The last few years have seen the development of a group of actors who managed to make a reasonable living from their stage, TV and film work. But it was not always so. Most actors slaved away for a pittance and the love of the profession.
Mune: An Autobiography
Ian Mune
Craig Potton Publishing
RRP $49.99
The last few years have seen the development of a group of actors who managed to make a reasonable living from their stage, TV and film work. But it was not always so. Most actors slaved away for a pittance and the love of the profession.
There was not even much of a career pathway. No degrees, no schools, no scholarships. You had to make your own way by luck and guile, there didn’t even seem to be access to a casting couch.
But among the examples of those who made it is the Renaissance Man, Ian Mune. He is the iconic New Zealand DIY actor, writer, director who blundered, explored and chanced his way into an acting career and then forged an almost stellar path to become one of the major props and ornaments of the theater and film worlds.
His recently published “Mune: An Autobiography” is not only the story of the actors hectic life; it is also the story about the development of New Zealand theatre, film and television and the various ways in which he intersected with these worlds.
He has managed to become not only a major actor but he has shown his skills as a script writer and direction for film and television. His collaborations with Roger Donaldson from the film “Sleeping Dogs” to his documentary about Donaldson making the film about Burt Munro have been of significance in the development t of a New Zealand identity.
Writing about the film “Sleeping Dogs” in which he was both an actor as well as script writer he also describes the way in which films of the seventies were put together with a No 8 wire approach.
Mune was also largely responsible for the ground breaking series of adaptations of six New Zealand short stories which became the bench mark for New Zealand films and his performance as Moynihan in the TV series of the same name is still one of the great roles of New Zealand TV
As well as being a lively record of his life and times Mune also shows a keen sensibility when writing about theatre and his fellow thespians. He also makes perceptive comments on his acting career and the many roles he has played in everything from Shakespeare and musicals through to contemporary theatre and major New Zealand plays.
The book full of history, insights and astute observation about acting and theatre, but what makes it a great read is the brilliant writing; crisp, taut and refreshingly candid.
