Auckland Museum blog

Now last year I wrote about an interesting competition we were running in partnership with Unitec called ‘Submit a Script’ and I am happy to announce we have a winner!

The idea was simple – write an exciting, short, script set within a living room situation. To support the competition we held two Script Writing Master Classes at the Museum in February and Unitec’s Gary Henderson shared some of his secrets, tips and formulas (yes, formulas – he was once a mathematician!) for producing a winning script. We had 25 happy script writers visit the museum for these workshops and by the close of entries we had received 23 fantastic scripts.

Unitec Workshop

The next stage in the competition was reducing these scripts down to a shortlist – once again we worked in partnership with Unitec and the 3rd Year Writing students from the Performing & Screen Arts Department helped shortlist the entries down to just 10. The 10 shortlisted writers were then invited to attend a full day workshop at Unitec working with lecturers and industry standard scriptwriting software Final Draft to tweak and re-work their scripts ready for the final judging.

Copies of the original scripts in the OF exhibition

Once the scripts had been reworked they were then judged by South Pacific Picture’s Tim Balme, who was a key storyliner and wrote the scripts for 22 episodes of Outrageous Fortune, Athina Tsoulis, Head of Unitec’s Performing & Screen Arts Department and the Museum’s very own Jo Brookbanks. The judges had a great time working through the scripts and finally they made their decision – and we are pleased to announce that the winner was Tresna Hunt with Two Sisters and a Cousin. Intriguing title!

The set we all know so well...

The finale of the competition will be the filming of the winning script on the set of the West’s living room in the exhibition in early May. Actors, Directors and the Film Crew for the shoot will be provided by Unitec students and lecturers who will be taking the opportunity to work in the museum and enjoying this great opportunity to work on the iconic Outrageous Fortune set within the Museum. Tresna, our winning script writer, is looking forward to coming along to the filming day and seeing her script brought to life in front of her eyes!

Stayed tuned and we’ll let you know where you can see the video soon!

UPDATE – Due to unforseen circumstances Robyn Malcolm sends her sincere apologies for tomorrow night (Wednesday 30 March) – but she will be here in full Robyn Malcolm style on Wednesday 6th April! Tammy Davis (Munter) will be taking her place.

Wednesday night you will usually find me sprawled along my mid century mustard coloured couch with my feet on the coffee table, my laptop on my lap and all my days’ detritus around me. But this Wednesday I’ll be doing something a little different! I’ll be listening to Simon Bennett, Director of Outrageous Fortune and Robyn Malcolm, star of Outrageous talk live about shooting the show as the first in our new series ‘conversations with cast and crew’.

Simon Bennett and Robyn Malcolm

Generally speaking Wednesday is an unremarkable sort of evening. Monday is a new-week-resolution evening of healthy meals and reading, Tuesday’s for cheap movie night (filling the void of Outrageous of course) and Thursday is a ‘quiet’ drink out. But Wednesday night? Watching Charlie Sheen filling up your TV screen? Filing your tax receipts ahead of time?

Hmmm… not a difficult choice for me!

With an extensive directing and producing career in New Zealand television drama and theatre, Simon Bennett has been involved with Shortland Street latterly as Executive Producer. He was a storyliner and director on Mercy Peak and Executive Producer of Outrageous Fortune. In addition to producing Maddigan’s Quest, Simon is also Head of Drama for the company at South Pacific Pictures and is responsible for overseeing all film and television drama projects. Who better to share insights in to NZ’s most celebrated TV series?

Alongside Simon, Robyn Malcolm – NZ acting royalty will be talking about her experience of working on the award winning series and how the ‘magic’ was made. Perhaps she’ll share with us what it was like working with the artisans that created her look or perhaps what it was like acting in the buff?

What makes a great tv show?

While the exhibition goes through the process of the creation of the show and allows us to see the scripts and behind the scene insights, the talk with Simon and Robyn will give us the opportunity to hear the personal stories and to ask those burning questions!  I’d love to ask Robyn how she feels about her TV kids. Does she feel protective of them like a real mother? Their bond appeared so genuine.

So this Wednesday you can either come down to the Museum, have a glass of wine and take part in conversations hosted by the charming Noelle McCarthy or you can tackle that long overdue pile of ironing that resentfully takes up a too large space in your dwelling…

Tonight kicks off a series of talks at the Museum every Wednesday evening with industry insiders. Who doesn’t love a glimpse in to the unknown? Now I know that sounds all space-agey, but what I mean is behind the scenes; that opportunity to glimpse in to the reality behind the unreality of a show like Outrageous Fortune. It is perhaps more fascinating than the unreality itself.

As you know the Outrageous Fortune exhibition exposes a lot of the magic used to produce the cult TV series. From make-up to sets, casting to script-writing; it all allows you (the audience) to see the story behind the story.

There are two departments in particular I know are popular. In this post, I’m going to talk about one of them which I know everybody loves – wardrobe.

