Family ties MURPHYS’ LORE Born into a filmmaking dynasty, siblings Matt and Robin Murphy talk to Sarah Lang about growing up on a hippie commune, going into the “family business” – and still having a finger in the pie. any a Kiwi watching the 1981 filmGoodbye Pork M Pie has cheered on the yellow Mini that literally falls to bits as it evades its police pursuers – and finally makes it the length of the country from Kaitaia to Invercargill. Bringing some much-needed humour to New Zealand film, it was directed, co-written and co- produced by local screen legend Geoff Murphy, whose son Matt (then 15) was lighting assistant/ best boy and daughter Robin (then 18) was wardrobe manager. Fast forward 36 years and Matt, an award-winning director of television commercials, has written and directed the reboot. His first supervisors; and Veronique’s feature Pork Pie, in cinemas from daughter, Lily Lawrence, worked in February 2, isn’t a strict remake (for the art department. Fifteen other instance, they don’t visit as many family members – Matt’s children, towns) but its essence is the same. grandsons, sisters-in-law, nephews Dean O’Gorman plays Jon, a failing and nieces – mucked in as extras. writer taking a road trip to win back The Murphy siblings had an his lady, with James Rolleston and unusual upbringing. When Robin was Ashleigh Cummings playing wise- 11, Paul nine, Matt eight, Linus three cracking passengers Luke and Kiera. and Miles two months, the family Talk about a family affair: Matt’s moved from a Wellington flat to live sister Robin was location manager communally in the coastal village of and her son, Charley Murphy Samau, Waimarama, Hawke’s Bay. Geoff’s was unit assistant; one of Matt’s collaborators Bruno Lawrence (also younger brothers, Miles, was second- his brother-in-law), Alun Bollinger unit director; Matt’s partner, Kath and Martyn Sanderson all lived at HELEN WHITEFORDHELEN Raphael, was associate producer and “Snoring Waters” with their families A 1969 photo of the Murphy clan and three of Bruno Lawrence’s children, post-production supervisor; Matt’s at various points, on a block with taken to be used as a production prop. Clockwise from back left: Geoff elder brother, Paul (who’s directed rundown houses, shoulder-high Top: Matt and Robin Murphy catch up at Murphy, wife Pat Robins, baby Linus Murphy, Paul Murphy, Thad Lawrence, films such asLove Birds and Second- grass and long drops. As 1971 became Matt’s home in Wellington, while Robin Robin Murphy, Melissa Lawrence, Veronique Lawrence and Matt Murphy. hand Wedding), provided script 1972, the kids joined musical- was in town working as location advice; Matt’s daughter, Saoirse and-theatre co-operative Blerta’s manager on a yet-to-be-revealed American production with her brother, Murphy-Twhigg, was a costume three-month South Island tour. Paul. Above: Dean O’Gorman plays SARAH LANG IS A NORTH & SOUTH CONTRIBUTING WRITER. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADRIAN HEKE. assistant; his cousins, Veronique Geoff and wife Pat Robins split accidental-outlaw Jon in the Pork Pie and Melissa Lawrence, were script after 22 years. Pat, who’s worked reboot, opening February 2. 32 | NORTH & SOUTH | FEBRUARY 2017 NORTH & SOUTH | FEBRUARY 2017 | 33 in the film industry since the 1960s I was the only lighting assistant. jobs for women in film was often as a production manager, wardrobe I’d helped on Dad’s sets before, the default position. Robin once manager, script supervisor (including and just loved it. The six-week explained the injustice with on The Lord of the Rings) and road trip was exciting and intense. surprisingly little drama. I doubt I’d director, still lives on the Waimarama Travelling in convoy, I’d often drive have such poise if I faced that kind property. Geoff had a son with a police car to the next location. of discrimination. But Robin’s never Utu actress Merata Mita, spent 10 We weren’t allowed the sirens on. been a victim of circumstances. She years working overseas – mainly in Okay, maybe we did once or twice… always just gets on with things. Hollywood – and now, aged 78, lives I was aware our childhood was a bit We’ve always got on, understood in Wellington with wife Diane. In different, with three families living and appreciated each other. I’m 2015, he wrote the candid memoir together in pretty rundown houses, proud of what Robin’s doing, Geoff Murphy: A Life on Film. and visitors arriving with tents and especially producing films and web Robin, mother to 25-year-old