Tape 1 - Side 1
Born 3 rd August, 1913. Mentions Way out West, a western he made with his brothers and goes on to mention When the Gangsters Came to Christchurch which was made during his time at Christ’s College. Discusses school friends and fellow filmmakers Donald Rankin, David Livingston, Tony McMasters.
Mentions the cost of the films and charging the actors to have a part in the film. Discusses the screening of When the Gangsters Came to Christchurch and the audience response.
Mentions brother Gordon working as a journalist. Jane asks about the film Christchurch Industry (1936) and Mirams explains. Recalls working at the Plaza Cinema as an operator where he saw Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times 144 times. Mentions projecting at the Theatre Royal in Christchurch.
Mention the company Action Pictures he set up with Donald Rankin, discusses how they were funded. Rankin went to Holywood to buy the films and Mirams went to Wellington to screen them. Discusses film distribution in NZ. Recalls doing promotion poster runs at night. Discusses Rankin going to war and meeting in Cairo. Mentions going to Whangarei Hospital to be a radiographer. Discusses his time as a war correspondent, and how he came to be there. Peter McIntyre and Fryburgh and the head of NZ Intelligence mentioned.
Tape 2 - Side 1
Discusses working for the Transport Department which became part of the Pacific Magazine. Mentions actor Jimmy Morgan. Jane asks about the commentary and the actors in general. Vic Marsden mentioned. Mentions The Story of a Store. Rewi Alley mentioned. Discusses Faulkner leaving for London, mentions John O’Shea joining him to make Broken Barrier.
Discusses advertising for General Motors and Movietone and how he came to work there. Eric Rutledge mentioned. Discusses the type of work he was doing. Mentions filming The Royal Tour.Tells great stories about working with Movietone News. Writer Bill Malloney and Jack Davies commentator are mentioned.
Mirams talks about Mike Noonan. Mentions a film with Olivia Newton-John and Howard Morrison, Funny Things Happen Down Under. Goes on to discuss Broken Barrier. Talks about leaving Pacific Films and moving to Australia, and making films there. Discusses Pacific Films Melbourne. Mentions ‘great conflict’ with O’Shea.
Broadcast 23/01/1996 and 25/01/1996.