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Having bar stools in your home is important because they are functional and help to create a more relaxed atmosphere. The problem is that there are many types of stools to choose from and it can be confusing to decide which one is best for you. Here are some tips to help you find the right bar stools NZ for your home.
Backless

Adding backless bar stools to your home can add a touch of style and convenience. Not only are they great for the kitchen island, but they also provide extra seating for guests. They can be stacked vertically or placed under the counter when not in use.

Backless bar stools are popular in a variety of styles. You can choose a classic wood look, or you can find all-metal versions for a trendy look. Backless stools are also available in a variety of cool colors. If you’re looking for a pop of color, consider acrylic options. Acrylic is perfect for small spaces and gives the illusion of continuity.

Modern backless bar stools look great against a bar or island and are designed to be stackable. They’re also great for high traffic areas. They are also available in a variety of materials, including wood and vinyl.
Armless

Whether you have a home bar or a pub, you are probably in the market for a new piece of furniture. The armless bar stool is a great option for your dining area and offers a sleek and stylish look that is a nice complement to your existing decor. A quality armless bar stool is a surefire way to impress your guests. They can be found in a wide variety of styles, colors and materials. A great place to start is CB2’s catalogue, which features a large selection of modern armless bar stools. Unlike traditional bar stools, these stools boast a sturdy construction and are made of solid wood. They can be found in a variety of colors, ensuring that you can find a style that matches the rest of your home decor.
Step stools

Having step stools for barstools in New Zealand is not only functional but can also help you improve the look of your home. A step stool is designed to help you reach difficult items like high cupboards or light bulbs. Generally, they are foldable and can be whipped out when needed.

A step stool should also have a non-slip treaded surface to prevent slipping. It should also have angled rubber leg tips to help keep you stable. In addition, it should also have a slick design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

While there is no doubt that a step stool can help you, it is important to make sure that you pick the best one for your needs. The most important thing to consider is safety. Make sure that the locking mechanisms are secure, that there are no tripping hazards and that the stool is safe to use in your home.
Cheap options

Using bar stools in the kitchen is not uncommon, and they are great for quick meals or a glass of wine in the evening. The trick is finding the right ones. There are some great options out there. These include teak wood stools, leather bar stools, and perhaps most importantly, leather bar stools that fit in with your decor.

A good quality timber bar stool may be a tad pricey, but it’s worth the asking price. They are also made to last. The teak wood bar stool has some nice features, including a footrest, a curved seat, and a natural distressed finish. It’s also the sexiest of all the bar stools I’ve seen.

The best way to go about finding bar stools for your home is to visit a furniture retailer or two and take a look around. They have a huge selection, and can advise you on the best options for your home.
Height considerations

Whether you are building your own bar or just buying new stools for your home, it’s important to understand the height considerations for bar stools in New Zealand. Getting the right height is essential for comfort, and can also help you determine the placement of your barstools.

The typical height of a bar stool is between 28 to 33 inches, but they can be shorter or taller. This depends on the shell size, and the space you have to work with.

The seat width of a bar stool should be considered, too. A stool with a wider seat can be more comfortable. On the other hand, a stool with a narrower seat may take up more space. Also, consider the number of stools you have in the room.

Whether you are looking to have a cleanout in your office or home, or you need a skip bin for your next building project, hiring a cheap skip bin service can help you get the job done quickly. However, it is important to understand that the price you pay for a skip bin service can vary depending on the type of skip bin you need and the location you need it delivered to. In addition, you should be aware of the health and safety risks associated with hiring a skip bin.
Mini skip bins

Getting a skip bin may seem like the easiest way to get rid of your waste. However, there are a few things you should know before taking the plunge.

You’ll want to make sure that you order the right size bin for your job. Having the wrong size may mean you end up paying for extra space.

In addition to the size of the bin, you’ll want to make sure you load it in a safe and convenient manner. Loading skip bins in the back of a truck is not a safe option. It can be tempting to let the truck do the work for you, but this isn’t a great idea.

The right size skip bin can also help you save money. If you’re only throwing away a few items, you might want to opt for a mini skip bin instead. They’re smaller than the standard size bins, but can hold a ton more rubbish. They also happen to be the cheapest way to get rid of your junk.

The mini skip bin may not be for everyone, but it is a great way to get rid of your rubbish. You can even use it to take your garden waste!
Health and safety risks

Using a cheap skip bin can save you money, but it can also pose health and safety risks. Some cheap companies may not have the proper procedures in place, or may damage your property. You may also end up with a dirty skip bin, which can result in contaminated waste.

