THE BOY AT HEART AND BOY

Director/actor/writer Taika Waititi (Eagle vs Shark) and first-time actor, 11-year-old James Rolleston were in Sydney recently to promote their film Boy, which has been hailed the highest grossing Kiwi film back home in New Zealand. If you haven’t seen the film, we highly recommend watching the trailer before you read the highlights of our chat with the very talented duo.

Taika Waititi

Do you prefer working with kids or adults?

Block your ears for a second, James. Adults. I don’t really mind but it is harder working with kids. (To James) You can unblock your ears now. You have to go at their pace. If a kid has a meltdown and doesn’t want to work, you can’t force them. You’ve just got to stop and wait for them.

Do you like telling stories through a child’s eyes? Why?

They were memories I had as a kid. You know those formative years where you are just finding out who you are and the things that happen around that time, the people you meet – the older you get they hold more significance. The film is quite personal in that I shot it in my hometown in my grandmother’s house. But the stories were completely made up. Using those personal things was important to me just to make it authentic in my mind.

Did you see your father as Boy did in the film?

A little bit. I think everyone sees one or both of their parents in that fantasy. They start understanding that their parents aren’t who they think they are. They aren’t as incredible. That’s what part of this is about, changing of someone’s perception of their parent. They are people we think we understand but they are strangers as well. There are so many mysteries about them. There’s no way you can really tell what your parents’ secrets are or what their hopes and dreams were before you were born.

Explain what an egg means?

Egg? It’s a small, oval receptacle. (laughs) It’s just an insult from the 80s. We’d call each other egg or spoon. It’s just like calling someone a dork.

I read that you used your Jewish surname Cohen for some of your work? When and why do you use either of your surnames?

Cohen is my mother’s name and Waititi is my father’s name. We don’t practice Judaism. I don’t know why I feel the need to qualify that. (laughs) It’s just in New Zealand, people just assume because you’ve got the name Cohen, you’re Jewish. They go (whispers): “and he’s Jewish, his mother’s Jewish”.

Do you pick and choose which name you use for which project?

I use Waititi for all my films. Originally I used Cohen when I was an actor years and years ago. I use Cohen more in the city and Waititi in the country, when I was living between the two. So whenever I was living with my dad I would be Waititi and Cohen when I was with my mum.

How did you feel when you were told you were nominated for an Oscar?

I was quite speechless…

Is that still a dream?

I’m not sure. I’m quite happy doing my thing. It would be really nice to get another nomination but if that was the reason for making films then I’ll be pretty clouded in my judgment.

You decided to write, direct and star in Boy. Did you not trust anyone else to do the job right?

In the end no, actually. I only cast myself about two months before the filming. I didn’t want to baby sit another actor on top of the kids as well.

Why are stories about New Zealand important to you to tell?

I guess because nobody else is telling them. Well the stories I want to tell, I don’t think anyone else is going to write or tell properly. Especially for us Maori. Traditionally, it is one of our strong points. We come from an aural culture and I hope it will encourage other Maoris to tell their stories and get better at it.

Was this your chance to show the Michael Jackson dance moves you’ve been practicing in your room?

Oh most definitely. I was a huge fan, still a huge fan.

James Rolleston

Did you know about Michael Jackson before Boy?

Yea!

Were you a fan?

I wasn’t as big of a fan as I am right now.

Do you have a favourite song?

Ooh… I like Man in the Mirror and Beat It.

What was it like working with this guy?

Mean-ass.

Was it hard learning the dance moves?

Not really. They are quite simple. It was like a simple version of the actual steps.

You were the hero in the film. What did you think of your performance?

I don’t really know because it was my first time acting. I don’t really know what a good actor looks like.

Are you a bit famous in New Zealand now?

Yea, big-ass. And I am shy-ass.

Signing autographs?

Just taking photos really. That’s the new autograph.

So is that what you want to be, an actor?

I have other plans as well, like a marine biologist or have my own hunting show or to work in the department of conservation.