Does activism influence your art or does your art influence your activism?
I realised I'm probably more of an activist than an artist actually because
unless I care about something I can't really excel at it.
When you need to do a job, when it means something to you deeply and personally, you just do it
so much better, it just has a different qualitative experience for the audience
that's why this kind of... I think is particularly successful for me because
I feel like there's activism, something like care about deeply and authentically
Do you think that activism and art should have a message?
I don't think art has to have a message honestly - sometimes the message is beauty
the message is celebration. I mean I guess that is a message, to celebrate.
It doesn't have to be serving some body's agenda - happiness and beauty is its own
agenda and that's okay.
Should there be a minimum wage for actors on sets and on stage?
I think there should be not just a minimum wage. I think that here should be a living wage.
A living wage for people has, and I employ people, I never pay them the minimum wage.
I remember doing that once in America because my my accountant said, they set it up, that's what you pay and
when that person left for another job I thought, this is a terrible idea. Why
I don't blame that person for leaving. Minimum wage, especially in America, is
not acceptable, they can't live on that, it's not respectful and I actually do
not mind having less so that I have loyal, committed, happy employers.
What is the industry like for you? Especially in the wake of the Weinstein discussions
and what's been happening with that.
Yeah. I still feel like I feel like...well I never met the man. I've not moved in those circles and now I'm just super
grateful. What does it mean? I think it means a good clean-out and long overdue, surely?
I've never had that happen in a work environment myself.
Pleasuredome was a show my husband Rob has been wanting to make to tell a story because
when he was a young man he got swept off in a night for the wildest night of his
life and he was a kid from the Midwest and where there were drag queens and
outrageous behavior and he thought it was the most scintillating, nutty
experience and he wanted to give that to the world and this is where it has
transpired, right here in particular off the northwestern in Auckland.
This show has a component of activism and this is not... this is a show... it's got
to gay love stories running through it - romances running through it, and the
audiences have been really positive about it, but it's not a show about gay
people for gay people. It is a show for straight. It's for their parent.It's for
people over 40 or over 30 because the under 30s
I've got to tell you, whether you know it or not, they're not confused about gayness,
straightness. It really doesn't have any heat for them.The whole question is like so
old fashioned.They think we're silly but people over
40 still need to be brought up to date with this is what romance looks like
in the gay world and it's not scary it's beautiful.
With all the things that you've done being an artist and an activist, what do you want your legacy to be?
Don't care. This legacy question I think that's like a man thing. Men are
always wanting to have sons and leave their name. I don't give a shit. I'm doing
this for my own edification and then when I die 'it over'. So you better have had a good time.
Whether people remember me or not. I could not care less.
Alright, well that came from a really
strong activist feminist. Oh! You know what? That would be a worthwhile
active... the activism.. you want have been part of some good change but
show business, don't care.