I have spoken at length about Katrina Hodge’s skill but what I have never delved in to are the kiwi designers she wrangled on board to share their wares with us. Did you recognise the Cybele virtue dress on Loretta? Or that Grandpa wore none other than bespoke Crane Brothers to his wedding? This rough and tumble family donned the best NZ designers, both completing the signature looks and making them inspirational. And in the spirit of NZ Fashion Festival we’ve got some of these on display in the Atrium.

Murray Crane of Crane Brothers

And what better way to open these Wednesday evening talks than Murray Crane of Crane Brothers giving a floor talk about his experience working with the OF team.  Murray worked closely with Katrina and co to create many of the characters’ looks, and to cater for the red carpet looks also. On dressing the stars Murray writes “the one colour that really stands out to me is not a colour at all”. Capturing the quintessential kiwi mourning colour palette perhaps?

I asked Paul Blomfield, who is facilitating the discussion with Murray, to give me an idea of what the talk will cover. Here’s what he said:

“Fashion designers work very hard to create an identity for themselves – through the use of images, symbols and associations. They are very careful with their brands – ensuring that the right look is achieved in photography, they’re featured in the right magazines and on the right celebrities.

Some of these celebrity associations are worth money and immediately bankable. Think of Madonna wearing Karen Walker’s pants, Orlando Bloom wearing Huffer, or Bill Clinton wearing an Untouched World jumper – huge and immediate reputation can arise from this.

So when a garment is designed by a designer, it must fit this vision of its place in fashion. Garments are discarded that don’t fit this vision, graphics are created to knit these stories together and lookbooks are shot on slender happy, wan or disinterested models to complete the process.

And then they’re displayed in store.

Months later those garments leave the care of their creators and take their own journey through our community, being bought, loved or ignored, completing their lifecycle perhaps a year, perhaps a decade later, somewhere in amongst other refuse.

But there is this other world – those other places of television, of the past, the future or the alternative present where these garments have a sort of virtual life also.

They’re purchased by the shows, Outrageous Fortune being one – and they become important symbols of the lives and personalities of the characters.

But where do these other worlds and the depictions of them fit into the realities of our fashion designers?

Does a designer love or lament the transformation of their beloved garment into the uniform of a gangster, a rough diamond or a rogue?

How does the process work? What control does the designer have? Do they ever cringe or complain at how their carefully crafted design has been portrayed?

Is it just a commercial evil?

Or is there a secret love of these characters and perhaps a fascination at how their brand values are interpreted and perhaps misappropriated by the stylist?

This is the line of discussion – I’ll be fascinated to hear what they say!”

I’m fascinated to hear what they say too! You’ll find Murray speaking 6pm tonight in the wardrobe section of the exhibition. Come have a glass of wine and join in the conversation!

Who isn’t a fan of dressing up? Remember back at school when you’d all get dressed up as your favourite book characters and parade around the basketball court looking like Maid Marion/Puff the Magic Dragon? Or at Halloween when you’d either fork out hundreds to look like Johnny Depp from Pirates of the Caribbean like 5 other blokes or get all Play School on your sheets and craft a ghost with your trusty snips by cutting 2 eye holes, only to realise you in fact can’t have a conversation /cigarette/drink.

I am always a big fan of costumes which are perhaps a more subtle reference; think Homer Simpson, Jerry Seinfield or Rachel from Friends. So what about OF’s favourite couple – Munter and Kasey? You could go all double denim (you’d still get to use your beloved snips on your sleeves), draw on some Westside Forever tattoos and give a Cheshire grin or you could get a little boho and hoochie on it with a push up bra and maxi dress. Easy!

Kasey & Munter

Well it’s simple enough to put on an ‘inspired by’ outfit but you know what you need? The hair and the makeup. And we are happy to tell you have the good folk at Cut Above Academy coming in to do your Munter and Kasey hair and makeup at this week’s Outrageous Saturday. In fact, every Saturday through till April you can come dressed as the various characters (see event details for characters) and receive complimentary hair and makeup to ensure you look like the real deal! And you can even win spot prizes!. Choice!

…I’m saving my costume skills for Ngaire!

In honor of this tough-talking hard-loving mother we are now having ‘Matriarch Mondays’. Every Monday from February 28 till the exhibition ends, mothers will be able to get into the exhibition for half price. Just bring along whatever you think proves you’re a mum: a family snap, a child, scars or wrinkles and you’re in.

When one hears the word matriarch one (me) tends to think of a high white collared dame with a frown etched permanently across her forehead and torso shaped like that of pre-thanksgiving fattened turkey. She rules her kingdom (the family home) with an iron fist and rains down judgment to any family member she feels is out of order.

But in fact the definition of Matriarch is as follows:

1. woman head of family: a woman who is recognized as being the head of a family, community, or people

Head of the family

2. strong senior woman: a woman, usually a grandmother, who is highly respected by her family and to whom the family turns for advice and help

Usually a Grandmother...

3. woman in powerful position: a woman who holds a position of dominance, authority, or respect

A woman who holds a position of dominance

And who else better shows these qualities than none other than the stoic tigress Cheryl West? In the cast notes generously donated by James Griffin and Rachel Lang they wrote of Cheryl:

Cheryl is practical and caring, but also aggressive when she has to be. She sees her main role as a wife and mother. She believes in looking good, and supporting her husband. She believes in family values and respect. She believes in regular carpet cleaning and the beneficial effects of aromatherapy.

