The Watercooler; Deep, Dark and Lost.Where it all began, our first issue.
Our speakers for this first event include:
Joe Nunweek practices law by day and jams in the co-editorship of The Pantograph Punch, an Auckland arts and culture website, in between. Apart from a bit of freelance (1972, Sky Sport) or no-lance writing (Real Groove, Volume - RIP), he basically faffs at things. Guitar, photography - you know the person you think does these cool things 'seriously' because they're 'that kind of person'? He doesn't, he can't. Let's all hold onto the illusion though. His happy place is Palm Springs Parakai in all of its faded seventies deliquescence, and if there was no-one to watch and judge he would literally spend his days trainspotting.
Romain Mereau is a directing graduate from Unitec's School of Performing & Screen Arts. He tragically became addicted to movies from a young age, and has been utterly obsessed ever since. He works in digital marketing, and makes short films in his spare time.
Kirsten Taylor is a writer, musician and novice sourdough baker. She has lived in Edinburgh, Salzburg and Melbourne and is now studying occupational therapy at AUT.
Diane White studied Law and Arts in Wellington. She moved up to Auckland about 18 months ago for a job that means she now spends her days sorting out tenant-landlord disputes and thinking about fences. It wasn't what she saw herself doing, but she's pretty happy all the same. Outside of work, Di does bits and pieces for the criminal justice reform organisation JustSpeak, pats strangers' dogs at the supermarket, and fills in any spare moments with writing, blogging and shooting hoops.
Finnius Teppet moved here from Wellington a couple of years ago, and he doesn't miss the old city or his family at all. He writes plays and stories on a range of themes including: the lasting influence of mothers on their children, what happens when your girlfriend resembles your mother, breastfeeding and psychoanalysis. Earlier in the year a play of his was produced by some Australians in their own country, and they won the Short + Sweet festival with it.
Oliver Quincy Page is a screenwriter, performance poet, conceptual artist and fan of architecture. His work has appeared in many magazines. Home & Garden was one he thinks. Oliver is currently writing a political thriller set against the backdrop of a gubernatorial primary race in Washington State, and a feature film about male friendships. Oliver enjoys brevity, wit, good taste and attending religious services unironically as is the custom of his people.
