This website was created to showcase the post-Hercules career
of New Zealand actor and director, Michael Hurst. It is not an official
site, but we will keep it current with news of Michael's professional
activities, as well as an archive of his projects. We will also announce the professional activities of Michael's
wife, Jennifer
Ward-Lealand; see her official site for more on her career.
"DENNA" EPISODE OF LEGEND OF THE SEEKER
TO AIR THIS WEEKEND IN THE US;
MICHAEL INTERVIEWED ON TVONE
Michael directed episode 1.8, "Denna," of the American syndicated tv series Legend of the Seeker, which will begin airing in the US 10 January (see the official website for date, time and channel information). He also directed episode 1.10, "Sacrifice," which is scheduled to air beginning 24 January, and he plays the evil wizard Amfortas in episode 12 (date TBA).
"Denna," airing 10 January 2009
Michael was briefly interviewed on set for a TVOne News story on Legend of the Seeker; he is also shown directing. Watch the video online here. The story includes the information that the show will "likely will be on New Zealand screens next year".
Legend of the Seeker is based on Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth book series. The show is being filmed in New Zealand for DisneyABC by Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert, former producers of Hercules and Xena, which they also made in New Zealand.
Metro magazine, in it's December 2008 "Best of Auckland" feature, named Michael "Best Director" and The Threepenny Opera "Best Play" of the year:
"BEST DIRECTOR MICHAEL HURST. The doyen of Auckland theatre can chalk up another cracker year. Hurst helmed an exceptional production of The Threepenny Opera, and also tackled his first opera, Hansel and Gretel, for New Zealand Opera."
"BEST PLAY THE THREEPENNY OPERA. The tawdry, menacing world of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's classic came to Maidment Theatre in Silo's mesmerizing and ambitious production, directed by Michael Hurst. The huge cast, on-stage band and explosive finale made this the ultimate theatre experience for 2008. Jennifer Ward-Lealand's intoxicating rendition of Mac the Knife is still ringing in our ears.
New Zealand Herald: " , , , highlights included , , , Jennifer Ward Lealand's singing in Brecht's Threepenny Opera"
JENNIFER ON "EIGHT MONTHS TO MARS"
Jennifer was on the Radio NZ show "Eight Months to Mars" on 15 December 2008. She talked about what she would do during a trip to Mars, who she would take along, books she would read, music she would listen to. Listen to it on the internet here (scroll down).
JENNIFER FEATURED IN WOMAN TODAY
Jennifer is the subject of the cover article in the December/January issue of Woman Today. It discusses her business and family life, as well as her long and varied career.
"Even a cursory glance at actor Jennifer Ward-Lealand’s website shows a CV as impressive as it is revealing. One reason being the sheer volume of work this seemingly indefatigable woman has undertaken over almost three decades, the other being the enthusiasm of the critics for her acting, singing and directing." Read the rest of the article online here.
MICHAEL STARRING IN BITCH SLAP
Michael
is starring in the American feature film Bitch Slap playing Gage, a notorious
underworld kingpin. The
film also stars Julia Voth as Trixie, Erin Cummings as Hel, and America Olivo as Camero.
Michael's Hercules co-star
Kevin Sorbo will also appear, with
cameos by Xena co-stars Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor.
Michael teaches "Bitch Slap 101"
* * *
NEWS, 8 OCTOBER: A Bitch Slap panel is scheduled for the Xena convention in LA at the end of January. Michael, Julia, Erin and America will attend, along with writer/producers Eric Gruendemann and Rick Jacobson (who also directed). Michael and Jennifer are invited guests and cabaret artists at the convention (The Widow Twanky will be attending too!) See Creation Entertainment's website for information and tickets.
* * *
Michael as Gage
(other Bitch Slap
character posters are here)
Bitch Slap is
described as an exploitation film--with a healthy
dose of comedy; a "thinking
man’s
throwback to the “B” Movie/ Exploitation
films of the 1950’s-70’s as well
as a loving, sly parody of the same. . . . Bitch
Slap will mix girls, guns, outrageous
action and jaw-dropping visuals with a message… don’t
be naughty! . . . What
makes Bitch Slap different is a complicated
'B' story device that runs throughout the film
to illuminate character, backstory and relationship
histories not previously revealed. . . . Bitch
Slap also
employs a mysterious Female Narrator who comments
periodically on the folly of humanity, the
plight of the human condition and the vagaries
of life and love through quoting the likes
of Dostoevsky, T.S. Eliot, Sun Tzu and even
Buddha. (Bet you never heard THAT in Jailbait Babysitter!)" Read
the full synopsis here.
Stunts
are being coordinated and performed by Xena stunt
double Zoe Bell, and the film is written and
produced by Eric Gruendemann and Rick Jacobson;
Jacobson is also directing. Gruendemann
was Co-Executive Producer of Hercules, Xena, Young
Hercules, Jack of All Trades,
and Cleopatra
2525, and
Jacobson directed two episodes of Hercules and
twelve of Xena. Anticipated release
date: late 2008/early 2009.
