Signing Off (1997)

Director:

Robert Sarkies

Writer:

Robert Sarkies

Genre:

Comedy | Short

Plot:

It's the late 1950s, and the DJ of a nostalgic radio program, out-of-date in the time of the Beatles...

Plot Keywords:

Radio | Radio DJ | Record | Fired From The Job | Sewer

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

David Corballis	...	Walter Perryman
Pamela Pow	...	Joyce Hatfield
Paul Barrett	...	Station Manager
Hilary Norris	...	Secretary
Miriam Geard	...	Manager's Cleaner
Harvey Uiti	...	Truck Driver
Reg Graham	...	Mr. Perryman's Hands
Peter Carter	...	Station Worker
Michelle Chalklin	...	Station Worker
Bill Finlayson	...	Station Worker
Charlie Gilligan	...	Station Worker
Richard Huber	...	Station Worker
Dion Kelly	...	Station Worker
Ernie Mason	...	Station Worker
Scotty McTaggart	...	Station Worker
Buffy	...	Buffy la dogue
Buffy	...	Buffy la dogue

Directed by
Robert Sarkies

Writing credits
Robert Sarkies

Produced by
Lisa Chatfield	....	producer
Ian Taylor	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Bruce Lynch

Cinematography by
Stephen Downes		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Slash Sarkies

Production Design by
Gaylene Barnes

Makeup Department
Ali McDaniel	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Hilary Halba	....	production manager

Art Department
Sam Auger	....	construction
Peter Carter	....	construction
Paul Potiki	....	storyboard artist
Philip Siataga	....	art department assistant
Danny Still	....	art department assistant
Harvey Uiti	....	art department assistant

Sound Department
John Boswell	....	sound mixer
Laura Gartner	....	boom swinger
Chris Hiles	....	sound recordist
Rudy Hueting	....	tracklayer

Special Effects by
Dion Kelly	....	miniatures
Dion Kelly	....	special effects
Paul Potiki	....	miniatures
Paul Potiki	....	special effects
Mark Willis	....	prosthetics
Deborah Wyatt	....	prosthetics

Stunts
Mark Angelo	....	stunt coordinator (as Marc Angelo)
Awatea Edwin	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
William Donegan	....	first assistant camera
Ben Doudney	....	assistant camera
Ben Doudney	....	second camera operator
Bruce Dunn	....	additional photographer
Nic Fay	....	assistant camera
Jack Gibbs	....	crane operator
David Holtz	....	electrician
Stephen Kilroy	....	gaffer
Simon McKinney	....	best boy
Simon McKinney	....	grip assistant
Steve Meacham	....	grip
Mark Shephard	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Samuel Keen	....	wardrobe
Grant Mahy	....	wardrobe effects

Music Department
Dimitri Atanassov	....	musician: violin
Neville Grenfell	....	musician: trumpet
Robert Issell	....	musician: violin
Paul Kentell	....	musician: saxophone
Wen-Chuan Lin	....	musician: viola
Bruce Lynch	....	music arranger
Bruce Lynch	....	music programmer
Graeme Myhre	....	music engineer
Tom Pierard	....	musician: cello

Other crew
Laura Gartner	....	continuity
Steve Greenwood	....	advisor: time lapse photography
Sharon Lippert	....	continuity
Dave Matthews	....	animal trainer
Peter McQuarters	....	historical advisor
Sheryl Neill	....	caterer

Thanks
Glynn Babington	....	thanks
Norman Bates	....	thanks
James Best	....	thanks
Pete Bradshaw	....	thanks
Greg Burt	....	thanks
Russell Campbell	....	thanks
Suzanne Carswell	....	thanks
Pat Corballis	....	thanks
Trevor Deaker	....	thanks
Scott Donaldson	....	thanks
Lloyd Edwards	....	thanks
Steve Ferguson	....	thanks
Barry Gibson	....	thanks
Charlie Gilligan	....	thanks
Noelene Te Raki Hill	....	thanks
Ron Johnston	....	thanks
Fionulla Kelly	....	thanks
Val LaHood	....	thanks
Gaynor McNaught	....	thanks
Greg Paterson	....	thanks
Ron Reed	....	thanks
Edward Sakowski	....	thanks
Sam	....	thanks (as Sam & Scott)
Scott	....	thanks (as Sam & Scott)
Hamish Scott	....	thanks
Brendan Shadbolt	....	thanks (as Brendon Shadbolt)
Bob Shepherd	....	thanks
Miro Wakefield	....	thanks
Bill White	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Nightmare Film Productions