caravans. But I really liked that we series to support young talent. You actor-musician Charley, is on the were creating something original and can grow something out of nothing road a lot so has moved her base from doing things our way, using whatever with her energy and attitude, and Wellington back to the family home in resources we had. Not just film- she’s constantly doing that.” Waimarama. A location manager for making but finding creative solutions, the likes of The Lord of The Rings and like lighting a fire to boil coppers ROBIN MURPHY, 55 an assistant director, she also develops to fill the bath. There’s something and produces short films, feature films The original poster for Goodbye Pork very grounding about that. We kids “Matt can be hard to read. He’s a and web projects – such as Wellington Pie, when it was released in 1981. needed to pitch in, but it was never dark horse, a bit intense, and slightly series Pot Luck by writer-director Ness overly enforced. There was a dishes introverted – like Dad, in that there’s Simons (viewed nearly a million times, roster, though; you’d need five of this whole world going on inside it’s just received NZ On Air funding us each night. I was often given a their heads that I’d never get access Waimarama, 1973: Linus (front), Paul (left), Robin and Matt. for a second series) and Welby Ings’ hammer to de-nail recycled wood. to. Matt has a very dry humour. buzzed-about short filmSparrow . I used to trail around after Dad. I He and I have always had a kind of Currently, Robin has four features and thinking, ‘I’ll need one of the was one of the Crunchie Bar-eating comfortableness, probably more than to this rest area, so we set up our who put them on the next flight, and one short in development, two of them country’s best location managers.’ kids in the classic 1970s “Great I have with my other brothers, where camping gear there. Matt hitchhiked they arrived minutes before they were written and directed by brother Miles. So my next thought was ‘Where’s Crunchie Train Robbery” ad, starring you sit there and don’t even have to into Napier, called our parents, said needed. Otherwise I would have been Matt, an experienced art director Robin’s number?’ She turned down Dad and Bruno. Once, my bedroom talk. But we do yak away about film we were fine camping, bought the in deep shit! With the car-chase scenes, and production designer for film, a well-paying job to do this. was painted as a submarine set for a and family. Matt’s a great father. necessary car parts, and hitchhiked we didn’t even have radio transmitters, is circling back from directing TV In today’s health-and-safety- skit. Dad made models of World War As kids, Paul, Matt and I were the back. We made our Superman movie so people were strategically placed commercials here and internationally, conscious environment, the shoot II tanks, battleships and planes from tight three because we were close in there on Super-8 film. Matt lay down, in the bushes to signal to someone and looking to write and/or direct was so much more complicated cardboard and wood, then left Paul age, with a five-year gap before Linus pointing the camera up. Paul, playing who’d signal to someone else when features. A father by the age of 21, and than the original’s – especially the and me playing battles, working out and later Miles. Matt was the one at Superman, put on a cape, climbed a the Mini was coming. I often shared a grandfather at 39, he has five children Wellington car chases, with sirens our own strategies and moving the Dad’s heels, and Dad would ask him sign, then dived over the camera and motel units with Matt. With so many and has a home at Waimarama, blaring and driving up the railway pieces around in the paddock. Maybe to help make props or skits because landed on a mattress, so it looked like brothers, smelly shoes were just part although he and partner Kath live station’s front steps. Robin had a he wanted us to conquer the world? he was diligent and focused. Dad he was flying. Three days in, Matt had of life, but I had to tell Matt to leave mainly in Newtown, Wellington. lot of paperwork, meetings and Robin usually didn’t want to play made these models of battleships fixed the van and we went home. his shoes outside. Man, they stank. phone calls, but she made it work. war games, but she wasn’t a bossy and tanks, and Matt and Paul would My trajectory in film was through I haven’t worked much with MATT MURPHY, 52 I’ve always admired Robin. older sister at all.