‘SPECIAL FROM THE START’
We asked three of the people who know Kightley well to explain what makes him one of the best in the biz:
Elizabeth Mitchell, Producer of bro’ Town and Duckrockers, long time colleague and friend of Kightley
When I met Oscar in the Auckland Star newsroom back in 1988, he already had the makings of a legend.
He was only 18, but there was something about the enigmatic, erudite, friendly young chap with the cool turquoise shirt that just made people like him. His humour, sincerity, chutzpah, and realness – along with a generous amount of je ne sais quoi and an amazing capacity to remember people’s names – saw him beloved by everyone from the cleaners to the chief reporter and all manner of interviewees. Oscar was special from the start.
Like Madonna, Elvis and Taika, there’s only one Oscar, and I feel so very grateful to have been able to work, play, laugh, cry, and create with him for more than quarter of a century.
John Barnett, Film and Television producer
Funny, thoughtful, considered, reliable, creative, wise, generous, unselfish, comedic, principled, professional, journalist, playwright, screenwriter, actor, TV presenter, sports commentator, stand-up comedian, mentor, friend…bro’… did I say he is very funny? Oscar Kightley is all these and more.
I’ve enjoyed all his work as a viewer, reader, audience member, consumer, and I’ve really enjoyed working with him across the fabulous projects we’ve been involved in together from Shortland Street to the wildly successful Sione’s feature films.
Oscar and the ‘Nakeds’ have brought enjoyment to all Kiwis. Shot, Legend!
Teuila Blakely, Actor
I first came to know of Oscar Kightley when a girlfriend showed me a magazine interview circa 1995. She said, I read this interview with this Samoan playwright and it was like reading an interview with you. After reading the article, I agreed and from that, I would go along to all of his plays – they were absolutely brilliant. I thought, this guy makes the kind of work I want to make, I'd so love to meet him and tell him that one day.
In 1997, I was hopping off a bus in Karangahape Rd and there was Oscar with Dave Fane, Shimpal Lelisi and Mario Gaoa. I stopped and nervously introduced myself and said what a fan of Oscar's work I was and how powerful his representation of our people and telling of our stories were. A year later, we ran into each other again at the centre of Pacific Island nightclub life in the 90s, Bass Bar. That sparked a failed romance that turned into a lifelong friendship and working partnership.
What has remained throughout, is my admiration of Oscar's brilliance and his representation of our people and our stories. Oscar's work has opened doors and created opportunities for all Pacific artists and practitioners, including myself. Producer Adrian Stevanon said it so aptly, his work pierced the glass ceiling for Pasifika story tellers in the mainstream. Oscar's work crosses all different mediums. Oscar as a person, crosses all borders and boundaries especially when it comes to entertaining audiences.