My Movie DNA

In episode 48, Johnny talks to Auckland-based singer-songwriter Erny Belle , AKA Aimee Renata . Aimee is signed to New Zealand’s infamous Flying Nun record label , and is looking ahead to the release of her third studio album later this year. Johnny and Aimee's chat includes a discussion about the dark comedy and gothic horror films that inspire her music, they look at the films of Tim Burton...

In episode 47, Johnny talks to animator, writer and art director Matt Haworth . Matt is one of the key players at Auckland’s Mukpuddy Animation Studios , which you may be familiar with through their animated shows Bad Jelly , Night Eyes and The Barefoot Bandits .  Johnny and Matt's chat includes a discussion around the history and future of animated films, they take a deep dive into the works...

In episode 46, Johnny talks to musician and podcaster Oscar Davies-Kay . You may know Oscar from his many Auckland-based indie bands, such as Rackets and Water , or from his weekly podcast Fear, Guilt & Agriculture where he interviews movers and shakers from Auckland’s vibrant cultural scene. Johnny and Oscar's chat includes a spoiler-filled look at Marty Supreme and the films of the Safdi...

In episode 45, Johnny talks to Auckland-based Radio New Zealand journalist Nik Dirga . Nik moved to New Zealand from the USA in 2006. He has more than 30 years of journalism experience, for publications in California , New York , Mississippi and Oregon and has won multiple awards for his reporting and essays. On this side of the world, his work has been published by Radio New Zealand , the New Zea...

In episode 44, Johnny talks to Auckland film and book lover Kelly Gordon . As well as working at Auckland’s Academy Cinemas - alongside previous guests Cameo England ( episode #4 ), Gorjan Markovski ( episode #21 ), and Stefan Moon ( episode #43 ) - Kelly’s currently a key member of the team at Unity Books , New Zealand’s leading independent book store.  Their chat includes lots of insider tips fr...

In episode 43, Johnny talks to Stefan Moon , the General Manager and Programmer at Auckland’s Academy Cinemas . Their chat covers a long, lengthy (and mostly spoiler-free) discussion on Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another , which they put into context with PTA’s other films, they tiptoe around the Woody Allen situation and whether it’ll ever be a good time to sing the praises of the 19...

In episode 42, Johnny talks to actress Helena Murphy-Reid , a recent guest star on the Lucy Lawless detective series My Life Is Murder . Helena has also starred in the 2024 short film Gun Powder , and appeared in New Zealand's longest-running TV drama, Shortland Street . Their chat covers the trials and tribulations of being an up-and-coming actress in the 21st century, Helena bravely swaps out on...

In episode 41, Johnny talks to Mahi Maïmou , one of the leading lights of the l ive comedy scene in Darwin, Australia . Mahi is the movie-hype gal on ABC Radio and is currently programming this year's Darwin International Film Festival . Their chat covers the gamut of Hollywood from Mae West and Bette Davis to Adam Sandler and Kermit the Frog , Mahi gives us a whistlestop tour of every gloriou...

In episode 40, Johnny talks to Cinema In Context co-host William Chen . A science-teacher by day, and a pop culture vigilante by night, William has a deep love for animated films , Lego and a galaxy far, far away . Their chat includes the biggest Star Wars nerd-out on My Movie DNA to date, they discuss Wes Anderson , Brad Bird and Jackie Chan , and they talk about whether Tom Cruise took inspirati...

In episode 39, Johnny talks to fellow record collector and movie nut Helen Howcroft . Helen lives in Christchurch , New Zealand and is a big fan of the Beastie Boys , all things that groove , and gangster movies .  Their chat includes an in-depth look at the films of Martin Scorsese , David Lynch and Peter Greenaway , they discuss those weird saloon doors in New Zealand video stores , and they tal...

In episode 38, Johnny talks to soundtrack nut, Aliens fan, and all-round good guy from Iowa , Joe Foster .  Their chat includes a lengthy discussion on Ripley’s return to LV-426 , they talk about James Horner , Ed Zwick and Michael Biehn , and they discuss whether wearing a pith helmet somehow makes you able to drink beer faster. This conversation was recorded online in mid-March of 2025. Thanks t...

In episode 37, Johnny talks to teacher and podcaster, Jeremy Downing , one third of the podcasting trio Cinema In Context . You may remember, Jeremy’s co-host Sarah Watt was a guest on a recent episode.  Their chat includes a quick look at this year’s slate of Oscar nominated films , they talk about everything from J.J. Abrams’ Lost , the passion of musical theatre , and the futility of live actio...

