KIWIS IN HOLLYWOOD
Newlyweds, actress Siobhan Marshall and comedian Millen Baird are the latest to join the tight-knit expat pack in Hollywood.
“At the moment it’s art versus commerce — we’re looking at all job options. I think it’s part of the whole experience, but we’ve set up a homerecording studio in the hope we can secure some voice jobs in the US and New Zealand,” Baird told Spy.
“We have several projects we’re working on. The reason we came here was to find some homes for them. We’re always working on them, regardless, so love is always in the air.” One job for TVNZ was to interview Ken
Jeong, (of The Hangover fame), for his sitcom series Dr Ken, but it was another project for the network that cemented the bond of the LAbased Kiwis. The couple joined godmother of the expats Fleur Saville, the busiest Kiwi gal in Hollywood Kim Crossman, another newbie to Hollywood and Seven Sharp Hollywood correspondent
Shavaughn Ruakere, actress Anna Hutchison, former Shorty star Lee Donoghue and this year’s Bachelor, travelling actor and film set crew member Jordan Mauger for a webisode called The Boardroom, which TVNZ will release online this week.
The Boardroom is a springboard for new talent by TVNZ and NZ On Air to promote a “New Blood Web Series competition”, where Kiwis can submit a pilot web series episode. The winner will receive funding to make a full series.
We are sure many of the actors would love their own series, but Spy is told their advice on pilots is sage and funny.
“I hadn’t seen some of these guys for a few years, so was a good catch up. It’s so nice being around a group of positive Kiwis when you’re anywhere abroad. We spent a lot of time giggling and talking about ridiculous things. Some things never change,” Marshall told Spy.
Crossman enjoyed the reunion, too.
“We had some pretty good ideas ourselves I think, but obviously things got a little silly. I particularly love working with Millen as he’s so quick and wonderful to improvise with, so superstoked he and Siobhan have recently moved to LA.”
As for Ruakere, who has some big-name Hollywood interviews on the horizon, she and boyfriend, event promoter Toby Burrows, are rescuing orphans in their spare time.
“Toby and I volunteer to walk Rescue German Shepherds who live in a big old warehouse downtown. Inside, it’s dark and hot as hell but at least they’re being cared for. You take them out for a wee walk around the neighbourhood,” she said.
This week, the couple kept the expat reunion spirit alive by having a long table dinner at trendy West Hollywood restaurant EP+LP with Kiwis, including LA-based fashion designer Trish
Peng, and director Taika Waititi.