See an interview at Comic Con with Eric Gruendemann and Rick Jacobson. They talk about the origins and ideas behind the film and what they were hoping to accomplish. See images from Bitch Slaphere. Read an interview with Rick Jacobson on Zoe Bell Fans on LiveJournal.
Official Bitch Slap trailer (adult content: language, violence, sexual content)
Click here to go to the BitchSlapMovie channel on You Tube.
* * *
ERIN CUMMINGS TALKS ABOUT WORKING WITH MICHAEL
Erin Cummings did an interview for fearnet.com in which she describes working with Michael (read the entire interview here):
" . . . working with Michael Hurst was just the greatest gift that I could've received on this film. I mean even if nothing ever happens with this movie, just having gotten to work with him and see his process and bear witness to an actor, someone who really loves their craft, it was incredible. I felt like every time I was in the room with him I was learning something new about acting. That was an incredible experience.
" . . . I remember at one point it was windy, we're in the desert, it's miserable - no one's having a good time because the weather conditions were just horrific. And I look down and I see Michael Hurst covered in blood and sweat and spit, lying face down in the dirt, covered in mud from head to toe wearing nothing but a thong and a kimono. Just happy as a pig in shit, couldn't be happier.
"And I just thought 'Wow, man, that is an actor.' He's not complaining. He's not being a diva or a primadonna which he absolutely has the right to. He's just like 'Oh, you want me to lay face down in the mud? And then you're gonna have that actor kick me in the stomach and then you're gonna do it twenty times? No problem.' That was very good for all of us being able to see him getting tortured, literally being drug through the mud, and just going with it."
MICHAEL APPEARS IN THE MAP READER
Michael
plays the father, Ben, in the New Zealand film The Map Reader, written and directed by Harold Brodie.
News from the film festival circuit: "The Austin Film Festival was the world premiere of the film and the first two screenings sold out. The film was next screened at the Hollywood Film Festival at the Arclight Cinema, where again the film sold out to audiences. The comedy/drama has currently been submitted to 50 other film festivals and will premiere in New Zealand on February 5 of 2009". Read the entire article here, including an interview with writer/director Harold Brodie.
THE
TATTOOIST RELEASED ON DVD
IN THE U.K. 20 OCTOBER 2008
The
Tattooist is now available
in the UK on region 2 DVD. It
is also available
on region 4 DVD in
New Zealand and
Australia and in the US on region 1 DVD.
Michael
plays Crash in the New Zealand
film The Tattooist from
Eyeworks Touchdown Productions,
MediaCorp Raintree Productions,
and The New Zealand Film Commission.
Click here to
go to our Tattooist page
for review, pictures, etc.
In
June 2008, The
Tattooist was one of five films to be shown
at New Zealand's first
solo film festival to be
held in China. See the
New Zealand Herald for
more information.
Michael
with Rodney Hide
WE'RE
HERE TO HELP NOW AVAILABLE ON REGION
4 DVD IN NEW ZEALAND
Michael
plays the major support role of Rodney
Hide in the New Zealand film We're
Here to Help directed by Jonathan
Cullinane and produced by South Pacific
Pictures.
Michael
played a defence lawyer in the 2003 tv documentary Murder on the Blade?, written, directed, and produced by Keith Hunter, which received a New Zealand Screen Award for Best Documentary 2003/04. It is now available on dvd from Hunter Productions.
Michael
as the ferry captain in Treasure
Island Kids: The Monster
of Treasure Island
Michael
directed the second and third
films in the Treasure Island Kids series, The Monster of Treasure
Island (in which he
also briefly appears) and The Mystery
of Treasure Island.
The Monster of Treasure Island is now available on Region I dvd (US and Canada); The Mystery of Treasure Island will be released on 2 December 2008.
The
films are also available
on dvd in Australia and several European
countries.
Documentary
tv series Here to Stay is
now available in New Zealand
on region 4 dvd's. This six-episode
series features a different
Kiwi celebrity as presenter
and star of each episode as
it explores the contributions
to NZ life of various ethnic
groups that settled there. The
presenters introduce segments,
interview people, participate
in activities indicative of
their group, etc. Michael's
episode is about the English;
others in this first season
include the Irish, Scotch,
Chinese, Germans, and Croations. The
series has good pacing and
high production values, making
it fun to watch as well as
informative.
Note:
We try to ensure that everything here is correct, but
mistakes do happen,
and things can change, so please contact the venues directly
for verification.
This
site is non-commercial and no money is being made from it.
No copyright infringement
is intended. All copyrighted materials remain the property
of the original copyright holder.
We believe that everything on this web site falls within the
legal description of "fair use".
The site has no formal affiliation with Michael
Hurst.
For
site update history, click here (latest
update 5 January 2009).
Future
Projects & Appearances
Michael as Gage
(other Bitch Slap 
Michael
in