Comic’s new take on politics
A chance encounter with journalist John Campbell is to thank for a second season of a satirical webseries based on the election.
Wellington actor Jack Buchanan’s series Flat Race made national news in 2014 with its funny take on well-known politicians, but up until a month ago he wasn’t sold on bringing it back.
‘‘I was on my way to enrol to vote and I met John Campbell and I talked to him about it ... He was really supportive and awesome so I walked away from that thinking that was the universe telling me to make it.
‘‘With the nature of this election cycle and what’s been going on this year, as crazy as it is, it was too good to miss out on.’’
He went home and started writing that night.
The six-part series, which began on Monday, pits all of the political leaders, played by Buchanan, in a race to become flat leader.
Buchanan has already filmed the whole season, meaning current events won’t inform the storyline – a move that’s already proved risky.
‘‘We finished filming the day before Peter Dunne resigned and so I had this whole other character with some great lines but I had to cut him.’’
‘‘Thankfully, I think, everything I wrote is still relevant this week ... fingers crossed no-one else resigns in the next five days.’’
Buchanan isn’t alone in his humorous take on this year’s candidates, with prolific snapchatter and actor Tom Sainsbury’s version of Paula Bennett racking up the likes online, and Robbie Nicol’s White Man Behind a Desk show offering comedic relief from the chaos.
‘‘It gets very heavy and people can get overwhelmed by the fighting and the ‘ he said, she said’ and so I’m just trying to do something light and stupid and fun – all the things the election, so far, is not,’’ Buchanan said.
‘‘You can have a laugh at what’s going on but then maybe you’ll actually see or hear something that a character says and maybe look into a bit yourself.’’