Celebrating Kiwi Chicks from TV & Screen, 10 years of WIFT



I'm still suffering from the aftermath of last night's Women in Film & Television Awards. We arrived at the Village Cinema on Broadway at 6 ish, in time to grab the last goody bags and my first Chardonnay. Before the Kiwi premiere of Toni Collette & Cameron Diaz chick flick 'In Her Shoes' which was great fun, with some hilarious one liners from the older characters. Chelfyn was kept amused by the amount of time the delectable Ms Diaz spends half naked. In an old folks home no less. One suspects that her chest has undergone recent enhancement, as her breasts are very perky for a lithe thirtysomething. But she's Cameron and will always be fabulous.

After the film we decamped to the foyer for the 10th annual WIFT Awards, given to oustanding women working in the New Zealand Film & TV industry. The PM was supposed to be attending but instead she sent Judith Tizzard, the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage who is one funny lady. One award went to super fit Zoe Bell, who was stunt double for Lucy Lawless in Xena and Uma Thurman's kick ass stunt chick in Kill Bill 2. Another was presented by Julie Christie, head of Touchdown Productions one of New Zealand's biggest production companies.

Julie Christie is Queen of Kiwi Reality TV. One cannot deny that she has made a lot of money, and created a whole new layer of celebrity fodder for the women's weeklies. But I have to say the cynic in me sees great irony in an industry award from someone who has directly and indirectly put so many writers and actors out of business. The American Screen Actors Guild estimates it at 10% of their previous work rate before Reality TV hit the industry.

After the spot prizes and the winner of the 'Most Fabulous Shoes' competition I chatted to some fabulous women. Jules McLachlan is a screenwriter and stunning redhead, who has a treatment waiting for a greenlight from a keen producer. Nina Knight is an immaculate New York actor & model who also does stand up and has written a children's book that she wants to animate. She says she's had some funny situations since coming to New Zealand, as she's been modelling in America for years. Here on every casting she's surrounded by gangly teenagers. It seems that Kiwis haven't cottoned on yet to the fact that women actually want to see other women on screen and in fashion spreads.

I also caught up with the gorgeous Jenine Olliver who was the producer who spotted me in the street, and booked me for the Pod shoot back in June. She introduced us to her lovely Director friend Elena Doyle, who by a huge coincidence went to art college in Dublin. With one of Chelfyn's girlfriends!

It was a great night and very inspiring to see so many successful women working in the Kiwi film & TV industry. I was also struck by how friendly everyone was and how much they seem to support one another here. In my time I've met some truly dreadful TV people. Here you have cool women making great work like Intrepid Journeys, The Piano, Once were Warriors and Lord of the Rings. The only sore point to the night was the one too many Chardys, followed by two too many beers. Now I'm now off to nurse my hangover.