Contact - Writing on the Wall

Poet, activist and soon-to-be Mayor of Waitemata, Tim Shadbolt explores the often-maligned art of graffiti in this 1981 special for documentary slot Contact. Shadbolt searches for wit and inspiraton from school desks and court holding cells, to the bathrooms of trendy restaurants. Some of these scribbled sentiments — like “Rob Muldoon before he robs you” — have passed into legend. The best material however, comes from a group of high school girls, encouraged by their right-on English teacher during a class of well-supervised rebellion: “castrate rapists — have a ball!”

Man is a natural communicator and graffiti, like Kilroy, is everywhere.

– Tim Shadbolt

Key Cast & Crew

Tim Shadbolt

Presenter

D.O.C. Williams

Producer

Geoff Steven

Writer, Director

Marilyn Hudson

Sound Editor

Julienne Stretton

Research

Bil Henderson

Editor