When it comes to a waste disposal process, it should be simple and convenient. You should never overload a skip, as it could lead to a serious accident on the road.

You should also be aware of the size of your skip. If you fill a bin that is too large, you could incur extra charges. You may also have to hire another bin to store the excess waste.

The best way to dispose of waste is to hire a bin from a reputable company. Make sure you do your research before choosing a company. If the company has a solid reputation, you will feel confident in your decision. Read customer reviews, and you should be able to get an idea of the quality of their service.

Using a cheap skip bin can help you get rid of waste fast. It may also improve your business’s efficiency. However, cheap skip bin companies may not have proper procedures in place, or may damage your rental property.
Environmental impact

Using cheap skip bin hire in Auckland can be a cost-effective solution for removing household waste. They can also be an efficient way to recycle a substantial amount of waste. However, there are some things to keep in mind when using these services.

First, it is important to know what kind of waste you want to put in the skip. Some skips are only suitable for certain types of waste. For example, if you want to recycle a lot of cardboard, you will need a closed top skip. On the other hand, if you have a lot of mixed rubbish, a nine-metre skip will be more suitable.

The size of the skip also affects how much waste can be disposed of. For example, a two-metre skip is suitable for a small amount of rubbish. But if you have a lot of household waste, you will need to hire a larger skip. This could result in additional charges.

Secondly, the size of the skip can impact on your driveway or car park. Skip bins can also block loading zones. Lastly, the process of loading the skip can be risky. You may end up throwing a lot of rubbish, or hurting yourself by lifting the skip.

 

A roof is a critical part of any dwelling, whether on an urban farmhouse in Upstate New York or anywhere else in the world. Even if you’re searching for roofing companies in Auckland, be certain to seek those which are licensed Builders specialists as otherwise they’ll be those that are experienced and have a proven track record of providing roofing solutions to residential customers and commercial customers alike. After all, no matter what type of building you’re having a built, your roof is integral to the whole structure and it’s an investment that needs to be treated with care and respect.

There are several different types of materials used for roofs, and if one particular option isn’t right for you then you may want to try another. In the case of your new roofing companies Auckland services, they can help you pick out the material that’s best for you, the location where you’d like it installed, and the kind of installation that work best for your home. Not all roofing companies Auckland offers all these options, but many do. The best way to find out if the one you’re considering offers them is to ask.

The kind of roofing companies Auckland can provide is extensive. For example, some of them also provide on-site roof repair Auckland services, which are significantly more comprehensive than just about any other method. Typical on-site roof repair can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on the extent of the damage. The good news is that the costs aren’t prohibitive. The bad news is that, while such work may be less expensive initially, if there are long-term problems with your roof (like leaks or weak boards) then you might end up spending more than you’d expect. You can avoid this by opting for roof replacement, but you have to be certain that the replacement company uses modern, high-quality workmanship.

If you’re looking to find a professional roofing specialists in Auckland, there are a few key points you should keep in mind. For one, you need to make sure the company you’re working with has plenty of experience dealing with the type of roof you need to have installed. In particular, if you’re replacing an existing roof, you should always choose a company that has had extensive experience with the types of buildings that usually have the same problem. If it’s an entirely new home roof, you should find a professional roofing specialists in Auckland that’s worked on similar projects in the past. Ask a lot of questions and check out references and recommendations before hiring a company to complete a large project, because you don’t want to end up hiring someone who may not be as experienced as you’d hoped.

As you might expect, the cost is going to be a major factor in your decision process when it comes to finding professional roofing companies in Auckland. Fortunately, commercial roofing services in Auckland aren’t all that expensive when compared with services in other parts of New Zealand. You should set aside enough time to talk to several roofing companies so that you can get estimates and compare them with each other. Keep in mind that some roofing companies charge per hour, while others charge per square foot. This can make a huge difference in your final costs, so it’s important to do your research and figure out the price range you can afford before contacting different roofing services.

In terms of quality, it’s always wise to go with a company that offers guarantees or warranties with their residential roof installations. After all, even the best-performing roof systems will wear out eventually, and you want to know that if something does happen to them that they’ll be able to give you a decent repair job. Even better, if you’re able to have major damages repaired, the roof installation company should guarantee a full refund for any roof replacement work performed. You shouldn’t have to pay more than half of the total cost of your new roof, even if the roof installations in your home are the reason behind the purchase in the first place. For example, if you paid $1000 for your property because you believe it will need extensive work after only three years, you shouldn’t have to pay more than fifty percent of the roof installation price.

