He also took part in a voice class last week with our voice tutor Jonathon Hunter – picture the students’ astonishment when they turned up to class to find one of the most famous actors of our times working alongside them!

It’s going to be an interesting conversation, given the enormous breadth of his interests and experience: stage, screen, acting , life, activism, gay issues… there’s a fascinating page on his website entitled ‘Acting is Activism’.

We’ll let you know!

http://www.mckellen.com/

Inspired by the Spaghetti Westerns, it is an adventurous romp about a romance with a twist, set in the sweeping landscape of Central Otago. Cohen plays The Man, in a nod to Clint Eastwood, for which he had to learn to ride a horse and shoot a musket – a challenge for this city boy!

‘I lied and said I could ride a horse, shoot a pistol and do all sorts of ‘cowboy’ type things. Eventually I fessed up and was taught how to ride a horse and made to look like I’d be been doing it all my life.’

The film is fresh from sold-out screenings at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and has been getting attention here for the pluck of the two filmmakers – instead of buying a house together they poured all of their funds into their dream movie, and were picked up in the nick of time by Weta Workshop’s Jamie Selkirk. Selkirk funded the film’s post production; then composer John Psathas came on board, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for the soundtrack, and there we have it – the world’s first ‘Pavlova Western’.

Screening now at cinemas around New Zealand – for more info click here

Based on the book Seraphim Blues by Steven Gannaway, The most fun you can have dying tells the story of young and charming Michael (played by Matt) and his discovery that he has just a few months to live. But instead of giving into despair in Hamilton, Michael “borrows” the money raised for his treatment and heads overseas, determined to have the time of his life. Everything goes as planned until he falls in love…

The movie is a first feature film for Kiwi director Kirstin Marcon and has garnered fantastic reviews, including five stars from NZ Women’s Weekly. It is also the latest in a string of successes for Matt, who has been inundated with work ever since he graduated from Toi Whakaari in 2007. He starred as James in My Wedding and Other Secrets, won a 2010 Qantas Media Award for his role as Brad in TV2’s Go Girls, and he was also nominated for an AFTA last year – only losing out to another of our Toi grads, Rawiri Paratene.

Screening now at cinemas around New Zealand! See more on the movie here.

They are from the Coach Accelerator Programme of the High Performance Sport NZ Group – a two-year training and practical programme which incorporates coaching at an elite level, led by Sports Psychologist and Coach Development Specialist Alex McKenzie. Their aim: to accelerate the development of outstanding coaches who are capable of coaching athletes to become world and/or Olympic champions.  

The coaches are:

Scott Talbot  Double Olympian swimmer (Sydney and Athens). Swimmers he has coached have gone on to the Beijing Olympics, and are off to this year’s World Championships in Rome.

Tim Brazier With a competitive background of swimming, soccer and underwater hockey, he has coached young triathletes to world success. 

Mark Stallard Rowing coach who won New Zealand Coach of the Year Award in 2002. This year, he guided the crew of the Under 23 Coxed Four to a gold medal in the final.

Grant Bradburn  NZ U19  Cricket team for four consecutive years, and was also privileged to be a BLACKCAP, representing New Zealand in test and one day cricket. Head coach of Northern Knights first class team.

Gary Stead As a cricketer, Gary’s previous playing experience includes five tests for the BLACKCAPS and just over 100 first class and 100 one-day matches. He coaches the New Zealand national women’s team, the White Ferns.

Justin Grace Justin was recently named national sprint coach for BikeNZ. In the New Zealand sprint team which set the New Zealand sprint team record at Manchester in 2002.  2011 UCI World Masters Track Cycling Championships gold medal winner (men’s 35-39 1000m time trial).

The pic is from Koiwi this morning – Gary Stead spoke for them all, and led them in a very spirited rendition of Māku rā pea.

Teina Moetara, Head of Context & Practice, surrounded by staff and students at Marae Noho 2012

Launched by Grafton, business consultants in change management and leadership development, the awards were created to recognise leaders in change and are judged by a panel of business leaders including the Prime Minister, The Right Honourable John Key, and Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe.

