cooking up something new, something crazy, and Watkin went along for the ride …

The Blerta Bus

Watkin in his Blerta days

 

Bruno Lawrence Electric Revelation and Travelling Apparition or BLERTA.
A mad mix of musicians, actors, dancers and film makers who took their art directly to the people! Travelling for 4 years around NZ and Australia on a 1948 Leyland Tiger bus, the mayhem and magic led to a TV One commissioned show “Blerta” – watch the excellent documentary about it here – wild times!

 

Appearances in “Goodbye Pork Pie”, “Utu”and “Radio Times” kept him busy, but for many he was the hapless train guard in the epic 1975 Crunchie commercial – an iconic ad which ran for a record breaking 20 years.

In 1977 he teamed up with Bruno Lawrence and Geoff Murphy once more for “Wild Man”. Read the story about the making of the film here.

As silver-tongued con-man “The Colonel”

In 1977 he also managed to appear in Roger Donaldson thriller “Sleeping Dogs” playing Bullen, wife-stealer, turned guerilla revolutionary.

But perhaps he is most well known for his role as the avaricious Uncle Les in 1992 gory horror “Braindead” A cult classic and the beginning of young Peter Jackson’s career on the international stage.

To look back on the work of Ian Watkin is to take a tour of New Zealand film and television.

 

Thanks Mr Watkin for all your great work!

http://www.firstscene.co.nz

Dear Reader, an earlier version of this story incorrectly named Ian Watkin’s first appearance on NZ television as being in the the gritty drama “Pukehama”. It was in fact “Pukemanu”.

 

Our favourite costume Mums

Happy Mothers Day! A pictorial guide to our favourite costume mothers.

‘Eve offering the apple to Adam’ Lucas Cranach the Elder

The original mother?  Not much to this costume – a snake and an apple (fig leaf and naked man optional).

The Madonna in Prayer Giovanni Battista Salvi

White and blue robes for a simple and effective Madonna. Painted here pre-child obviously, otherwise she might look a bit more like this …

The other Madonna

An enduring costume icon, Madonna is still a fancy dress party go-to – and hard-working real life mum.

We love cartoon Mums …

… and cartoon surrogate mums.

The Crystal Gems. Good mums to Steven Universe.

How about a man-mother?

Brendan O’Carroll as long suffering Dublin matriarch Agnes Brown

 

Or how about a whole band of man-mothers?!

Mother Love Bone

Lets not forget wicked stepmothers …

… or just plain old wicked mothers.

Joan Crawford

A prison warden Mama.

Queen Latifah as Big Mama Morton in ‘Chicago’

A peace-loving mama.

Cass Elliot of ‘The Mamas and Papas’

A mother of Dragons …

… or a nation.

(to be fair, at this point no-ones ever come in to the store and asked to be dressed as Judy Bailey – but her day is sure to come!)

Here at First Scene we love Mothers whatever shape they come in! Have a good one today Mums!

For more information about Mum-related costumes please visit us at http://www.firstscene.co.nz

May the Fourth be with you!

 

It was May 4th 1979, and Darth …er… Margaret Thatcher had just taken office as Prime Minister of Great Britain. The Conservative Party took out a half page ad to congratulate her, “May the Fourth be with you Maggie, Congratulations”

Almost 40 years later and the Conservatives’ pun on the Star War’s catch phrase “May the Force be with you” has been taken up by legions of fans worldwide, turning May 4th into a global day of Star Wars celebration.

But what to do on the big day? Here are a few suggestions from the team at First Scene!

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• Dress up as your favourite character! Come down and see us at First Scene! We have a huge range of characters to suit every size and preference.

• If you’re in Auckland, you could visit the Stardome. Dress up in a Star Wars costume and get into a show for free! ph 096241246 to book.

• Make some Princess Leia cupcakes! Get an apron on over your Stormtrooper armour and get baking for family and friends.

• Are you a good guy or gal drawn inexplicably to the dark side? Join Outpost 42 – the New Zealand branch of the 501st Legion. An organisation of galactic villains, dedicated to doing good!

• Impress your friends and work-mates you will – by spending all day Wednesday talking like Yoda! If annoyed they become, simply use your Jedi mind control powers to convince them that you are not the aggravating nerd they are looking for.

• Organise a movie marathon of the entire series at home!

Chewbacca welcomed home by wife Malla, watched over by his dad, Itchy. Really.

• Now. We hesitate to recommend this one – but you could watch the Star Wars Holiday Special. A film so awful that George Lucas reportedly cried “If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track down every copy of that show and smash it.” Be warned – once seen it can never be unseen!

• Rope in a friend who owes you a favour and stage a lightsaber fight outside your child’s daycare to impress them!

• And last but not least – come and see us at First Scene and get dressed up as your favourite character … what? … we already suggested that one? …huh …well … um … a second mention never hurt anyone!

Happy Star Wars Day … and May the Fourth be with you!

For more information about Star Wars costumes for hire please visit us at http://www.firstscene.co.nz

A few familiar faces in First Scene costumes. photo by Peter Meecham