If you already have a brand new home that you’d like to have repaired or replaced, you can count on roofing companies in Auckland to offer you a competitive estimate. As previously mentioned, there’s no need to pay more than half of the total cost to get a roof installation that lasts at least twenty years, so if you’re planning on having your roof replaced within that timeframe, contact a company that offers competitive prices. It’s also a good idea to find a reputable company that uses environmentally safe, recycled roofing materials, as well as products with no volatile organic compounds (VOC) or lead in their products.

Whether you’re in the process of building your new home or simply looking to make minor roof repairs, it’s smart to hire a roofing specialists in Auckland to perform the job for you. It’s always best to start out small, especially when it comes to something as important as your home’s roofing protection, so contacting roofing service providers in Auckland is a smart decision that can save you a lot of money in the future. Even if you don’t need your roof replaced immediately, you should make an appointment for a consultation so that your roofing professionals in Auckland can give you an estimate of what the job will cost. In this way, you’ll be able to decide whether or not it’s a cost-effective idea to pay a professional to do the job instead of doing it yourself.

 

Linux is one of the most popular operating systems that is used to power computers around the world. There are thousands of people who use this system every day. Choosing the best Linux Mail Server can be quite difficult at times because there are so many options available to you. So, here, I am going to share with you some of the best tips that you should consider while choosing a mail server.

The first thing that you have to do before choosing the best Linux email server is to see whether you want to send emails from your email account or not. Many people choose to use this system just for the purpose of sending emails from their email account. However, you can also use this system if you want to send and receive emails from your computer as well as from a different computer. There are plenty of emails accounts that you can choose from and all you have to do is select the one that suits your needs.

After you have determined the reason why you need to use this server, the next thing that you have to do is to check out the features that are available. There are many people who use this system just for the purpose of sending and receiving emails. However, you can also use it if you want to send and receive emails from your computer as well as from another computer. There are lots of different servers that you can select from and hence, stay with me to learn more about the best Linux mail server.

Some of the best Linux email services are Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail and a lot more. Each one of them has hundreds of millions of users and they have been running for many years now. However, each one of them has their own strengths and weaknesses. So, if you want to use one of them, here are some of the reasons why you should select one of them.

Gmail is one of the best Linux email servers available today. This is mainly because Gmail uses its own mail services. This means that you will not be sharing your emails with any other third party. The great thing about Gmail is that it comes with its own webmail interface, which is very user friendly. The best Linux email service will allow you to access all your email accounts from your own computer.

Yahoo! Answers is another great program that you can use for accessing your account. Yahoo! Answers have been around for a long time and it still continues to provide people with useful information that they can use for helping their Yahoo! Business.

There are several different types of Linux mail servers that you can choose from such as POP3(SMTP) and IMAP. POP3(SMTP) allows the reception and delivery of mail from local addresses and servers; however, it does not allow you to check your email online. IMAP(IMAP) has more advantages over POP3(SMTP), in the sense that IMAP allows you to check your email online whenever you like and there are no restrictions on accessing it besides the amount of allowed IMAP mail messages that you can have at any given moment. POP3(SMTP) restricts POP3(SMTP) access and blocks any other mail server that might want to read it.

The best Linux server software should be able to support all three protocols mentioned above. You should be able to configure all three protocols to have the highest level of security and efficiency. Linux is a highly advanced platform and any piece of server software that you use for this platform should be highly flexible to work with various protocols at the same time. It should also be designed to support and use a wide range of operating systems including Red Hat, SuSe, Novell, Mandriva, Fedora and others.

 

People who have purchased the iPad, usually expect it to be able to be repaired at some point. Most people who have purchased this device also own a warranty, which usually covers defects in materials or workmanship for a specific period of time. If your iPad breaks down and needs repair, you need to make sure you find a reliable company to help you fix it. In general, you can fix most iPad problems on your own. But you should remember that you should not fix the iPad until you have first tested the device thoroughly and been approved by the manufacturer.

You need to find an experienced iPad repair shop that offers both new and return items. Finding someone with experience and who is also a licensed service provider is important. A faulty device will require different kinds of repairs than a working one. The type of issue determines the kind of services needed.

