Topp Twins score treble in G.O.F.T.A. awards

Press, 17 July 1987, Page 8

Topp Twins score treble in G.O.F.T.A. awards

PA Auckland The Topp Twins, Lynda and Jools, scored a memorable treble in the G.O.F.T.A. (Guild of Film and Television Arts) awards. With a single show, the “Topp Twins Special,” an independent production screened in November and repeated on 'July 6, they won the award for best entertainer and best original music. The show itself was judged the best entertainment programme. To win their awards the Topp Twins edged a fellow finalist, Billy T. James, who had won the best entertainment show and best entertainer awards last year. The “Fire-Raiser,” produced by Ginette McDonald (maker of the upcoming 60s comedydrama “Peppermint Twist”), won four awards in the drama section. One was for best children’s drama, another for best drama series. Maurice Gee won the writer’s award (drama),and Peter Sharp won the best director’s award. A double also went the way of TVNZ’s first tele-vision-movie, “Mark II” which, like “The Topp Twins Special,” had a Saturday night rerun this month. It won the award for best single drama and Mitchell Manuel was named best actor (male) for his role as Kingi. Manuel was also a finalist in the drama writer’s award. Jennifer Ward Lealand won the best dramatic

performance (female) for her role as Raewynn in “Danny and Raewynn,” one of the plays in the “About Face” series of independently made miniplays screened on Sundays late last year.

The award for best writer (non-drama) was' shared by Greg Stitt and Peter Hawes for their “Goldie: A Good Joke,” the documentary about a Levin arts forger. The long reign of “Close Up” in the field of best factual series was ended by the Aucklandbased Sunday morning magazine show “Weekend.” “Weekend’s” regular host, Gordon McLauchlan — at present in North America making a documentary series — was named best presenter in a field which included the newscasters, Angela D’Audney and Philip Sherry. "The Benson and Hedges Fashion Awards” won the award for best live coverage. TVNZ’s Dunedin-based natural history unit won the best documentary award for its magical “Swan Lake” programme in the “Wild South” series. On the film front, “The Quiet Earth” won seven awards. These were for best picture, best male actor (Bruno Lawrence as Zac Hobson), best director (Geoff Murphy), best cinematography (James Bartie) best editing (Michael Horton), best design (Jo Ford), best supporting male actor (Peter

Smith as Api) and best screenplay adaptation (Bill Baer, Sam Pillsbury and Bruno Lawrence). “Footrot Flats” scored a treble with best film score (Dave Dobby n), best original screenplay (Murray Ball and Tom Scott) and best contribution to a soundtrack (John McKay). “Arriving Tuesday” gained two awards — best female performance (Judy Mclntosh as Monica) and best supporting female performance (Heather Bolton as Jenny). Last year, Bolton won the best performance (female) category in the film awards for Cathy in “Heart of the Stag.” Complete list of winners: TELEVISION Best performance, female, dramatic role: Jennifer “Ward-Lealand,” Danny and Raewyn. Best performance, male, dramatic role: Mitchell Manuel, “Mark II.” Best entertainer: “Topp Twins.” Best presenter: Gordon Mclauchlan, “Weekend.” Best drama series: “The Fire-Raiser.” Best factual series: “Weekend.” Best entertainment programme: “Topp Twins Special." Best director: Peter Sharp, “The Fire-Raiser.” Best live coverage: “Benson and Hedges Fashion Awards.” Best original music: Topp Twins, “Topp Twins Special.” Best children’s programme: episode One, “The Fire-Ra-iser.” Best single drama programme: "Mark II.” Best documentary programme: “Wild South - Swan Lake.”

Best writer, drama: Maurice Gee, “The Fire-Raiser” (episode - "The Red Balaclava”). Best writer, non-drama: Greg Stitt and Peter Hawes, "Goldie: A Good Joke.” FILM Best performance, female, in a leading role: Judy Mclntosh, “Arriving Tuesday” Best performance, male, in a leading role: Bruno Lawrence, "The Quiet Earth.” Best film: "The Quiet Earth.” Best director: Geoff Murphy, “The Quiet Earth.” Best original screenplay: Murray Ball and Tom Scott, “Footrot Flats.” Best film score: Dave Dobbyn, ’‘Footrot Flats.” Best cinematography: James Bartie, “The Quiet Earth.” Best editing: Michael Horton, “The Quiet Earth.” Best production design: Jo Ford, “The Quiet Earth.” Best short film: “Tandem.” Best Performance, female, in a supporting role: Heather Bolton, "Arriving Tuesday.” Best performance, male, in a supporting role: Peter, Smith, “The Quiet Earth.” Best contribution to sound track: John McKay, “Footrot Flats” (sound design). Best screenplay adaptation: Bill Baer, Sam Pillsbury and Bruno Lawrence, “The Quiet Earth.” Best commercial: Travelling On (Europa). Rudall Hayward Award: John O’Shea.