NZ On Screen: Top 10 for March 2010

March's Top 10 is brought to you with a twist: this month we've filtered the 'most viewed' chart to show the Top 10 titles viewed in New Zealand. The usual suspects feature (Billy T, motor-racing), plus a trio of NZ screen taonga: a taster for epic Expo '70 promo This is New Zealand, classic short film Walkshort, and 1981 Springbok Tour protest doco Patu!

The Chris Knox-directed music video for The Tall Dwarfs' Nothing's Going to Happen also catalogues events in 1981 and charts as flagbearer of the Flying Nun Collection. Launched in March, the collection showcases the music video art made to promote the songs from the label synonymous with Kiwi indie music, and with autonomous DIY, bottom-of-the-world creativity. Curated by label-founder Roger Shepherd, the collection has proved very popular, receiving big ups on social networks and in the Twitter-verse.

Finally, NZ On Screen notes the passing of English actor Corin Redgrave on April 6th. From the famous acting dynasty, Redgrave was well known to NZ TV viewers for his title role as Governor Grey in historic 70s TV epic, The Governor. He also features in behind-the-scenes interviews filmed for the fascinating 'making of' documentary, recently uploaded to the site.

Top 10 for March 2010

1. This Is New Zealand
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/this-is-new-zealand-1970
Short Film, 1970, Excerpt

Hugh MacDonald's three-screen celebration of NZ was seen by two million people at the 1970 Osaka Expo, and by over 350,000 NZers on its homecoming theatrical release. Rarely seen since, this excerpt, screening on a specially commissioned player, is the first three minutes of the film.

2. Walkshort
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/walkshort-1987
Short Film, 1987, Full Length

This classic short sees Don McGlashan and Harry Sinclair goof around Karangahape Road in various guises in a hilarious baton relay-style narrative. It charts via a mention on Spareroom [http://www.spareroom.co.nz/2010/03/29/walkshort-and-other-choice-nz-on-screen-links/], "yes, they do wear those polyester walk shorts that NZ civil servants and geography teachers used to love."

3. On The Mat
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/on-the-mat-1975/series
Television, 1980, 2 Full Length Episodes

Steve Rickard's cult pro-wrestling TV show On the Mat continues to attract punters looking for a sweaty nostalgic taste of larger-than-life characters like King Curtis, Samoan Joe, Aussie Larry O'Day, and Sweet William and Brute Miller (soon famous in the US as The Bushwackers).

4. Beyond A Joke
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/beyond-a-joke-1995
Television, 1995, Full Length

Leading our collection celebrating Kiwi comedy on TV [ http://www.nzonscreen.com/collection/kiwi-comedy-on-tv ], is this doco about NZ humour. It features dollops of classic TV comedy moments from Fred Dagg, Barry Crump, McPhail and Gadsby, Billy T James, Pete and Pio, the Topp Twins, Gliding On, Lyn of Tawa, Funny Business, and more.

5. Boy
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/boy-2010
Film, 2010, Trailer, Excerpts, Interviews

Taika Waititi's second feature evolved from Oscar-nominated short Two Cars One Night and similarly mines the 80s styles of his East Coast Crazy Horse childhood. Since Boy's NZ theatrical release it has broken box office records. Check out the promo and exclusive behind the scenes clips.

6. Patu!
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/patu-1983
Film, 1983, Full Length

Merata Mita's landmark doco Patu! is a startling record of the mass civil disobedience that took place throughout NZ during the winter of 1981, in protest against a South African rugby tour. Required citizenship viewing, it staunchly contradicts claims that Kiwis are "a passionless people".

7. Love, Speed and Loss
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/love-speed-and-loss-2007
Television, 2005, Full Length

Motor-powered subjects are enduringly popular on the site and this award-winning doco about motor-racer Kim Newcombe, is waving the flag in March. Newcombe turned heads on a self-made König bike, but was killed racing in 1973 and posthumously came second in that year's World 500cc Grand Prix.

8. Tama Tu
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/tama-tu-2004
Short Film, 2004, Full Length

Taika Waititi's second chart entry is his acclaimed short about a group of Māori Battalion soldiers camped in Italian ruins waiting for night to fall. In the silence the bros-in-arms distract themselves with jokes, before a tohu (sign) brings them back to reality and they return to the fray.

9. The Best of Billy T James Collection
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-best-of-billy-t-james-collection-1992
Television, 1992, Full Length Episode

This compilation of skits from the much loved laureate of laughter's popular 80s TV shows is a consistent winner. It includes Te News (black singlet, yellow towel), Turangi Vice, and classic spoofs of Pixie Caramel's "last requests" and Lands For Bags' "where'd you get your bag" ads.

10. Nothing's Going To Happen
http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/nothings-going-to-happen-1981
Music Video, 1981, Tall Dwarfs

Chris Knox mines his 1981 surroundings for this stop-motion Tall Dwarfs' clip, including setting fire to his lounge. A full two decades before Final Cut Pro made homespun hip, and directors like Michel Gondry popularised the craft aesthetic. An NYC Knox benefit concert [ http://www.chrisknox.co.nz/Media ] takes place on May 6th.

ENDS

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