If you are looking to replace the screen and have an insured place to send it to, your problem should be fairly easy to fix. If the damage is due to water exposure, you should send the device to an established iPad repair store. The store will take care of all the necessary paperwork so that your replacement device can be sent to you quickly.

Some iPad repairs can be done at home. If you have an unlocked tablet and you have the technical skills needed to put it together, you can probably fix it yourself. It is possible that the battery replacement that you need can be done with the skills you already have, but you will need to get additional parts. For example, most users need new batteries for their tablet in order to fully charge it.

Same-day repairs are typically carried out by technicians. However, there are other technicians who can work on an expedited basis, so that you can get your replacement device back as quickly as possible. Some iPad repair services offer same-day repairs as well as next-day ones. Make sure that you choose one that offers this kind of service.

Even if your broken device is too complicated for you to fix on your own, you can still send it to an iPad repairs expert. There are many uBreakifix specialists who offer this same kind of service. When you have an iPad that has broken down, uBreakifix is the only company that has the skills and the equipment to fix it for you.

If you have an older version of the iPad and you are not able to find a repair specialist in your area, you can have your iPad repaired by companies that sell iPads. You should know that these companies do not provide any technical support. However, they can perform a wide range of different iPad repairs, including screen replacement and broken touch screen issues. If you need your tablet returned to you within a reasonable amount of time, or if you simply want a new one, these iPad repair services might be the right choice for you.

If you have a cracked screen but you don’t need anything else replaced, you can have your screen repaired by companies that specialize in iPad screens. These companies have the tools and the expertise necessary to repair even the most severe cracked screen. They can also replace your broken digitizer cover. If you want your iPad repaired to keep it running as well as possible, you should contact one of these companies. You can schedule either a one-time or a recurring repair with this kind of service.

 

What is Auckland local search engine optimization? It is the process of optimizing websites for the search engines, so that they rank highly in the results pages of the search engines like Yahoo and Google. The process of optimizing sites for the search engines works by following certain guidelines. These guidelines can be quite simple, but it is important that businesses take note of them since ignoring them could lead to failure at the very end.

First of all, it is important that your site is listed in all the major directories. These directories are the places where your business is likely to show up when a person searches for local services or products in your area. Some of the popular directories include Yahoo Local and Super Pages. Once your site has been listed in these directories, it is important that you optimize your site to make sure that it shows up when someone searches for your type of service or product. You should make sure that your content is informative and relevant.

It is also important that your site appears at the top of the first page of the results. This is especially important if you are doing this for a small business. A business with a low profile is likely to be buried by businesses with more visibility. A simple solution to this problem is to list your business on the homepage of a directory. If you do not have a webpage, you may use the directory listings.

Another aspect of optimization deals with meta tags and keywords. You should also try to keep your meta tags and keywords relevant. For example, if you sell construction equipment, then you should not put the word ‘construction’ in the meta tag. Instead, you should write something like ‘best buys construction equipments.’ It is a good idea to read what the search engines look for and to make sure that you follow their rules.

There are some things that the search engines will consider when rating your site. One is the page rank. The higher the page rank, the more authority your site has, and the more likely it is to appear on the first page. The higher the page rank, the more visitors you will attract.

If you get a decent amount of traffic, then it is likely that your website will rank high within the search engine result pages. If not, then you will have to work harder to improve your page rank. A lot of people believe that once their site has been ranked high within the search engines, they will have a good amount of traffic.

However, this is not the case. To start with, if you want to attract local search engine optimization traffic, then you need to make sure that you have content that is relevant to the area in which you are targeting. It is important that you understand the demographics of the community, and this includes their buying habits. If you understand these, then you will be able to make better decisions regarding your marketing campaigns, and they will be more likely to click on your links.

Some of the other things that should be considered for local search engine optimization include the use of keywords, and back linking. Keywords are very important for SEO, because these give the search engines an idea about what the page is about. Back links, however, are also essential. These back links are sites that link directly back to your website and are therefore ranked highly as well.

 

Coffee capsules NZ is a new product that promises to help people who drink coffee in the morning but are unable to have a regular “bean to cup” breakfast. These capsules have been carefully designed for both convenience and effectiveness. They are made of a special type of capsule that has a lower level of caffeine than other brands of coffee capsule available on the market. Caffeine levels in coffee capsules NZ vary according to the brand you buy, so shop around and read the label closely. Some brands of coffee capsule NZ have significantly higher levels of caffeine than others.

