Mick Innes has the best of agents. When she sent us through his audition tape for a particular role, we didn’t think he was right. But she hounded us until we agreed to meet him. By this stage our audition sessions had technically finished, but we decided to have a look at Mick anyway. That was one of the best decisions we ever made, and part of the synchronicity which has been part of the project from the start. Rosemary took Mick up to Ponsonby Road, and had him walk along the street in character as John – a boarding house resident central to the story (again, no spoilers). Straight away he won the part.

What we couldn’t have known then was how well he would work himself inside the head of his character. Nor that he would bring such a huge commitment and enthusiasm for the film. He totally understood what the story was about, having spent some time with street people and boarding houses during his long career. Mick has a deep spirituality which sustains his life, and found in this story a vehicle for it. Over the course of the film, we became firm friends – often calling in to his place in Grey Lynn to share a cup of tea.

Film critic Gareth Higgins, who joined us in New Zealand for the making of the film, had this to say about the delightful Mick:

“You have not seen the character he plays – called John in the movie – on screen before. He will make you angry and cry at the same time. His character stands for all the people marginalized by their mistakes, and dehumanized by their community; and as a consequence not allowed to live. Mick plays him beautifully; and seeing him do it is a privilege for me as a writer used to only bringing a critical eye to bear on a film once it’s made.”

Mick not only acted in the film – he believed in the film, and was a great advocate for it. And whatever other roles he may play in years to come, this is a performance that no one is going to forget any time soon!

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