More in depth articles and images on Bret McKenzie's projects outside of the Conchords over onBret - A Bit On The SideUpdated with a couple of clips - WIUO and Black Seeds.
"This book was an odd one for publishers to grasp. It was quite nefarious. Then these themes came through about people being able to make something out of whatever came to hand and being able to do more than one thing because they can't afford anyone to make stuff for them."
Shute cites Bret McKenzie, of Flight of the Conchords, who is one of the 52 subjects. An extract reads: "In New Zealand you have to do more than one thing to create enough money to live, so you end up juggling these different projects - I do comedy, theatre and music as well as a bit of TV to make a living. Sometimes you do lose a bit of focus by not committing to one thing, but at the same time it makes you very multi-talented and multi-skilled... Nobody does that overseas. Most of the people we work with over there solely do comedy and they struggle to understand why I would want play in a band and do theatre as well."
July 2006 - Exposure Lifestyles (online magazine out of Wellington, NZ by Pat Sheperd) ran an interview with Bret in its July 06 edition. Read it from a screencap here (small text) or go visit Exposure Lifestyles and download the PDF (issue 2)
Here is something to pass a nanosecond or
two..... Googlism
of Bret Take your pick as to what you like from the list.
I'm going with Bret is .......
... goddamn (This just sounds good)
... a certified wildlife biologist and a
member of the wildlife society (Who knew?)
... currently the wcw world heavyweight champion (Now I know
its on a wind up)
... probably a dream of Bret's *Mirthful
snittering*
... embedded in a weak steering flow and
has been nearly stationary over the past several hours
... kind of a bitch
... a tough security agent who definitely
doesn't believe in ghosts. (What! Not even poltergoose's?)
The Wellington Ukulele Orchestra performing Hey Ya. Bret can be spotted there somewhere.
Video
Kid (aka Bret aka Figwit) has recorded a few tracks in
his time. And now he has his own little corner of webspace.
November 2003 saw a 5 track EP out
in NZ featuring the Video Kid. Can listen to clips and purcase the CD HERE at Loop NZ.
Was part of the band BlackSeeds. Left in early 2006 to work on other projects.
Based in New Zealand (some countries have all the luck. Others
have Bret ;-). Reggae dub sort of thing going on.
A top notch Elvish impersonator. Often mistaken
for Figwit.
Spooky that! Read a write up on him over at USA
Today. Got a few hours to kill? Type Figwit into google
and your time can be filled. Its ok, you don't need to thank
me :-) Jan 2004 - Yes, Bret got called back
for pickup shots for Peter Jackson's Return Of The King. He
also got given lines. And a TOPPS
card. You really want to see it? Arghhh... ok I caved.
Here it is
Yes, this is for real. Only not the hair.....wig alert!
Also was in Phones4U ad with Jemaine back at the end of 2003 on UK TV. Cool ad
with a very catchy tune.