Jono: "The acting talent is a 'who's who' of the New Zealand acting community. You've got Toni Potter from Shortland Street, Tammi Davis from Outrageous Fortune, and of course the great Michael Hurst playing yourself?"
Sir Peter Leitch: "I wouldn't have gone for anyone bloody less than Michael Hurst. He was in Xena, he's the world's best. He's fantastic, he's a legend! Like myself." |
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Jono (voice over): "We were invited out to a farm in the mighty Waitakere Ranges in west Auckland where the majority of on-location shooting is being done". |
Jono: "So Michael Hurst, you're playing the great man himself, Sir Peter Leitch".
'Michael Hurst': "mmmm . . . "
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Jono: "Did you spend much time researching the role?"
'Michael Hurst': (long maniacal laugh) |
'Michael Hurst': "All the world's a stage. And all the men and women merely players. They have their entrances and their exits. And each man in his time plays many parts. |
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"His acts being seven ages. First, the infant. Mueling and puking in his mother's grave. And then the school boy . . . " |
Jono: "So, Toni, tell us, what is it like playing the woman behind the man?"
'Toni Potter': "Oh, it's great! Obviously. Everyone says I'm really lucky. And at this point in my career, it's a new challenge every day. And it's just . . . it's great to be working . . . " |
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'Tammi Davis': "Yeah, I'm excited, Jono, obviously. Very excited. I mean, Anthony Starr, you know, he got mass recognition when he played the twins in Outrageous Fortune. I plan on taking that a step further. I'm going to break the world record for multi-characterization in an audio/visual media project".
Jono: "What does that mean?"
Tammi: "Oh, it just means I'm gonna play lots of characters". |
Jono: "We've just spoken to the weather guy; have there been any disruptions due to the weather?"
'Michael Hurst': "mmm. mmmm". |
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'Michael Hurst': "Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or if thou wilt not . . . |
"be but sworn, my love, and I will no longer be a Capulet. |
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(shouting) "For tis not thy name that is thine enemy! |
"For what is in a name? Tis neither hand nor arm . . . |
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nor any other part belonging to a man. |
(whispering) "That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet". |
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"Shhhh . . . " |
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(SMASH!!) |
"Come hail, come wrack! |
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"At least we'll die with harness on our back!" |
(later) Jono: "Famous actor Michael Hurst is in this tent here. All I want to do is actually get him to talk about the film so hopefully we can have a chat. . . . Michael, how are you?".
'Michael Hurst': "Excellent i' faith. |
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"I am of the chameleon's dish. I eat the air, promised-crammed. You cannot feed kapons so!" |
'Toni Potter' (into phone): "Call me back. This movie is driving me mental. And it's not just me, the people here are nuts!"
'Michael Hurst' (galloping through): "Gallop apace, you fiery footed steed . . . |
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" . . . towards Phoebus's lodging!"
'Toni Potter': "You'd better get me out of my f*cking contract. Call me back. Please! They put me in a tank with a live f*cking shark! Call me back. It's Toni. Potter. I was Alice on Shortland Street. " |
Jono: "It is the quiet moments, in between takes, that really let us see what immersing themselves in The Mad Butcher's life . . . |
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" . . . has done for these talented actors. |
"Let's take a look inside their private actors' room, and say goodbye". |
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Poster for the film SIR . PETER . LEITCH. |
TRAILER: SWELLING CHORAL MUSIC, DRAMATIC VOICE-OVER
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The man. |
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Who became a butcher. |
The butcher. |
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Who became a mate. |
Michael Hurst. Is the mate. Who became a knight! |
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A film with landscapes. |
People raising their arms. |
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And dramatically intense staring. |
Starrimg Tammy Davis. |
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Some horses. |
Tammy Davis. |
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Tammy Davis. |
Toni Potter. |
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And Tammy Davis. |
More crowds of people . . . |
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and horses than you'll ever goddam see. |
Only one man. Can be. |
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Everybody's mate. |
Sir. Peter. Leitch. |
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Coming to cinemas. June 2026. |
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