Teuila Blakely, Madeleine Sami and David Fane Sione's 2: Unfinished Business

Teuila Blakely, Madeleine Sami and David Fane Sione's 2: Unfinished Business Interview

Cast: Oscar Kightley, Robbie Magasiva, Shimpal Lelisi
Director: Simon Bennett
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Rated: M
Running Time: 92 Minutes

Synopsis: Five years ago our heroes the Duckrockers thought they had figured it all out - they had found themselves girlfriends to take to Sione's wedding and the future was looking bright: Michael had come to accept that commitment wasn't for him and he was always going to fancy white girls; Albert had finally hooked up with his co-worker Tania; Stanley, always the weird one, had managed to find himself a nice girl one of the catering staff from the wedding; and Sefa had even got the courage to propose to his long term girlfriend, Leilani. And Bolo? Well, apparently his name is actually Paul.

Fast-forward five years and things haven't quite gone as the boys might have planned: Albert is now married to Tania and they are living in suburbia, both working in insurance and also trying (unsuccessfully) to have a baby; Sefa and Leilani are still together and now have two kids although despite Sefa's proposal, they're still not married. And while Sefa's business is falling apart, Leilani seems to be living life to the full; Stanley is now a trainee Deacon in the Future Church; Michael has moved to Australia but the boys don't hear from him often; and Bolo has thrown in his job with Sefa and taken up work with Sione, Michael's younger brother.

Growing up appears to be driving the Duckrockers apart but when they're confronted with one of life's unexpected turns and Bolo goes missing, their Minister once again brings them together and sends them on a quest. Their mission: to find Bolo. Where do you start when you are looking for this one Samoan in the worlds largest Polynesian city?

As they set off on the physical search for Bolo, each of the Duckrockers is also on a personal journey of sorts. But of course, the Boys being the Boys, the way they deal with things can only go wrong.

Release Date: March 1st, 2012

Interview with Teuila Blakely

Question: What was your initial reaction when you heard there was going to be a sequel to Sione's Wedding?

Teuila Blakely: To be honest, I thought "at last". After the first film there was a lot of talk about maybe doing a sequel, so to get the official call five years later, was really exciting. And then the first full cast read-through we did was just awesome. It was great to come back together with all the boys, and then there are the new characters we have this time around as well, and the script was hilarious. I think when you get together and it works off the page just like that, you look forward to filming it and bringing it to life.


Question: Where's your character at when we first see her in Sione's 2: Unfinished Business?

Teuila Blakely: Well, it's five years on and - I think people in long term relationships can relate to this - in relationships, sometimes it's like a rollercoaster: sometimes things are good and sometimes they're bad. When we meet Sefa and Leilani in this film, they're in a very different space to when we saw them the last time. I was pleased to see Leilani had developed in the time between the two films because I've also grown as a person and it was great to bring some of that experience to my character this time around too.


Question: How did you find reuniting with the cast again?

Teuila Blakely: I adore the boys. We're all good mates and I get to see them socially a lot but whenever I get to work with them professionally, I'm reminded how much I admire and respect them as well. And I fell in love with all their characters all over again too.


Question: How did you find this shoot compared to the shoot for Sione's Wedding?

Teuila Blakely: For me personally, I know what I'm doing this time! The first film I was largely inexperienced as an actor, and obviously I've done a lot more acting since then. So it was great to be able to bring that confidence to set and to my character and to the story this time around. I was actually petrified every day of the last shoot, and I got to enjoy this one a lot more.

Interview with Madeleine Sami

Question: What was your initial reaction to the script for Sione's 2: Unfinished Business?

Madeleine Sami: Sequels are notoriously difficult but I thought this script honoured the time that had passed between the first film and the second. It also really captured the guys again and I think, even though the audience hasn't been there for the intervening years between the two films, you are immediately drawn into the boys' journey. I felt excited to be hanging out with these characters again.


Question: How has your character changed since we saw her in Sione's Wedding?

Madeleine Sami: Tania's come a long way since the last film. She was a bit of a wallflower and was pretty shy initially but towards the end of that film, she came out of her shell and finally got the courage to go out with Albert. And then in the intervening years, she's gone and landed herself a high-powered job and she's earning lots of money. She and Albert are married, they're trying for a baby and they live in the 'burbs but not all is well in their relationship.


Question: What was it like reuniting with your cast mates?

Madeleine Sami: It was like we never stopped making the movie. It's such a relaxed environment and everyone knows each other so well, it's just really nice coming into a job where you don't feel nervous and you feel really looked after and loved. It's a cool place to make stuff and they are all cool people to make stuff with.


Question: How do you think Sione's 2: Unfinished Business stands up to the expectation that tends to surround sequels?

Madeleine Sami: People haven't forgotten these guys and so many people out there have watched the first film over and over again. I feel confident that the script is really good and that people will enjoy seeing the guys again. Since the first film, viewers have taken the characters into their hearts a lot and I think they'll have a really good time with them this time around.

Interview with David Fane

Question: What was your first thought when you heard about Sione's 2: Unfinished Business?

David Fane: I didn't quite believe it at first. Then when Oscar got us all together and said "it's a happening thing", we all thought it was awesome. I was really quite chuffed because it's not often you get the opportunity to do a character twice.


Question: Where's Bolo at when we meet up with him again in Sione's 2?

David Fane: He's at a place of sort of zen. Bolo was always slightly extravagant and worldly and now he's become almost like a Polynesian Buddha. The way he views life is pretty out there…you look at him and you go "weirdo".


Question: What was it like working with the boys again?

David Fane: It was the bomb. It's just so nice to work with your mates and play around every day, tell each other a joke that isn't really funny but all of you are laughing at it cause it's just not funny, but you just do cause you're boys. And if you can't laugh with your best mates in this world, who can you laugh with?


Question: Have you worked with the director Simon Bennett before?

David Fane: I had worked with Simon previously on Outrageous Fortune which meant he knows how terrible I am at remembering my lines and he even recognizes the look on my face when I start to get lost in a scene! The thing I like about Simon is that it's a real joy to watch him work. He's like a kid in a candy store in that he really revels in his job. At the end of each shot, he's always looking from every possible angle as to what the next step might be. It's inspiring to see a man so in love with his work.


Question: What do you think audiences will feel when they leave the cinema?

David Fane: I think it's really going to make you giggle…it's a 'throw your hands up in the air' kind of film.


Question: Do you think there's a high level of expectation for this film following the success of Sione's Wedding?

David Fane: I think that's something that's played on everyone's minds but all you can do really is acknowledge that Sione's Wedding was that, and it was beautiful and this film is us now and you've got to admire it for what it is.