Bragging about Beached Az

It's the "little whale that could" - now an internationally renowned online phenomenon. And despite those choice New Zealand accents, it was created by three Sydney lads: Nick Boshier (Bosh), Anthony MacFarlane (Macca) and Jarod Green (J-Rad).

Somehow it's ended up as a TV series on ABC - and along the way the boys enlisted scriptwriting advice from John Clarke (The Games), and reject the voice talents of authentic New Zealander Sam Neill. The Brag's Alice Tynan caught up with two of the bros, to see where moments of genius inspiration really come from...

How did you three end up Beached Az?



J-Rad: Bosh, Macca and I have been laughing at each other's surreal sense of humour for years, and have been fortunate enough to be born in an age where we can share our ideas easily across social networks. Ten years ago we'd probably have to have formed a travelling "Beached Az Puppet Show" and pedal it around to 5 million people. I doubt it would have been as successful, especially given Bosh has red hair which I think was considered a form of witchcraft back then.



Your physical preparation for the role looked fairly arduous, but how did you find your New Zealanderian accent?


Bosh: I was inspired by Turanui's famous line when he got pulled up for a head high tackle.... and I [mis]quote, "c'mon ref, we're not playing tuddly wunks here." The fact that Turanui looks much like Satan and/or The Predator but said something almost...lovely, calm and justified given the heat of the situation it made me really appreciate the softness of the NZ accent verses how big and mean they can look.



How do you feel about collaborating with John Clarke, but rendering Sam Neill unemployed?

J: John Clarke really helped guide this production in a fatherly, supportive and non-royalty-deserving way, and for that we're extremely grateful (emotionally and financially). 


B: The thing is, Sam Neill has a winery to fall back on....you know? So I don't actually feel that bad about the fact that Sam is now unemployed....nay.....unemployable (at least as a Kiwi-whale voice over actor).

Can we please have more spelling lessons from the Tartan Turtles?

J: The Tartan Turtles will return... We have a taste for sequels now!



Any buckets, hoses or chips surface in the new series?

J: Yes, the long-spoken-of bucket finally makes an appearance, and there's a few new catchy phrases in there that will make you giggle.

And if people have no earthly idea what we’re talking about here?

J: We're talking about Beached Az - the online film viewed 4.9 million times by Mum now an eleven-part TV series on ABC.

What: Beached Az, Series One
When: debuts Thursday September 10 at 9:25pm
Where: on ABC2
More: abc.net.au/beachedaz


This interview was published in The Brag.

****UPDATE - NOOOOO WAAAAYYYY!! The new Beached Az episode is available to view online. All eps will be on the web as they are screened on the ABC.