It's here, the world's first Emilia Pérez fan podcast!....or maybe not... In a break from the annual tradition, joining Johnny this year on the red carpet is Podzilla & 1978 podcaster Jasher Drake , who's turned up a week early at the Dolby Theatre to pounce on unsuspecting celebrities. But fear not, Johnny's usual date for the Academy Awards, the irrepressible Daíbhid MacCann...

In episode 35, Johnny talks to film critic, teacher, podcaster Sarah Watt .  Sarah can currently be heard as the secret weapon of the 2024 New Zealand film Gut Instinct , providing its perfectly glorious narration.  Their chat includes getting to know Ryan Gosling and Quentin Tarantino when you really want to get to know Leonardo DiCaprio and Sydney Sweeney , they discuss Sarah’s long lost cameo i...

In this bonus episode, Johnny is again joined by his good friend and fellow podcaster Jasher Drake to talk all things James Bond . This is the second of three bonus episodes, and this conversation explores the films of Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton. Johnny and Jasher talk about the majesty of the  Lotus S1 Esprit , they share their appreciation for Moonraker - AKA the Citizen Kane of Bond movies...

In this bonus episode, Johnny is joined by GUT INSTINCT director Doug Dillaman and the film's star Sarah Watt for a post-film Q&A. This conversation was recorded live on stage at the Hollywood Avondale in late-November of 2024. As such the audio is rough and ready, until we can persuade Peter Jackson to use his software to clean it up. GUT INSTINCT is one of the gems of New Zealand moviemaking...

In this bonus episode, Johnny is joined by his good friend and fellow podcaster Jasher Drake to talk all things James Bond . This is the first of three bonus episodes, and this episode explores the films of Sean Connery and George Lazenby. Johnny and Jasher talk about overused Bond cars and underused Bond gadgets , they talk about all the important things like which Bond Girl has the biggest secre...

In episode 34, Johnny talks to director, editor, writer and podcaster Doug Dillaman. Doug’s second feature film GUT INSTINCT is currently infecting New Zealand cinemas, fresh from its world premiere at the Terror-Fi film festival.  GUT INSTINCT is a post-apocalyptic science-fiction film about an alien microbe that invades earth, presented as a public information film, and consisting entirely of ar...

In episode 33, Johnny talks to New Zealand genre-movie fan and podcaster Steve Skeet , one third of the ⁠ Ludicrously Specific ⁠ podcast. You may remember one of Skeet’s co-hosts Darren Waugh visited My Movie DNA all the way back in episode 18. Johnny's chat with Skeets covers a hush-hush talk about the Hollywood Avondale’s 24-Hour Movie Marathon - now in its 25th year - which they both attended r...

In episode 32, Johnny talks to New Zealand composer and acoustician Reuben Jelleyman .
 Reuben popped up on Johnny's radar a couple of months back at a screening of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner at the Hollywood Avondale , and before the film, Reuben provided a musical performance up on stage that just blew everyone away.  Not surprisingly their chat covers Reuben's rendition of selections from the...

In episode 31, Johnny talks to New Zealand director Michael Duignan .
 Michael’s debut feature - The Paragon - premiered last year at the New Zealand International Film Festival , and blew audiences away.  Made for a budget of just $25,000 NZD - the dictionary definition of making something ‘off the smell of an oily rag’ - The Paragon is a sci-fi-comedy that punches well above its weight. You can...

In episode 30, Johnny talks to Academy Award-winning art director and production designer Grant Major.
 Described by Vanity Fair as ‘the architect of New Zealand’s greatest cinematic achievements’, Grant has an impressive body of work. 
 His work in the early 1990s on Jane Campion’s An Angel At My Table led him to work with Peter Jackson on Heavenly Creatures. He remained in the Peter Jackson fold...

In episode 29, Johnny talks to Dave Wain , one of the last bastions of the video rental industry. Dave runs Snips Movies , one of the UK’s last video stores. The shop, situated in the Wirral near Liverpool, boasts an impressive selection of over 15,000 movies , all available to rent for the great price of 3 for £5 . The depth of the range available is eye-watering and is just the tonic against the...

In episode 28, Johnny talks to Stevee Taylor , a fellow Kiwi cinephile and a member of the Letterboxd crew here in New Zealand. A couple of years ago, Stevee interviewed Johnny as part of her Masters thesis exploring how movie-watching had changed during the COVID pandemic , and it felt like the right time to return the favour and get Stevee on the show. Johnny's talk with Stevee covers Luca G...

In episode 27, Johnny talks to Michele Kaufman , one half of the team behind Enjoy The Ride Records . Michele works alongside label founder Ross Shotland at Enjoy The Ride in Long Island, New York . The label specialises in releases in a variety of genres and formats - movie soundtracks, TV soundtracks, video game soundtracks, and stand-up comedy, all on Vinyl, CD, cassettes, Blu-Ray, and a range...