 A fourth generation Stewart Islander, Bruce is probably most widely known for his featured role in Peter Jackson's, Lord Of The Rings film trilogy, playing the role of Gamling, commander of the armies of Rohan.
However before starting his acting career 23 years ago and riding off to save Middle Earth, Bruce had been at various times a professional dancer, with companies such as Limbs Dance Co and Black Grace, and a commercial crayfisherman with his father Bill Hopkins, harvesting the packhorse crayfish off North Cape and Cape Reinga.
With 30 years of experience in the media and entertainment industries, Bruce is a member of the performers committee in the actors union, Equity, and he is a member of the National Speakers Association of NZ, having been a professional MC for over 15 years.
In his spare time Bruce surfs, swims, bends himself around doing yoga, plays incredibly average guitar, is learning to roast coffee and spends as much time as possible with his children and grandson.
|
08-Feb-2010 14:05
Blow me down, big news of the day last week here in NZ...
Read article >>
19-Jan-2010 20:15
Yehaaa - the second ever ride of the newly formed posse, The Vesperados, has taken place.
Read article >>
loading new page...
My pics from the Tauranga to Great Barrier Island ketch trip...
loading new page...
Elizabeth Gilbert is a stunner. She is a best selling author, who in my humble opinion is not only damn fine on the eye, but is also a wonderfully wise human being. Her best seller was titled "Eat, Pray, Love", check out this video of her delivering a 19 minute talk at TED Talks. Elizabeth speaks about the creative process essentially and gives some great bits of information such as the fact that the Spanish word 'ole', which was used for bullfighting etc, comes from the Moors when they invaded Spain. They used the word Allah meaning God. This would be shouted out when a dancer or a musician went off into some astounding improvisational burst that was deemed to be of God! For example, they were possessed by god and expressed it in their performance, so a bullfighter did the same, thus 'Ole'. Watch Elizabeth's talk, TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design and features a series a talks by incredible people doing incredible things, get into the TED site and play around you will get lost wanting to listen to more and more of the talks.
Here's a selection of videos called Chalk Talks by a Father Joseph C Martin. I was directed to these by one of the listeners to my show on RadioLIVE. This particular video has him telling a series of great clean jokes. The other videos he has up are all about dealing with alcoholism, I did a search on father Joseph C martin and he turns out to have had a major impact on millions of addicts lives through his work. Great to see a clergyman preaching being so pragmatic, not just trying to convert or preach.
The French are renowned for their film making, however amidst the wonderful also dwells the absolute crap. Check out this homage to Star Wars, it has to be one of the worst pieces of television ever made. The crappiest choreography possibly ever, the worst concept possibly ever. I can't remember how long it lasts but believe me it does not get nay better after the first images, in fact it probably gets worse, so check out 30-40 seconds then stop wasting your time, and know that whatever you do in life you will never sink that low!
If you have never taken the time to venture to some of NZ's more out of the way towns, for example Kaikohe, then there are ways of catching a glimpse of the spirit of them without having to drive there.
Florian Habicht who is one of NZ's more talented and original film makers made a doco about 4-5 yrs ago called Kaikohe Demolition. A film I was championing called 1nite was one of only two finalists that year, for the Best Digital Feature category at the NZ Film Awards. Kaikohe Demolition took out the award, we won best technical contribution to a digital feature. I was more than happy to lose out to Florian's film. Check out this glimpse of it.
Very funny dude doing commentary on a mobile stripper that was being driven around in the states.
loading new page...
Previous12Next
|