pearce
@pearced.bsky.social
They pay me in woims. Books, music, movies and politics. One-time President of the VUW Muppet Club. Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai, Aotearoa. Ngāi Tahu. He/him.
Ever since I consciously started reading more books, my social media scrolling and podcast listening have dropped off dramatically without my even making an effort in those directions. It's been very pleasant.
February 13, 2026 at 7:09 AM
Ever since I consciously started reading more books, my social media scrolling and podcast listening have dropped off dramatically without my even making an effort in those directions. It's been very pleasant.
As George Clinton said, "Gaga googa ga ga googa, ga ga goo ga ga."
February 10, 2026 at 5:51 AM
As George Clinton said, "Gaga googa ga ga googa, ga ga goo ga ga."
When the Beasties say "like a pinch on the neck of Mr. Spock" in Intergalactic, the phrasing implies that it's Spocks neck being pinched rather than him applying the pinch.
February 8, 2026 at 11:06 PM
When the Beasties say "like a pinch on the neck of Mr. Spock" in Intergalactic, the phrasing implies that it's Spocks neck being pinched rather than him applying the pinch.
No particular reason for saying this today, but when it comes to a man's terrible behaviour, "not held accountable by a court of law" is very different to "innocent."
February 2, 2026 at 11:07 PM
No particular reason for saying this today, but when it comes to a man's terrible behaviour, "not held accountable by a court of law" is very different to "innocent."
Reposted by pearce
Satoshi Kon talks about how Requiem for a Dream took from his film Perfect Blue (1997)
January 30, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Satoshi Kon talks about how Requiem for a Dream took from his film Perfect Blue (1997)
Aw bless
January 31, 2026 at 3:52 AM
Aw bless
"Judith Collins appointed President of the Law Commission" doesn't seem like much to celebrate
January 28, 2026 at 2:58 AM
"Judith Collins appointed President of the Law Commission" doesn't seem like much to celebrate
Reposted by pearce
A wee reminder that they handed out $6M for the Michelin Man #nzpol
A new joint release is available from Rt Hon Christopher Luxon and Hon Mark Mitchell.
Government gears up to help storm-hit regions
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the first stage of Government support for initial recovery efforts in the regions affected by last week’s severe weather event.
www.beehive.govt.nz
January 27, 2026 at 1:17 AM
A wee reminder that they handed out $6M for the Michelin Man #nzpol
It's a rare podcast appearance by me, alongside the most excellent Scott Murphy, talking about Sam Peckinpah's first great film, Ride the High Country! I really enjoyed this chat.
This month, alongside @pearced.bsky.social we talk about Peckinpah's sophomore feature "Ride the High Country." A film so good veteran star Randolph Scott retired straight after knowing he was unlikely to top it. open.spotify.com/episode/1C6m...
Ride The High Country (1962) (ft Pearce Duncan)
open.spotify.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:26 AM
It's a rare podcast appearance by me, alongside the most excellent Scott Murphy, talking about Sam Peckinpah's first great film, Ride the High Country! I really enjoyed this chat.
Reposted by pearce
Repost if you support trans people and think we're neato
December 23, 2023 at 12:49 AM
Repost if you support trans people and think we're neato
Accelerating though my to-read and to-watch lists in 2026, just in case there's no 2027
January 22, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Accelerating though my to-read and to-watch lists in 2026, just in case there's no 2027
People are so used to thinking of directors as sole authors of movies that it's common for them to get credit for even the characters and core ideas like this. Meanwhile, the person who wrote both of these movies and the original only gets mentioned once in passing.
I loved Nia DaCosta's 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE. She wisely doesn't mimic Danny Boyle's 28 YEARS LATER style, but does new and great things with the wild characters and ideas he introduced.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple | VERN'S REVIEWS on the FILMS of CINEMA
I liked 28 DAYS LATER when it came out in 2003 and I liked 28 WEEKS LATER when it came out in 2007, but I still have never revisited them. So I’m honestly
outlawvern.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:23 AM
People are so used to thinking of directors as sole authors of movies that it's common for them to get credit for even the characters and core ideas like this. Meanwhile, the person who wrote both of these movies and the original only gets mentioned once in passing.
There are two people in my team called Alice, and whenever someone refers to one as "Alice C" I have to restrain myself from saying, "What about Alice D?"
Anyway, I'm back on here. Hi. Read any good books lately?
Anyway, I'm back on here. Hi. Read any good books lately?
January 21, 2026 at 10:23 PM
There are two people in my team called Alice, and whenever someone refers to one as "Alice C" I have to restrain myself from saying, "What about Alice D?"
Anyway, I'm back on here. Hi. Read any good books lately?
Anyway, I'm back on here. Hi. Read any good books lately?
Just a reminder that in New Zealand, copyright lapses for sound recordings and films 50 years after they are first made available to the public. So that's anything released here 1975 or earlier. Jaws, for example.
ANIMAL CRACKERS (1930) just entered the public domain and it's already on Tubi (and elsewhere).
I remember its 1979 TV premiere on CBS, after decades of unavailability due to rights issues.
