"Hope You Have A Good Time At The Murder House" - Short Film (1998)

Now that the weekend is upon us, time for a little relaxation. How about a movie?

Why not hop up into the chair, lie back, rest your head on the soft headrest.... rinse and spit, and visit The Murder House (a.k.a the school dental clinic):

The Murder House, (1998) 

A short film directed by Warrick 'Waka' Attewell, written by Ken Hammon, starring the diabolical Tina Cleary. Made available by NZ On Screen.


This blogger remembers each and every instrument that appears in the dental clinic in this film, and he can hear the sounds and smell the smells of the Murder House as if it were, well, (a scary) yesterday,  in an age without novacaine. The horror, the horror...

Film trivia: the car that enters the driveway in the opening moments is the same make & model as kuaka's first car, a Fraud Anglican as we used to call it, better known as a Ford Anglia.

Len Lye - Kinetic Sculpture

Len Lye talks about and demonstrates his kinetic sculpture in this 1987 documentary.

Hope you enjoyed this Len Lye mini festival!

Len Lye - The Peanut Vendor (1933)

A somewhat freaky peanut vendor...

Len Lye - Free Radicals (1958)

Len Lye - A Colour Flight (1938)

Len Lye - Swinging the Lambeth Walk (1939)

Len Lye - Art that Moves: The Work of Len Lye, Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland

Since it might otherwise be "buried" under comments and not be seen by readers, here is a note from Roger Horrocks on the Len Lye exhibition opening later this month in Auckland.

Sadly, this kuaka's wings have been clipped for the Southern summer months so no trans-Pacific flight in the offing to attend the Lye exhibition amongst other Kiwi treats in the next few months. We shall await reader reports instead, living vicariously through their experiences, with only fond memories of the homeland to tide us through the frigid Northern winter. What else is a poor kuaka to do?

Roger Horrocks wrote:

"You may be interested in this free exhibition of Lye's work opening soon in Auckland.

The Gus Fisher Gallery presents 'Art that Moves: The Work of Len Lye', an exhibition of films and kinetic sculptures, on display from 27 November 2009 to 6 February 2010. This is the first exhibition of Lye’s work at a public gallery in Auckland since 1980.

The exhibition explores Lye’s intense engagement with what he called the ‘magical mystery’ of motion. In addition to films and kinetic sculptures, there are paintings and photograms to represent other areas of his work and to illustrate the implied movement in his static images. Among the five kinetic sculptures in the show, there are two that have not previously been seen in Auckland.

The exhibition is linked with the publication of two new books: Art that Moves: The Work of Len Lye by Roger Horrocks (AUP), and Body English: Texts and Doodles by Len Lye (Holloway Press).

It's at The Gus Fisher Gallery, Kenneth Myers Centre, 74 Shortland Street, Auckland city. Admission free.

From Friday 27 Nov 2009 to Saturday 06 Feb 2010. (Closed Sundays and Mondays.)"

Len Lye - A Colour Box (1935)

Len Lye - A Mini Festival - Kaleidoscope (1935)

And now for something completely different.... A Len Lye mini-festival of kinetic art & film.

New Zealand artist, Len Lye (1901 - 1980) was an innovator in kinetic art and experimental film. Like many creative Kiwis, Lye moved abroad in 1925 to develop his talent, first to the UK, then more permanently to the US. A biography may be found at the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. The Len Lye Foundation and archives with more information about his work at the Govett-Brewster gallery in New Plymouth.

Enjoy!

New Zealand Road Safety 1950s Style - Don't Monkey Around...

From a much different time when children actually rode bicycles to school rather than be chauffeured by parents and when bike safety inspections were the order of the day in schools, comes a Monkey Tale (1952) filmed by the National Film Unit for the Ministry of Transport, starring Show Off Charlie.

View here. Courtesy of NZ On Screen.

What an utter Charlie.

Today, with the road safety problem long since resolved, Charlie would be.... well, a boy racer.

Goings On on K' Rd - Karangahape Road, Auckland

Walkshort (1987), a short film (10:25 min), directed by Bill Toepfer, featuring musical comedy duo, The Front Lawn (Harry Sinclair and Don McGlashan) playing all the roles in a range of disguises.

It all turns into some kind of relay race of everyday coincidences...

View here.

One of the many valuable films and videos being preserved and made available on-line by the good folks at NZ On Screen.

New Zealand On Screen - Video on Demand!

Last week saw the opening of an on-line treasure chest of New Zealand video and film by NZ On Air, the agency that funds local production of New Zealand content for broadcast.

Since 1989 NZ On Air has funded over 15,000 hours of local television production. Now its putting a lot of it on-line. So far over 250 titles are up, with more to come.

Dip into the treasure trove to sample the wide range of topics and people that are New Zealand-Aotearoa.

For a taste of Kiwiana - the icons that symbolize Kiwi life, for a touch of nostalgia see:

Kiwiana (1996) - the pavlova, the jandal...

Or if you just want a bit of demolition derby, take a look at Kaikohe Demolition, for stock car mayhem and the people that make it happen. (This is for my cousin John, the ancient "stockie" who races stock cars at Woodford Glen just outside Christchurch).

Kaikohe Demolition (2004) - meet a Northland community that loves its stock car racing.

Don't get mud on your ice cream!!!

One of the best demo entries I've seen is the outhouse on a trailer entry at Ellesmere, Canterbury a few years back.