Distributors

• Der KurzFilmVerleih (Austria)
• Der KurzFilmVerleih (Germany)
• Der KurzFilmVerleih (Switzerland)
• First Run Features (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Airdate Productions  thanks (as Airdate)
• Alex Campbell Menswear  thanks
• Allied Press Ltd.  thanks: Julian & Ray (as Allied Press)
• Animation Research Ltd.  thanks
• Ansett Couriers  thanks: Ken
• Ansett New Zealand  thanks
• Bill Nichol Photography Ltd.  thanks (as Bill Nichol Photography)
• Car Haulaways Ltd.  thanks (as Car Haulaways)
• Cargills Hotel  accommodation kindly provided by
• Citiworks Ltd.  thanks: Ben (as Citiworks)
• Container Sales & Leasing Ltd.  thanks: Glen (as Container Sales & Leasing)
• Creative New Zealand  made with the assistance of
• DCC Parking Division  thanks: Trevor
• DHL Couriers  thanks
• Donaghys  thanks
• Dunedin City Council  with support from
• Dunedin RSA  thanks
• Dunedin Repertory Society  thanks (as Dunedin Repertory Soc.)
• Envisage  thanks: Simon Topham
• Esquire Suit Hire  thanks
• Fisken and Associates  thanks
• Forklift Rental & Sales  sponsoring: Lindsay & Chris
• Forsyth Barr Ltd.  sponsoring
• Franklins at Big Fresh  food donated by
• Go Post Production  thanks
• Harveys Cooper and Co.  thanks
• Images Post  thanks (as Images Post)
• Isambard Productions Ltd.  thanks (as Isambard Productions)
• Johnston Productions  thanks
• Kodak New Zealand  sponsoring
• Local Action  sponsoring: Brett & Pete
• Marshall Seifert Gallery  thanks
• Metropolis Cinema  thanks
• Miller Studios  thanks
• Moana Pool Waterslides  thanks
• Motion Pictures  thanks
• NZ Studio & Cinema Heritage  antique radio equipment supplied by
• NZ Towel Service  thanks
• Naturopathy Clinic  thanks
• Naylor Love  thanks: Peter Findlay
• New Zealand Film Commission  made with the assistance of
• New Zealand On Air  made with the assistance of
• Off the Hook Interiors  thanks
• Order of St. John  thanks
• Otago Boys High School  thanks
• Otago Demolition  thanks
• Otago Office Furniture  thanks
• Otago Scuba Club  thanks
• Otago Settlers Museum  thanks
• Otago Theatre Trust  thanks
• Palms Cafe  thanks
• Past Times Antiques  thanks
• Port Hills Productions  thanks
• R & R Sports  thanks
• Radio NZ Engineering  thanks
• Smith Saw & Mower  thanks
• Sound Archives Radio NZ  archival audio provided by
• South Island Farm Equipment  thanks (as South Island Farm Equip)
• Sprosen Motors  caravan provided by
• St. Clair Saltwater Pool  thanks
• St. James Theatre  thanks: David
• St. Kilda Fire Department  thanks (as St. Kilda Fire Dept.)
• Stewarts Coffee House  thanks
• TAB Dunedin  thanks
• TVNZ Natural History Unit  sponsoring: Michael, John, Heather & DK
• Taylormade Productions  sponsoring: Ian, Liz, Graham, Annette & Mark
• The Carpet Shop  thanks
• The Dunedin Academy  catering
• The Film Unit  sponsoring: Gerald, Lynn, Sue & John
• The People of Dunedin  with support from
• The Video Factory Ltd.  thanks (as The Video Factory)
• United Scaffolding  sponsoring: Bill, Wayne, Parry & Ben
• University of Otago Department of Laboratory Animal Sciences  thanks (as University of Otago Dept. of Laboratory Animal Sciences)
• Upper Deck Film Services  thanks: Jay (as Upper Deck)
• Webb Farry  thanks
• Willis Corroon Ltd.  thanks (as Willis Corroon)
• Winston Darling United Travel  air travel sponsored by
• Wormald  thanks

Runtime:

Germany:15 min

Country:

New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Nightmare Film Productions

Trivia:

This short film is presented as an extra on the First Run Features DVD of Cane Toads - An Unnatural History (1987).

Soundtrack:

Cheek to Cheek

Awesome, go get this short.

This short is available on some copies of Forgotten Silver, directed by Peter Jackson. (I dont know if they all come with it or not.) Don't heed the dolt that claims this movie too long. It's only maybe 15 minutes and is one of the most humorous shorts that I have seen. Made in New Zealand, this film has a sense of humor to it that few american films have. But Should. It should also be said that Forgotten Silver, the mockumentary by Jackson, is worth seeking out as well. It's a classic.