In general most brands will contain anywhere from two to twenty milligrams of caffeine per one-ounce packets of powder. The amount of caffeine contained in the product will vary, depending on the brand you choose, but the average should not be more than twenty milligrams. Since caffeine is known to help promote alertness, and increase your metabolism, it is important to be sure that you are not overdosing on coffee when taking this product. Each brand will list the amount of caffeine contained in their coffee capsule NZ, so be sure to check before purchasing.

If you do not like the idea of consuming too much caffeine, or do not feel like counting grams of caffeine off a package, you can purchase coffee capsule NZ with a decaffeinated ingredient. Many popular brands of coffee capsule NZ will offer this option. Just because it is listed does not mean that it has less caffeine; it may still contain some caffeine, just less of it. This can be a good option if you are sensitive to caffeine and still want the benefits of the product. Decaf coffee capsules are also available, which can provide the same benefits as a regular coffee capsule. Just make sure you read the ingredient label to be sure you are not buying something with a high level of caffeine.

While there are many brands of coffee capsules NZ on the market, Gavina is one of the most popular. They offer both regular and decaf coffee capsules in their product line and also offer juices, teas, and other gourmet coffee and tea products. Gavina is known for offering great products that are good for your body, and most people are happy with their decision. They are also an FDA approved company, so they are reliable.

If you prefer capsules rather than cups of coffee, Keffe Hag Foodcubes is a brand that you may want to try. It offers both regular and decaf coffee capsules, and they have several delicious options. You can get chocolate truffles with the regular coffee capsules, and if you want to be adventurous, you can mix them up with different flavors. You can even get fruit flavored coffee capsules! The best thing about this brand is that it is gluten free, so it is safe for everyone to give to their loved ones.

When it comes to coffee capsules NZ, K-Cup Specialty Coffee is the brand you want to look at. You can find them in various coffees, including hazelnut, espresso, and more. This company offers several different kinds of coffee capsule mixes, so if you need something with a little extra kick, they will have it. They are made from all natural ingredients, so they are good for you and your body.

Last but not least on the list of coffee capsules NZ is Platinum Java. This brand offers several different types of coffee capsule mixes, including health drink blend capsules. You can also find hot chocolate and cappuccino capsules from this brand as well. They offer fair trade and organic coffees, so you know that what you are getting is good for you. The price of the coffee capsules NZ you find here should be well worth the quality, and you will probably enjoy every minute of them!

No matter which brand of coffee capsule NZ you decide on, make sure that you read the ingredients carefully. Many of these capsules have a lot of added sugar and other unhealthy compounds. In order to get the most out of your purchase, you want to focus on finding products that use only the healthiest ingredients possible. Fortunately, the internet is a great place to start. Start searching around and you should be able to find the coffee capsule NZ you have been looking for.

A few years ago now we sat down with Ciaran McMeeken, and young songwriter making his way in a market saturated with computers and beeps and boops, committed to his craft, McMeeken has now come out the other end of a debut self-titled album released just today. We decided it was a good time to sit down with the man and talk about all things music, travel, life,  and more music.

Hey Ciaran, it’s been a couple of years since we last spoke, I remember you had just released a couple of singles then, how have the past couple of years been for you?

The last few years have been incredible. Lot’s of collaborating and co-writing with a vast array of different artists and songwriters. A lot of experimentation and creating with the band in the rehearsal studio too, all of which has been really fun and inspiring. Also, getting out on the road with Avalanche City and Ronan Keating last year was a real highlight!

 

And you’ve been travelling a little bit, I see that some of this album was written in Europe, what kinds of influences have you taken from your travels?

Last year I spent 5 weeks writing with 17 different artists and groups in London, Amsterdam and Switzerland to name a few. This was such an incredible trip for many reasons but the main one being the actual quantity of back-to-back sessions really forced me to get creative with the lyrics and music. Particularly lyrics. I often found myself writing about random things happenings that had occurred earlier that day or about someone that I met in the tube. Travelling in itself is so inspiring, always meeting new people and seeing beautiful sights. There is also a lot of time for reflection and pondering so travelling it’s a writers best friend.

 

Do you have one memory that stands out above the others from your trip?

