This week On The Dial, Cyclone Pam causes devastation in Vanuatu, we hear about the film Deathgasm, old before his time comedian Ed Byrne, Oliver Page speaks to Jono Aidney, and Ellen Falconer reviews books and events. And of course, we discuss what the hell has been going on on the X Factor.
CYCLONE PAM
Vanuatu's president Baldwin Lonsdale said his devastated country needs immediate help, as Cyclone Pam had wiped out all development of recent years and his country would have to rebuild everything.
We hear from Koroi Hawkins in Port Vila, and Vanuatu reggae band, Young Life.
CRY ME A RIVER
It’s been quite the week on TV3’s X Factor. Recording artists Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding and Lorde have all reached out to X Factor NZ contestant Joe Irvine after he was bullied by judges Willy Moon and Natalia Kills. Matthew McAuley has been covering the X Factor, and chats to Megan Whelan.
DEATHGASM
The winner of the annual Make My Horror Movie competition has premiered at the SXSW film conference in Austin, Texas. Director Jason Lei Howden’s film Deathgasm tells the story of two metalheads who unwittingly unleash the apocalypse through their music. Shaun D. Wilson spoke to some of the creative team behind the film.
CARDIGAN WEARERS
Ed Byrne's been a stand-up comedian, and – he claims – old before his time, since his university years in Glasgow. The Irish comedian did the hard yards on the comedy circuit, honing his skills and curmudgeonly persona, through the 1990s, and now regularly features on panel shows such as Mock the Week and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
His show's called Roaring Forties, you can guess the theme, and he told our comedy correspondent, Charlotte Graham, that even now, he's still not finished with ageing disgracefully.
QUAIL STATE
Jono Aidney was born and raised in Auckland City, but like so many of New Zealand's finest talents, he is currently based in Melbourne, Australia. Oliver Page managed to catch him during his week-long visit home to chat to him about his latest project, and his battles with illness and its effect on his art.
LONELINESS AND INTIMACY
And Ellen Falconer reviews The First Bad Man, the debut novel from the acclaimed filmmaker, artist, and author, Miranda July. The novel tells the story of Cheryl, a tightly-wound, vulnerable woman who lives alone, with a perpetual lump in her throat. Ellen has also been along to the Auckland Festival’s White Night.
On The Dial was produced by Megan Whelan, with technical production by Marc Chesterman, assistance from Renee Iosefa and Aleyna Martinez, and financial assistance from NZonAir. Our music was composed and performed by Eddie Johnston, and the cover image was made by Hadley Donaldson.
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