The awards will shine the spotlight on individuals, teams and organisations who have successfully navigated their way through change.

Ken Brophy, Managing Partner at Grafton, explains:

“Change is a part of daily life whether we like it or not. Things don’t always go according to plan in our businesses and in the community. We’re often faced with challenges we need to overcome and as Kiwis we’re pretty good at doing it tough and doing it well. We’re taking change out of the shadows, putting the stories of triumph on display for all to learn from and celebrate in.”

The awards will recognise ‘Masters of Change’ in three categories: Managing change in an organisation, recognising an organisation as a whole: Leading through change, recognising a leadership team or individual leader within an organisation; and a Special change award for an individual or team who has done something extraordinary.

Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School was nominated for the recent process of change that it has been driving within the philosophy of the school.  Led by the Context and Practice team, itself a recent innovation, this  has involved a process of shifting from a didactic teaching model towards a focus on learning and appreciative enquiry, drawing on collaborative maori frameworks and the model of Tikanga Marae.

For more info on the awards, click here

The finalists and winners in each category will be announced at the awards evening at Auckland’s Stamford Plaza Hotel on Thursday 10 May.

The Logies are the most prestigious TV awards in Australasia, and were announced last night (Sunday 15 April) at a glittering ceremony at Melbourne’s Palladium Ballroom.

Chelsie won the award  for her role as Tilly Devine in Underbelly: Razor, which was showing here on TV3 over 2011.

The daughter of Filmmaker Gaylene Preston and composer Jonathan Crayford, she has had a busy television career since graduating from Toi Whakaari, with roles in Shortland Street, The Cult, The Tribe and Eagle vs Shark.

In her acceptance speech she acknowledged the team she worked with:

“I’m privileged to stand up here in such great company. This show is absolutely a team effort. Being surrounded by such extraordinary craftsmanship in every department – the camera department, the make-up department, the wardrobe, the directors, the writers and all of the beautiful other actors including my dear friend Danielle Cormack whose support and involvement really defined this job for me.”

Australian comedian Comedian Hamish Blake won the top award, the Gold Logie, which is awarded to the most popular personality on Australian television.

Read more about Chelsie’s win here.

TILLY Grant Leonard Ridgway M.B.E. 
Died peacefully at Mary Potter Hospice, South Wellington, 11 April 2012.

In his 75th year. 

Dearly loved partner of Ruth; beloved father and father-in-law of Bryn and Vanessa, Torben, Miles and Victoria, and Sasha. Loved brother and brother-in-law of Warren and Heather. 

Grant was a Renaissance man of New Zealand Arts – craftsman, teacher, designer, artist and one of our greatest actors. From Unity through Downstage and to Circa he helped drive our fledgling industry. Also making his mark in early television in the 60s and 70s.

He captured the essence of a kiwi battler in many iconic stage and screen performances that were full of craft and heart. Grant had unique success in seminal New Zealand work on stage such as Middle Age Spread, Foreskin’s Lament and Joyful and Triumphant, where he allowed us to recognise ourselves.

He could also transform and seemed to be whoever he wanted us to believe he was – from drag icon Arnold in Torch Song Trilogy to the Machiavellian Roy Cohn in Angels in America his range was staggering. At turns hilarious and then in an instant intensely moving. He alchemised magic on stage. The ease with which he did this belied great industry and attention to character detail in preparation. His work with Nola Millar and George Webby at the NZ Drama School left a significant legacy as he inspired and challenged a generation of NZ actors.

A natural and gifted teacher, Grant was always ready to give guidance and help. He returned to teach improvisation at Toi Whakaari last year. Although his health prevented him from continuing it was wonderful to have him meet and work with our students – reminding us what a truly gifted artist Grant was and how important he has been to the growth of the School and our arts in Aotearoa.

Jonathon Hendry

Head of Acting

Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School

Image courtesy of TVNZ