I was working with a group called ‘Soul Searchin’ in Amsterdam which comprised of 7 dudes. I remember, we were working on a really dark, moody song when we took a coffee break and went out and sat in the sun. We were all getting along so well and having a laugh and I said, what the heck are we doing? We are having such a fun, happy time together yet we are writing this really morbid song. (It was called ‘Prisoner’ – you can imagine the content) So we went back into the studio with the intention of writing an upbeat, classic song. We came up with a tempo and stood round in a circle, like cavemen banging our chests with our fists to keep the beat and each singing melodies. It was bloody funny. We came up with a cool melody, which tuned into a bass line, which then formed the foundation of what became ‘Wi-Fi’. They were the most enthusiastic, passionate and engaged group of people I have ever written with! We had such a blast writing that song.

 

And you wrote The Feeling, your current single, with MoZella, what was it like working with her?

For those who don’t know MoZella, she is an amazing American songwriter who has done lots of writing with the likes of One Direction & Miley Cyrus, to name a few. This was a really great experience and the funny thing is that we were never even meant to write a song together. We were only meant to have a 20 minute ‘mentoring’ session together, where I told her about my career and asked her for advice etc. I though bugger that, I have 20 minutes alone with one of the worlds best songwriters, I’m going to write a bloody song with her! So we did, I stormed into the room with my guitar and we pretty much wrote ‘That Feeling’ with her then and there on the spot!

 

The album comes out today, if you could describe this album in just a few sentences how would you describe the vibe?

It’s very classic and old school in the sense that there are real musicians, playing real instruments. From the get go, we went in with an old school approach and we wanted to make something that felt timeless and classic, but still stand up in the modern music landscape. It’s very diverse; there are some really fun, uplifting songs. Some soft acoustic tracks and some groovy, moody songs.

 

I know were not meant to have favourites but were only human, do you have a favourite track on the album?

They are all my wee babies but if I had to choose, I’d pick the final song ‘Spanish Steps’. For me it is a song about the search for oneness or a sense of belonging. It’s a beautiful nostalgic song and stirs a lot of emotion in me. My producer Greg Haver, is from Wales originally and he said this song reminds him of the Welsh word ‘Hireath’, which has no English translation. It means to have a longing or yearning for your homeland. I really love that.

 

 

And the tour is this week too! Is there anything you’re most looking forward to?

I grew up in Arrowtown near Queenstown and went to school in Dunedin, so it feels really special to be playing the album release shows in my hometowns. Especially Dunedin tonight where my journey in music all kicked off! It feels really appropriate!! Also, the band and I have been working towards this tour for a long time so we are all just itching to get on stage and rock out!

 

Where are you at creatively after recording this album, and what do you think the future holds for Ciaran McMeeken?

Creatively.. No idea. Who the heck knows what kind of music I’ll write next?? That really excites me! In terms of what the future holds, I can’t be totally sure, but I know it will be bold! I have some big dreams!

 

Finally, if there was one person who you would love to see in the crowd at your show, anyone in the world, who would it be?

My Grandad. He passed away a few years back before I even got into music. It’d be damn special to have a toast of whiskey with him and my dad and see him out in the crowd!

Thats pretty special man, we’re looking forward to your Auckland show coming up soon!

Thanks for the chats! See you soon.

 

Ciaran McMeeken’s self titled album is on all good streaming platforms now, and he is touring NZ with shows in Dunedin (tonight), Queenstown (05/08), Wellington (06/08), and Auckland (10/08), tickets on Ticketmaster now.

“Laugh-out-loud funny in a way that’s unexpected for a documentary about a deceitful, dying meth-addict magician on his final fumbling tour.”

Fionnuala Halligan, Screendaily

It’s the least obscure of scenes. A warm Australian afternoon and a room full of faded 501’s and pilled pastel polo shirts; ‘Hey Hey It’s Saturday’ had been running for some 20-years and the Amazing Johnathan; headband holding back spilling (although thinning) locks; is introduced to a table of obscure magic props and a spattering of applause drowned out by an enthusiastic pipe band. “Aren’t they terrific” Johnathan announces, though his face tells otherwise. Core to the comedy of The Amazing Johnathan; inspirer of many and follower of few; is that he is one step ahead, says what he means but hardly means what he says. While his on-stage personality brought him to his comedic peaks, it was saddening to many; including the likes of Weird Al Yankovic and Eric Andre; when The Amazing Johnathan announced he had a heart condition that left him with only a single year to live. Enter, Ben Berman.

