About Feeney McSweeney - FMS

FMS & Peter Feeney

Peter Feeney formed Feeney McSweeney Productions in 2003. Silent partner Connor McSweeney provided the second part of the name as well as ongoing moral and practical support (good advice and cheap beer). Initially our focus was theatrical but Peter and FMS are now making the transition to film production. We hope to bring the play Milo's Wake to life in 2013 with a completion budget in the range of NZ$1mill (including contra), funded from private and public sources.

Theatre

The founding concept was that our theatre productions would be high quality, accessible, cheaply priced, and presented in traditional meeting places - the old Shakespearean Inns of Court idea. We wanted to attract people who have never been near a theatre, as well as theatre types. We see each show as an event, where we strive for strong connections and involvement with our audience, and present stories that have relevance to the challenges and realities of contemporary life.

Our theatrical productions to date are MILO'S WAKE and A NIGHT WITH BEAU TYLER. In MILO'S WAKE the audience are invited guests at the wake; in A NIGHT WITH BEAU TYLER they are attending a motivational seminar. Theatre's traditional fourth wall allows us to be private in public, important in a society that is losing it's sense of privacy. But in an age where film and television does this so well, and audiences are very much aware of this, acknowledging the audience unlocks another powerful device that only theatre possesses - immediacy.

In rehearsal we seek to create an ensemble: the intelligence of the whole group is brought to the work, and the full contribution of each individual is respected and encouraged. We look at our stories as guide books to living. We want to communicate important ideas, thoughts and feelings that will be useful in peoples' lives. Such ideas can be read and taught - but have a powerful revelation as shared experience.

Having a family is proving a present happy distraction to theatre and film endevours. When I emerge soon to develop further work, including, I hope, eventually, film, I hope to carry these and other guiding ideas with me: the primacy of process, clear vision, a notion of service, and a strict eye to quality of outcome.

Peter Feeney

Vision

Feeney McSweeney was formed for the purpose of staging MILO’S WAKE. Peter Feeney's A NIGHT WITH BEAU TYLER continues to attract bookings nationwide (see Theatre page). Producers and Festivals have expressed an interest in hosting MILO’S WAKE for a second New Zealand tour, and we hope this may extend overseas also (given that Milo's Wake is my ultimate retirement play, there's no rush - PF). In 2009 the focus was on developing new material and out of this has emerged a film draft of MILO'S WAKE which was accepted to the 2010 NZFC First Writer's Workshop in Wellington. In 2011 Peter completed his TV treatments 8 Days, and in 2012 I hope to (FINALLY!) complete my second book, MOON WATCHER.

The FMS Team

PETER FEENEY

Director - FMS and Milo's Wake

In a professional acting career beginning in 1993, Peter has worked with luminaries such as Cicely Berry (Royal Shakespeare Company, London), Robert Benedetti (US Film producer and theatre Director), and Dean Carey (ACA, Sydney). He has used the Mike Leigh character method in film rehearsals with Rob Marchant (a Sydney Film Director).

Peter Feeney has worked extensively in television, film and theatre, including at Fortune, Court and Circa theatres in New Zealand, and The Queensland Theatre Company in Australia. His television credits include: Cold Feet & ark Knight (UK), You Wish, Hercules, Xena, The Legend of the Seeker (US); All Saints, A Difficult Woman, Stingers (Aust); Secret Agent Men, Rude Awakenings, AEF and This is not your Life (NZ); as well as the films Black Sheep, Toy Love & The Platform (NZ) and 30 Days of Night (US). He was a Nominee for Best Actor at the 2003 NZ Film Awards.

Since 2001 Peter has taught actors and he runs regular acting workshops in Australia and New Zealand. He has also taught at Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School. In 2003 Peter directed the short film Restoration for the Sydney Tropfest. In 2005/6 he cast the TVNZ television series The Amazing Extraordinary Friends. He is a published author of a novel (Blind Bitter Happiness – Harper Collins) and short stories (Boys’ own stories – Tandem) as well as the screen play ‘Love for Life’. He is developing the highly successful play Milo’s Wake as a film, and currently working on his second book.

Bachelor of Arts, 1st Class Honours, University of Melbourne, 1991/ Diploma in Drama, University of Auckland, 1993/ Nominee Best Actor 2003 NZ Film Awards.

GREG COOPER

Director - A Night w/ Beau Tyler

Greg started his professional theatre career 16 years ago with The Court Theatre in Christchurch. He’s represented Christchurch in two national theatresports competitions and New Zealand in festivals in London, Berlin, Montreal, Amsterdam, and the World Championships in Los Angeles, where he was a member of the winning team in 1995. He has performed in and written eight children’s plays that have been produced at The Court and Downstage Theatre in Wellington. He also co-wrote and performed in The Complete History of New Zealand (Abridged) with Mark Hadlow which toured the country and had a successful season at The Herald Theatre in Auckland last year.

Greg moved to Auckland six years ago and has kept busy with performing, directing, voice-over work, corporate entertainment and writing. Highlights of his time in Auckland have been playing a pot smoking motorcyclist on Shortland Street and Heroic Fawn Number One in the Disney film The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

NICOLA DUFTY

Art Director/ Producer

Nicola brings a wealth of design and management experience to her role in this production. She has been a graphic designer for over 12 years, working for leading publications both in New Zealand and overseas. In recent years she has managed a design team of five, responsible for setting and meeting budgets, recruiting and managing staff, meeting strict deadlines, ensuring high quality results and supervising and guiding the look of several leading New Zealand lifestyle magazines. As well as the day to day operation Nicola will be in charge of designing the ‘look’ of the show as well as poster/ flyer layout.

Currently Nicola is on leave from her position as Creative Director of New Zealand House & Garden magazine at Fairfax Media. She produced the 2007 season of A Night with Beau Tyler.

JIM MCLARTY

Director - Milo's Wake/ Accent Coach - A Night with Beau Tyler

Canadian born and trained, now one of New Zealand’s most experienced actors, with a strong background in improvisation both here and abroad, Jim brings a wealth of experience and practical knowledge of live work with audiences to the production.

With more than 30 years’ industry experience, Jim’s credits include roles in international films such as King Kong, Raising Waylon, The Frighteners and Meatballs; and numerous TV shows such as The Amazing Extraordinary Friends, Power Rangers, Marlin Bay and 21 Jump Street. His extensive theatre experience includes regular appearances with the ATC. He was co-director on Milo’s Wake.

ROGER BANAAN

Wilson Partners Limited

CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

Roger has been a Chartered Accountant for the last 18 years. He has been Advisory Trustee/Accountant for the Grey Lynn Festival Trust for the last four years (which received grants from Auckland City, the Lion Foundation and the ASB Charitable Trust). He was Accountant for Milo’s Wake 2005 and is happy to continue in this role in 2006.