00:00
/
00:00
The People Next Door
Television (Full Length) – 1994
Melanie Rodriga's The People Next Door was Aotearoa’s first prime time documentary about queer Kiwis and their lives and loves (pioneering 1980s series Expressions of Sexuality, which was sidelined to a late night slot, mixed queer and straight interviews across each episode). Eight gay and lesbian New Zealanders (including The Topp Twins) recall coming out to friends and family. For Francis Mouldey acknowledging his sexuality meant a painful tussle with social convention and religion, while Rangitunoa Black faced hostility from her whānau before finding peace with her partner.
Look at the way Jools' hair comes over like that — that's a "lesbian lick".– Lynda and Jools Topp comment on a favourite childhood photo
Key Cast & Crew
See all 17 credits
Produced by
Triangle Television
Music
'The Message is Love' composed by Arthur Baker and Richard Scher, performed by the Gay and Lesbian Choir with lead vocals by Zan Wright
Categories
If you liked this, you might also like...
The Topp Twins Collection
A collection celebrating Kiwi singing and comedy legends...
Expressions of Sexuality - Singles
Pioneering series about sexuality in NZ
Trial Run
Melanie Rodriga also wrote and directed this feminist...
Hero Parade 1998
Annual parade celebrating NZ's queer community
One of Them!
TV drama about two boys coming out
Pansy
Autobiographical film by gay author Peter Wells
The Topp Twins - Untouchable Girls
Hit movie documentary about the Topp Twins
Pot Luck
Pioneering lesbian web series
50 Ways of Saying Fabulous
Feature about coming out in rural NZ
Both Worlds - Jacob Tamata
Short documentary about a queer choreographer & his work
Inside Out - First Episode
Philip Patston was a reporter on this series
Holmes - The Topp Twins on the Farm
The Twins talk to Paul Holmes about their memoir
The Topp Twins - Do Not Adjust Your Twin-Set: The Waka
More Topp Twins