Making his start in Los Angeles working alongside Eric Wareheim of ‘The Tim and Eric Show‘; and having worked with some of the best of the likes of Zach Galifianakis, Berman spent his early career working with LA comics and fine-tuning his art in short films. His prominence in the directors chair coming with short films like ‘I’m a Mitzvah‘ which earned Sundance Selection, and ‘How to Lose Weight in 4 Easy Steps‘. We had the pleasure of sitting down with the man who made his feature length debut with the premiere of ‘The Amazing Johnathan Documentary‘ at Sundance this year. While he will tell you that there’s tonnes different, but it’s all just the same when going from making short film to a documentary – this doesn’t account for the complexities of shooting a documentary about a master of deception with a clock put on his mortality.

“In the movie I’m like an investigative journalist right, it would almost be wrong for me and for my audience not to ask certain questions that I think need to be asked – so its kind of part of the job to ask those questions, and I’m okay with that.”

WG: So to kick things off, can you tell us about the difference in your process and your mindset when shifting from short films to filming feature length documentaries?

BB: Well, there’s tonnes! but its all the same.. a feature length something; either scripted (which I haven’t done yet, it’s certainly on the agenda) or otherwise; I think it’s just about making it larger and thinking of slightly different things for keeping people engaged for that long, and taking them on a slightly longer journey. If you’re great at making a good short film, you’re probably going to be good at making a great feature; you’re just going to have to do more of it. But going from scripted to documentary; in my experience; was extremely helpful, you have to find out [with a documentary] how you are going to tell that story; you can’t just shoot a bunch of footage and just present that footage to an audience and expect them to appreciate it and be engaged, so there are some similarities between what I’ve done with scripted projects and what I did with this doc.

WG: Well you couldn’t come farther from anything scripted with this documentary, right, it seemed there were changes at every turn, was that the same in the production process for this film?

BB: Yea! Totally I mean what you see is what you get. I set out; and at the beginning it was all very low stakes; to make a documentary with my time off from work about Johnathan, who I had heard about, who was taking drugs and was ill; I thought “Oh this will make an interesting fifteen minute doc” about an older magician confronting mortality and all of that stuff. So I started gathering footage and filming footage for that; and then a whole lot of other things presented themselves and I was like “Oh damn I wanna follow that through!” So what I set out to make; even though I wasn’t that conscious of a big “Here’s what I wanna do” plan; definitely shifted away from anything than I could ever originally imagine.

WG: Yeah so what we saw was a surreal honesty, I was sitting there wondering what it might be like confronting a guy like Johnathan about his illness and the realities of how people perceive his illness?

BB: I mean yeah I was definitely nervous and the scene you’re talking about was a big moment for the movie and I knew that, not only did I need the answers and I kind of needed to do it for answers sake, but I needed to do it for the movie! So there was like this double pressure of how is this guy going to react, this guy, my friend Johnathan who I have been around for years now, how is he going to react to me bringing this up, but also how is this going to play into the movie? Was it going to get me closer to the ending, whatever ending I needed? So yeah there was a bunch of pressure, especially to have to question someone like that.

JB: I guess people will have to watch to find out about that scene…

BB: Yeah for sure, but in the movie I’m like an investigative journalist right, it would almost be wrong for me and for my audience not to ask certain questions that I think need to be asked – so its kind of part of the job to ask those questions, and I’m okay with that.

He pauses for a second when he checks if he is okay with that, Ben being one of the most comfortable conversationalists I’ve met, just had to check if this was all good with his own psyche. “The Amazing Johnathan Documentary” does follow the Amazing johnathan, supported by contributors like Criss Angel, Weird Al Yankovic, Eric Andre, and even Berman’s own father, and everything that comes along with the charisma of a comedic magician at a medical low. But as you settle into the movie you understand tthat this becomes a little bit greater than that by the second, and all of a sudden it is longer just about “The Amazing Johnathan” or mortality or human nature or death. Slowly, grey area takes over. Berman, while admitting he took charge of the documentary narrative a little bit saying “it’s not like I’m like bragging about that because that was never the intention”, helped us to understand that you can’t let the prescription for a project get in the way of a good story.

BB: Yeah think, yeah I’m okay with upsetting some people to get answers – I think that’s what it has to be and I am okay with that.

He was all good with it.

‘”A big theme of the movie is me trying to figure out what’s truth and what’s illusion. Whats real and what’s not right? and even after the movie like I still don’t know in every scenario what was real and what wasn’t”

WG: So you consider this man a friend now after these few years? What is he like, he comes across a bit of a dick… are you guys still mates?

