Multi-talented Kiwis hot in Hollywood

• Published date: 28 May 2023
• Publication title: Herald on Sunday

But now they are finally also getting their foot in the Hollywood door for their writing and producing skills

The showbiz industry calls them multi-hyphenates — someone who does several different jobs — such as actor-director, writer-producer.

Taiki Waititi is the ultimate multi-hyphenate as writer-actor-director.

Top talent agent Imogen Johnson, of Johnson & Laird Management, regularly travels to Hollywood to open doors for Kiwi talent.

After 25 years as a top talent agent, she wasn’t afraid to knock on doors to make sure her clients Grace Palmer and Joe Daymond got the right representation for their stacks of creative ideas. They have recently picked up US talent agents, on top of their Kiwi representation.

“People like Joe and Grace are true creatives who not only perform but also write their own material and produce original content. It’s so rewarding to see they’re now repped in the States across multiple disciplines.”

For Palmer — who co-wrote and starred in local comedy Good Grief, which was screened by the Sundance channel internationally — the timing is perfect. She has just had the green light for her second season of US sitcom Animal Control.

While in the US she is able to have meetings and shop her creative ideas around.

She and husband Rawiri Jobe have a base in Los Angeles and will head back to Toronto for the filming of Animal Control later this year.

Daymond — who wrote and starred in local comedy Bouncers and who has produced a prolific amount of popular online content for his production company, This is West Park — has been spending more time in LA this year.

He has just returned home for a gig at the NZ Comedy Festival after performing at some of the American comedy scene’s most iconic venues, including a gig at the Main Room of LA’s Comedy Store alongside stand-up luminaries including Theo Von and Brittany Schmidt. With connections being made via his LA management, Daymond, who’s famous for...