Drama New Zealand

RIOT PRODUCTIONS

Life’s A Riot

Generic 400 word synopsis of the Programme:

During the Great Depression of the 1930’s, there was a March on the Auckland Town Hall with Jim Edwards leading the Unemployed Workers’ Movement.  A fracas broke out.  Jim Edwards was cudgeled to the ground and someone screamed out “They’ve killed Jim Edwards”. The crowd went mad. Jim Edwards was blamed for instigating the biggest riot in New Zealand’s history.

Jim Edwards’ 14 year old son, James, was there. He saw his father go down.  And this incident was to become the defining moment of his young life.

Remarkably, through the foresight of recently deceased cinematographer Allen Guilford, those vivid memories of James’s gloriously flawed father, Jim, were recorded only months before James died aged 85.

Dean Parker has mined black humour and musicality from the dourness of the Depression and his script peoples James’ family’s story with the hangmen and henchmen who helped forge the maverick identity of our Nation.

Life’s A Riot is the premier production of joint venture partners, Just The Ticket, Ross  and Carmel Jennings and Seannachie Productions, Aileen O’Sullivan, who are thrilled to present the experience and talent of Ian Mune as Director, luminary  Leon Narbey as cinematographer and Oscar winning Grant Major as Designer.

Life’s A Riot is defined by the enthusiasm that both cast and crew have brought to this film in seeing it as a significant and highly dramatic milestone in our country’s history.

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RIOT PRODUCTIONS PO Box 67 085 Mt Eden, Auckland

Aileen O’Sullivan  PH 0274 842 854  Carmel Jennings PH 021909010

DVD Available Now

$30

Please Send Orders to

carmel@jtt.co.nz or seann@ihug.co.nz

The true story of Jim Edwards, charged with instigating the biggest riot in our country’s history, is set during the Great Depression of 1932. It is told through the slowly maturing eyes of his 14 year old son, James. Life’s A Riot is a depiction of the hardships, the friendships, and the gutsy, maverick, irreverent sense of humour,  that continues to define us as Kiwis.

Life’s A Riot has been  made by one of the most experienced teams of  New Zealand television professionals: Dean Parker, Wrier; Ian Mune, Director; Leon Narbey,Cinematographer; Dick Reade, Sound; Grant Major, Design; Ken Sparks, Editor and Peter Scholes, Music.  It stars Andrew Grainger as Jim Edwards, Alison Bruce and a husge cast of riotous extras.