Comic's two worlds collide

BRIDGET JONES

TOM FURNISS: The comic is performing stand-up shows in Auckland and Wellington.

Tom Furniss has been on a bit of a winning streak recently. Not only did he lead the winning V48Hours Furious Filmmaking competition team in 2011, but this year he is nominated for the New Zealand International Comedy Festival's Billy T Award.

It's not bad going for a 24-year-old who only discovered what stand-up really was when he watched an Eddie Murphy DVD about four years ago. 

See, Furniss reckons being funny is pretty normal.

"I think most young New Zealand males have a funny time growing up. Most people I know were having a good time at school and yeah, I was probably one of the ones making people laugh.

"But there could have been 100 kids from school that could have gone on to be a comedian and about 10 that I think should be, but they are plumbers and builders instead."

Furniss's big break came when he cut his OE short to come home and compete in the Raw Comedy Quest. He came third, and he knew he was ready to commit to comedy.

Since that decision two years ago, Furniss has carved out a place for himself in stand-up and film - his team Grand Cheval were behind the weirdly brilliant film Child Jumping at 2011's V48Hours, where teams have just a weekend to think up and create a short film. Last year more than 10,000 people were involved in the competition.

The film was exactly as the title suggests - four guys who jump over kids for fun - and even more bizarrely, it came from Furniss's own experience of jumping over a three-year-old after a Meatloaf concert in L.A.

He says the worlds of comedy and film compliment each other pretty well, with stand-up the perfect breeding ground for material.

"The best thing for a writer is to get on stage and say what you think is funny and see how people react, because there is a massive gap between what you think is funny and what people will laugh at.

"A film is only going to be funny if someone believes it and invests in it and wants to go along for the ride, and I think stand-up comedy is the same. I think you should show an original sensibility in both forms and just be funny - there's no substitute for being funny."

And this year, Furniss's two worlds are about to collide spectacularly - he is entering V48Hours again this year, but has to "tap out" for two hours to perform two shows.

"So I'll be doing the 46-hour festival. It's going to be the biggest weekend. I could potentially die."

TOM FURNISS - THE FREE ICE CREAM SHOW 

May 8 - 12 at Cavern Club, Wellington

May 15 - 19 at The Basement, Auckland

V48HOURS Furious Filmmaking Competition

May 18 - 20

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