CARMEN

Year: 1989
Reference: F8772
Media type: Moving image

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Year: 1989
Reference: F8772
Media type: Moving image

This content is for private viewing only. The material may not always be available for supply.
Click for more information on rights and requesting.

Place of production: New Zealand/Aotearoa
Categories: Television
Duration: 0:49:00
Broadcast Date: 26/09/1989
Production company: Vidcom
Credits: Carmen: Neil Gudsell
With: Georgina Beyer
With: Chrissy Stevens
With: Ricca Lam
With: David Brown
With: Maureen Price
With: Ned Ngatai
Produced : Geoff Steven
Director: Geoff Steven
Dop: Bayley Watson
Sound Operator: Dave Hurley
Gaffer: Kevin Riley
Production Assistant: Robert McLaughLin
Art Direction: Martin Sutcliffe
Art Direction: Jane Dowell
Art Direction: Dan Hennah
Make-Up: Briony Hurden
Studio Assistant: Iain McClean
Editor: Ken Sparks
On-Line Editor: John Bungey
Sound Mix: Craig Perry
Graphics: Steve Ellis
Music: Maui Dalvanius Prime
Production Co-Ordinator: Carole Nicholson

Covers the various stages and achievements in the life of iconic New Zealander Carmen Rupe.

Includes: Childhood in Taumarunui; compulsory military training at Papakura; Life in Auckland as a male nurse, and the awakening of sexual identity. After becoming more experienced in performance, moved to Sydney where they could further expand stage talents. After being arrested (then acquitted) for wearing women’s clothes in public, they never wore men’s clothes again and in 1968 changed their name by deed poll to Carmen and from then on lived as a woman. Carmen opened a cafe on Vivian St, Wellington called “Carmen’s International Coffee Lounge”. In 1977 Carmen stood for the Wellington Mayoralty. After moving to Kings Cross in Sydney for higher paid entertainment work, Carmen ended up staying nearly ten years.

Neil Gudsell (Mika) illustrates key moments in Carmen's life.

Also includes interviews with various friends and associates including sister Tess Hemapo; Phil Warren, Auckland promoter; pianist Billy Farnell; strip club owner Rainton Hastie; artist Graham Smith; talk show host Brian Edwards; Carmen campaign organiser 1977 Sir Robert Jones; ‘Balcony’ announcer Rosa Paterson.