How do you show these qualities? Here are some of the props the amazing art department put together that feature in the exhibition that were used to make Cheryl 3 dimensional.

Her beloved family

The all important rum stash..

The clothes maketh the matriarch

Cheryl's ciggies (or whatever it was they were made out of...)

So fair matriarchs of New Zealand, are you going to take up this opportunity on a Monday? What will you bring?

Hi folks. I’m back and I have news!

I’m not sure about you but I love pub quizzes. It may be because I am a little competitive (my sister will tell you to never play Monopoly with me) or it could be the act of dusting off the randomly filed information in my mind, but I love a bit of good old fashioned brain exercise.

So we thought, people love pub quizzes, people love Outrageous Fortune and people definitely love prizes, let’s make a weekly Outrageous Fortune online Rusty Nail pub quiz!

Whether you’re a diehard fan who thinks they know more than Rachel and James themselves (the show’s writers) or you want to kill some time over your afternoon tea break, I think you’ll get a kick out of our quiz. And what’s more your quiz master none other than Wesley Dowdell.

Now this is new so feel free to let us know if there are any issues in the Nail and we’ll send in the Tool Guys to fix the final hiccups.

Question for you… Have you got a story exploring family (either yours or the Wests) that you want to see come to life in none other than the Wests very own living room? If so why not enter the OF Submit a Script competition?

I am not someone you want to sit next to watching television. In the confines of my home I cannot help myself but play Screenwriter whilst watching television. Remember when you were younger and you would watch your father yell at the rugby game and think ‘what on earth? Geez Dad, it’s just a game…’.

Well imagine that reaction, without a game. Yep. I cannot help myself. The things I want the characters to say don’t get said, they have minds of their own! They make their own decision, not mine! The nerve!

As you know NZ film and television has many amazing writers. That fact is our creative industry for its miniscule size, is not to be taken lightly. I remember at the Oscars the year Return of the King was up and Billy Crystal made the jibe “Is there anyone in NZ who hasn’t won an Oscar?”

NZ screenwriters at their best

And it’s not just film. Our television is reaching new heights. The multi-award winning Outrageous Fortune is the perfect example of this. A show so strong it’s been picked up by countries all over the world and even remade by the Brits and the Americans. And of course a television show is only as good as its writers.

So, here’s your chance to be one; or to learn how in a 2-hour scriptwriting master class with Unitec’s Gary Henderson.

Go on, throw your hat in the ring! Who knows, you may be the next James Griffin or Rachel Lang.

The week before last I posted the winners of our I AM Cheryl competition and these 10 brave women joined us in the festivities for the Outrageous opening and endured their very first video AND photo shoot with us.

As someone who freezes like a deer in the headlights in front of a camera I was blown away by these Cheryls. Every single one of these women brought it. Like a true Cheryl West these ladies showed no sign of nerves.

And they looked absolutely incredible! With magician Di Ensor, the makeup artist who conceived the Cheryl look and the incomparable Katrina Hodge, the original costume designer, this truly was the dream makeover team. Throw in some great assistants, friendly crew, and of course last but most certainly not least, Duncan Cole, Director/Photographer and we have a winner.

Obviously I could rave at length about the shoot so I will stop here and show you some pics from the 2 days.

The commercial and campaign will all go live in January so keep and eye out. And of course I will let you know! :-D  I can’t wait!

As I sit at my desk to write this post (blogging is a lunch break in this week of madness!) I can’t help but laugh at the state I am in. In my holey jeans, with my scuffed boots I look far from ready for a fancy shindig, let alone day to day office appropriate. As we are down to only 5 DAYS before opening, everyone is doing what they can to muck in and get things looking tip top. And they do. Oh they do! I can’t wait for you to see!!

Anyway, back to my point… I have been down in the exhibition this morning working on the amazing wardrobe section (when you’ve had a chance to see it too, I can post more details!). It got me thinking though about the exclusive opening and what on earth am I going to wear?! Am I going to channel Cheryl and wrap myself in leopard? Or I could go tight and stretchy like Pascalle? Well even though I feel I look perhaps a little more like Eric today, I am going to attempt on the night to look Loretta. What about you? Who is your Outrageous style icon?

The Cheryl, The Pascalle, The Loretta

I love saying this, because I feel like if you know the show, you know what I mean. These characters have such a definitive look. For example… The Cheryl West hairdo.. Hairdressers actually have this requested. As one of our Project Managers put it: it’s the NZ Rachel (Friends reference there for non TV buffs).

And what wizards carefully crafted these looks? Well among many were Katrina Hodge, Head Costume Designer and Di Ensor, Makeup Artist extraordinaire. From the show’s initial conception these women worked to not only create an authentic sense of identity for each character, but for us to believe these characters have grown and developed over time as people. And didn’t we just?

Of course, I will most likely fret all weekend and buy jeans or something else as equally unwearable on the night, BUT… I will try.