Topp Twins Win at Toronto Film Festival

Posted 11 months, 2 weeks ago at 6:54 am. 0 comments

A documentary on the Topp Twins, New Zealand’s duo of lesbian country/folk singers, has won the award for best documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival.  The film, directed by Leanne Pooley, tells the story of sisters Jools and Lynda Topp, who grew up on a dairy farm, began touring as comedians/singers, became active in politics and the gay rights movement, and starred in their own award-winning TV show.  They were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame after more than 25 years of performing.

The doco includes interviews with the twins in some of their better-known characters such as Ken and Ken, the Bowling Ladies, Camp Mother and Camp Leader.   The film also documents Jools’s chemotherapy and mastectomy after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.  Interviews with their family are also included.

The film has been a box-office successs in New Zealand, taking in over NZ$1 million in the first four weeks of shows.

NZ Dancing Star Tamati Coffey on Hot Date with UK Fashionista Gok Wan

Posted 1 year, 3 months ago at 10:59 pm. 0 comments

New Zealand TV host Tamati Coffey, formerly host of the long-running children’s show What Now, won the finals of the NZ version of Dancing With the Stars.  When he found out UK TV star Gok Wan (How to Look Good Naked) was coming to Auckland, he arranged an afternoon date.  Read More