BB: Yeah yeah he’s um… he’s like a lot of people but just magnified. He’s like me in a way, like I can be a dick to someone and be a little selfish, but then I can turn around and be very kind and generous and provide someone with a lot and offer them a lot and be very nice to them. I think Johnathan is like that but just a little more heightened, when he’s a dick he can really be a dick and when he’s selfish he can really be selfish, and when he’s nice he can really be incredibly generous.

WG: Sounds a lot like this movie…

BB: Yeah I think him and I very early on fell into a pretty good relationship on the surface. He’s really funny, and says weird and funny things, I mean I was in my early thirties while making the movie, and Johnathan had just turned 60 or 61 or something like that, so we had this pretty big age gap, but we relate to each other as equals or as kids – like he’s basically a kid! He doesn’t think through things all that much like an adult does too. But overall we were really friendly while making the movie and even when I knew he was kind of, sliding me, or putting the other crew over me, to maintain access you need to not just blow it up. Like I couldn’t have been like “Dude, Fuck you!” and then expect him to want to film the next day. It’s definitely a balancing act that a filmmaker has to work with.

WG: Yeah I mean he seemed like a bit of a kid when he would just say what he thought, and would look around just to kind of see the reactions of people in the room as if he were learning how to socialise for the first time and this must create some great stories – was there anything about him that didn’t quite make it to the film that sort of related to his quirkiness?

BB: Um, probably! When I’m asked what we either filmed or edited that we couldn’t fit in it’s actually less about Johnathan and more about my journey. We had a lot of weird fun with my journey like there was this one scene [that didn’t make the film] where I went to a cardiologist – not Johnathans’ heart doctor because I wasn’t given access to that person, but a cardiologist in LA, and I interviewed that cardiologist just to ascertain from him what the realities of Johnathans’ illness would be, and the likelihood of survival after so many years. But the funny thing we found in that scene is that we went with the objective of finding out about Johnathan and the effects meth can have on ones heart, but we ended up talking to the cardiologist more about his thoughts on the current nature of documentary film and just filmmaking and docs in general, and I just told him about my problems as opposed to Johnathans health – which kind of showed my fixation on being the best doc filmmaker. It was a really funny scene that got cut.

The meandering nature of the story in this documentary; while structured in its technique; is what ties you in and binds you like the doc equivalent of a page turner. Throughout the making of the movie; and partly explaining why the original title for the film was “The Untitled Amazing Johnathan Documentary”; Berman would ask Johnathan, “What do you think we should title this movie?” every few months throughout filming, to see an on camera documentation of tracking his journey and if his thoughts had changed.

WG: It seemed like Johnathan was quite; not fixated on having an amazing documentary made about him; but he had this grandiose opinion of his own doc and what that would look like, and kind of developed this strange attitude towards the idea of his own documentary?

BB: Yeah I think Johnathan… I don’t he actually needed or wanted a really great documentary. I think; if we are all being very honest; his drive was to just have or just be able to tell people that someone, or many people, are making a documentary. it was just about bragging rights basically, the more people he brought on the more he would be able to tell people “Look! How special must I be because I’ve got all these people making a film on me” it was just kind of a bragging right – he didn’t really think about the quality even it was just this thing for him.

WG: Question off the record… did you actually smoke meth with Johnathan?

BB: Haha! Well that can be on the record too because I’m not going to actually tell you! I mean there is a good answer I give, like the Q&A answer to that, because I always get that question, is that a big theme of the movie is me trying to figure out what’s truth and what’s illusion. What’s real and what’s not right? And, even after the movie like I still don’t know in every scenario what was real and what wasn’t – so to answer your question, we still don’t know.

A cheeky smile split across Berman’s face as he knew I had both not gotten the answer I wanted, but had what I was after all the same. As his self-deprecating humour kicked in “the dumbfounded face comes naturally to me” – an often seen picture of confusion in this documentary – Berman looked reflective on the experience. Much is to be said about confronting illusion, mortality, and becoming the best doc maker, all in one, and “The Amazing Johnathan” doesn’t come short of its own expectations, as there was no way to compare the finished product; the Sundance Documentary entrant; to those ‘expectations’ set before it. For a director just hitting the ground running, we only wish the very best for what is next.

J

Get along to see this awesome documentary, it’s something a little different this film festival, if you need to pick something out of your usual box, make it this one, you won’t regret it.

Screening times for Auckland here

 

 

Title image: Ben Berman pushes The Amazing Johnathan – credit Rolling Stone