When you think of iconic kiwi movies that aren’t Lord of the Rings, only one movie comes to mind right?

What We Do in the Shadows!

Yep, throwing unnecessary shade at some kiwi classics there. But still, despite a bunch of excellent movies here, What We Do In The Shadows still stands out, and somehow it is already 10 years old making it a classic. And now you can enjoy this classic in a fancy new Bluray, so I did!

If you haven’t seen What We Do In The Shadows then you are in for a treat.

The movie is a mockumentary that follows four vampires who are living together in Wellington, New Zealand. It shows them going through what life is like as a vampire flatting in Wellington. There is the ancient vampire in there who is what we picture as a gnarly horror vampire, but the other three include a recently turned vampire and some somewhere in the middle.

The movie kicks off with one calling for a flat meeting to discuss issues like cleaning and what not, and they get stuck on an issue of paper being put down when they feed on humans. It’s exactly as silly as it sounds. If you have watched Wellington Paranormal then you will know two things. First, it turns out Wellington has heaps of different paranormal creatures, Second, the humour to expect here. It’s very much the same, and by that I mean brilliant.

Watching this for only the second time, and the first time post-Wellington Paranormal, it holds up so well.  In fact so many jokes are much funnier on the second and third watches. There are clever jokes that seem like comments but are really funny jokes when you get information later and go back to them. Everyone from Jermaine Clement, Taika Waititi, to Rhys Darby all do their usual things, but in the best possible ways.

This edition has a second disc with special features which includes a bunch of great behind the scenes features.  The best part though is the deleted scenes. Each of these are a cut joke, heaps of which revolve around Stu. Every one of them would have fit in the movie perfectly, and sitting there watching them was just a bunch more great gags. When you finish watching the movie, jump straight over there and enjoy some more of the film.

The other things this edition comes with is a shiny slip case, which is fine, and some photo cards which are common in some of these releases. But best of all it has a red Bluray case. This might seem minor, but most Blurays are in blue, black or clear cases. The use of a red one here makes it stand out on the shelf, and fits with the movie.

If you haven’t seen What We Do in the Shadows yet, you must immediately. And there aren’t many ways to do that better than with this release. It’s a fantastic way to add a must see kiwi comedy to your shelf!

The post What We Do in the Shadows 10th Anniversary (Bluray) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

New Zealand comedian and feature film actor; Jonathan Brugh is known for What We Do in the Shadows 2014 (feature film) and can currently be seen in 800 Words for the second season.

800 Words, is filmed in West Auckland, New Zealand and is a series currently airing in Australia and New Zealand about a recently widowed father who leaves his job as a popular 800 word columnist for a top selling Sydney newspaper. On impulse, he buys a house in New Zealand in a remote seaside town, news he then has to break to his two teenage kids, who are still suffering from the loss of their Mum. What ensues is a small family readapting to life within an even smaller community full of, well, colourful locals, Jonny plays one of these locals. 800 Words is a mix of light hearted comedy with serious under tones.

Jonny, as he is known, hails from Auckland, New Zealand and started his acting career with absurdist tragi-comedy duo Sugar&Spice who achieved critical acclaim throughout New Zealand and Australia and won the Chapman Tripp Award for best Comic Performance in 1996 and the Billy T Award in 1998.

Jonny Brugh

Jonny also has a Art and Design degree. In 2003 Jonny performed a series of solo shows called The Rise And Fall Or The Fall And Rise Of Dinky Jon, which involved him catapulting water melons at the stage walls and flying over the audience hanging from a rail dressed as Super Man.

Also known for his comedy theatre work, Jonny has been at it for the past 15 years and still going strong. So, we asked Jonny a couple questions.

StG: Jonny, what made you get into acting in the first place?

Jonny: I used to do sketches with my 2 sisters when i was a kid. I think I always knew I should probably be a comic actor but because no one at my school had the gumption to hold an actual drama class it wasn’t a possibility. Then at 20 I made friends with some way more enterprising guys from another school. Together we hit local comedy events around Auckland. It very quickly became touring Australasia with some adventurous comedy shows.

StG: With comedy being your forte, how do you cope with serious roles?

Jonny: I have no interest in serious roles (serious face). Or i do but i just a stick a laugh track on it and call it comedy. Actually i think i enjoy playing a blurry mix of a straight character with his heart of his sleeve who unconsciously shows his fallibility. Its true that most comedic actors play it straight anyway, perhaps we push a little more of the emotions in a scene. Craft-wise I’m more interested in how a character responds to the crisis a the narrative of stories i tell. I don’t find it hard to play straight, although friends would disagree. In film and TV one tends to play straight compared to theatre. It’s about how a character approaches a situation and how much their expression convays. We have to be likable. I’m also sculpted by a thousand theatre shows where I’m always trying to keep an audience interested. that tends to make an actor larger in their nuances.

StG: Currently you are present in the second season of 800 Words. Can you tell us about your character?

Jonny: I am Monty’s wingman! Everybody describes Monty as a sleazy smarmy real estate agent. But he isn’t! He is a solo Father running two businesses while trying to be a good man to everyone. He is bullied by his brother which in the end brings out the best in Monty. Its interesting that people, even journalists, will assume he is sleazy because of the pride he shows in his fashion sense. But i dare you to find real reason to write him off as smarmy! you cant! because there isn’t one. Judge a man by his actions before his dress sense. I think this issue really touches a nerve in me. its so lazy. But i must admit that Monty is just a fictional character created for the purpose of playing the sleazy real estate agent. He isn’t real. I know i project my own frustrations onto other people, we all do it, Im no different and neither is Monty.

StG: Last question, are there any other actors that inspire you, or have inspired you?

Jonny: No acting isn’t inspiring to me. But if I had to choose I love working with New Zealand comic actors Jackie van Beek and Cohen Hollaway. Cohen and I have a comedy crush! Also Australians Rick Donald (Woody, 800 Words) and Nick Boshier (Soul Mates, Meanwhile On Earth), Aussie has some funny people!

When not filming 800 Words, Jonathan has also been developing his next solo show titled ‘191 years of Bullshit’. On top of that he is writing new works with a range of exciting writers and practitioners.

Be sure to check out What We Do In The Shadows directed by Taika Waititi (Boy 2010, Hunt for the Wilderpeople 2016) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords, Moana 2016) and catch 800 Words Season Two TV1, Television New Zealand and stay tuned for Mega Time Squad by Tim van Dammen, released this year.

 

The post An Exclusive with Jonny Brugh appeared first on Shane the Gamer.