Local link to Billy T celebration

Billy T: Te Movie opened in cinemas nationwide on Thursday but what many people will not know is the Tauranga connection to the film. Co-writer and director Ian Mune grew up in the town and spoke to Betty Jeeves about his early life and the work he has been doing to celebrate the life and achievements of one of New Zealand's best-loved entertainers, Billy T. James.

When Ian Mune was 5, his father died and he and two elder brothers were brought up by their mother at the southern end of Devonport Rd in Wrigley St, now 16th Ave, "not quite in the country, there was no Greerton then, it was all farms".

After attending Tauranga Primary and Tauranga South schools, he boarded at Wesley College, Auckland, then returned to Tauranga Boys' College for his sixth form year.

"It was the first year it was boys only, I couldn't get the education I wanted," he joked. "Regrettably I spent all the time in the drama club and art room. I had to have a second go at UE."

However, Mune's passion for acting was fuelled at St Enoch's Presbyterian Church. "I went to do my bit in the Sunday School concert and thought this is for me, so I pursued it."

After working for National Airways Corp, Tauranga, for two years, Mune headed for Wellington with the company. "I wore a suit and tie and thought I was going to have a career, but was going insane," he said.

All that changed when he looked out the window one day and noticed a university procession in progress. "There were three beautiful young women on a float. One of them caught my eye, it was her mop of curly hair, she waved me down, I looked at my boss and he said, 'go on'.

"I climbed on the float, had a bottle of beer thrust in my hand and I never went back. I joined the university drama club straightaway."

Mune qualified as a teacher, but acting triumphed and, after being offered a job with the Welsh Theatre Company, he headed to London for a couple of years.

It was 1980/81 when Mune was on a film set - "with a group of heavyweight actors filming the death of Ronald Hugh Morrieson, a famous old drunk" - that he met Billy T. James. The men were acting the part of drunks in a pub. "I thought dear oh dear, this guy's a comedian, but he told it beautifully; fine, fine acting."

About three years later, Mune cast James as the Tainuia Kid in Came a Hot Friday. "When he first turned up on set, he didn't know what he was doing, because compared to sketch comedy, it was serious acting. I said, 'Don't play it for laughs, be serious, play it like Hamlet,' and he took me up on that. He did it. And I saw an acting lesson - the work was beautiful."

Making Billy T: Te Movie has been an emotional journey of discovery. "The reason you make a documentary is because you don't know the answers. Phil [Gifford, co-writer] knew Billy pretty well, my task was to find the angle.

"Researcher Di Lindesay cold-called ... people and within minutes they were spilling their guts to honour Billy. We didn't set out to do an expose. Our intention was to honour Billy and be as entertaining as possible."

The movie celebrates the life of New Zealand's best-loved entertainer, explores his talent as a musician, comedian, actor, writer and artist, and tries to find the source of his trademark giggle. With humour and love, it tells of his meteoric rise to national fame and his tragic fall into ill health and financial collapse. Featuring digitally re-mastered footage of James' performances and never-seen-before archival images, Billy T.'s story is set alongside interviews with his family, friends and colleagues. Audiences will leave with laughter in their hearts and tears in their eyes.

Produced by Tom Parkinson, Bill T: Te Movie screens at Bay City Cinemas.