I hope a new generation discovers the Marx Bros. now, just like I did then. #FilmSky #PublicDomain
I remember its 1979 TV premiere on CBS, after decades of unavailability due to rights issues.
I hope a new generation discovers the Marx Bros. now, just like I did then. #FilmSky #PublicDomain
January 3, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Just a reminder that in New Zealand, copyright lapses for sound recordings and films 50 years after they are first made available to the public. So that's anything released here 1975 or earlier. Jaws, for example.
Watched the lovely new 4k of Freaked, directed by Tom Stern and @alexwinter.com and it holds up beautifully, as hilarious and bizarre as ever. But I swear it's missing a couple of bits I remember from vhs, one where they play Wheel of Fortune and one where Ricky farewells the freaks. Was I dreaming?
December 28, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Watched the lovely new 4k of Freaked, directed by Tom Stern and @alexwinter.com and it holds up beautifully, as hilarious and bizarre as ever. But I swear it's missing a couple of bits I remember from vhs, one where they play Wheel of Fortune and one where Ricky farewells the freaks. Was I dreaming?
Reposted by pearce
Our debut episode is now up! Listen in as special guest Kyle Hintz (Bloodhound Pix) and I dissect Peckinpah's uneven made for hire debut "The Deadly Companions." open.spotify.com/show/5XEwQd8...
December 28, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Our debut episode is now up! Listen in as special guest Kyle Hintz (Bloodhound Pix) and I dissect Peckinpah's uneven made for hire debut "The Deadly Companions." open.spotify.com/show/5XEwQd8...
The most terrifying villain of all
December 24, 2025 at 7:31 PM
The most terrifying villain of all
I've listened to every version of "Carol of the Bells" I could find and the best imo is John Williams' arrangement from Home Alone.
December 24, 2025 at 7:04 AM
I've listened to every version of "Carol of the Bells" I could find and the best imo is John Williams' arrangement from Home Alone.
It's happened to people who you know and care about. Sometimes you might not even know, especially if it results in you losing touch with them because they can't go out like they used to. Society doesn't accommodate disability, but also friend groups usually don't either.
Anyone can become disabled.
Anyone can become chronically ill.
It’s not a choice. It’s not a moral failing. It’s not something you can “try harder” your way out of.
You can be the healthiest person in the world & completely disabled in an instant.
It’s a minority group you can join anytime.
Anyone can become chronically ill.
It’s not a choice. It’s not a moral failing. It’s not something you can “try harder” your way out of.
You can be the healthiest person in the world & completely disabled in an instant.
It’s a minority group you can join anytime.
December 23, 2025 at 8:10 PM
It's happened to people who you know and care about. Sometimes you might not even know, especially if it results in you losing touch with them because they can't go out like they used to. Society doesn't accommodate disability, but also friend groups usually don't either.
Stalag 17 is a pretty great Christmas movie.
December 21, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Stalag 17 is a pretty great Christmas movie.
Just finally watched Enemy of the State (1998), which is set at Christmas and heavily involves gift giving. The whole style of the movie reinforced that when it comes to the Scott Brothers, I am Team Tony all the way. Also, it's definitely a stealth sequel to The Conversation.
December 20, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Just finally watched Enemy of the State (1998), which is set at Christmas and heavily involves gift giving. The whole style of the movie reinforced that when it comes to the Scott Brothers, I am Team Tony all the way. Also, it's definitely a stealth sequel to The Conversation.
I just want to say that if you have bright LED headlights that are angled so that they point directly at the drivers of oncoming traffic: what the fuck?!
December 19, 2025 at 4:08 AM
I just want to say that if you have bright LED headlights that are angled so that they point directly at the drivers of oncoming traffic: what the fuck?!
lol, I ran a Christmas movie quiz on teams at my work yesterday.
“A Christmas quiz on a Teams video call would act as a powerful deterrent. Especially if we make them wear Santa hats with little bells on the end.”
Human rights groups appalled as criminals sentenced to Christmas quiz on Microsoft Teams
Human rights organisations across the world have expressed outrage and dismay in the wake of a recent announcement that criminals can now be sentenced to participation in an hour-long festive quiz…
thedailytism.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:05 AM
lol, I ran a Christmas movie quiz on teams at my work yesterday.
Co-sign. See also Patrick McGoohan and The Prisoner.
December 15, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Co-sign. See also Patrick McGoohan and The Prisoner.
Has anyone else been listening to the podcast The Vanity Project, about tracking down the 1987 movie Student Confidential and its enigmatic writer/director/composer/star/everything else Richard Horian? I'm finding it compelling, but according to Pocketcasts it only has 19 subscribers.
Filmmaker Nicholas McCarthy, obsessed with an obscure movie vaguely remembered from his youth, embarks on a search for the mysterious creator — and would be destroyer — of perhaps the strangest vanity project ever made, the legendary, lost high school drama, Student Confidential.
www.spectrevision.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Has anyone else been listening to the podcast The Vanity Project, about tracking down the 1987 movie Student Confidential and its enigmatic writer/director/composer/star/everything else Richard Horian? I'm finding it compelling, but according to Pocketcasts it only has 19 subscribers.