http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/people/Transcripts/s1179296.htm

Tod's Story

Episode 110
George Negus Tonight
ABC TV

Broadcast 6.30pm on 17/08/2004



			Tod Johnston, 'All The World's A Stage' 17th August, 2004

Tod Johnston has carved out a career in the media industry since leaving school. His parents have been treading the boards of the world stage since, well, longer than they'd care to remember. Tod set out to find whether he was making career choices, or if his future was pre-destined. Chicken and the egg, so to speak.



		Jill Perryman, Tod and Kevan Johnston

TOD JOHNSTON: Is it nurture or nature that shapes our destiny? Either way we look at it, I guess I'm a living experiment. I mean, I grew up in a place like this.

This is me as a baby. My parents are Jill Perryman and Kevan Johnston. So you could say performance was certainly going to have a strong influence on my life.

Mum remembers me attending one of her shows in particular.

JILL PERRYMAN: About 1965, when I was doing the second female lead in 'Hello, Dolly!' - I've done it twice, twice in 30 years. You can't beat public demand, can you? But in 1965 I was the second lead. It was a period costume time, you see, with a bustle at the back. And you and your sister were in the box. It must have been a special treat because you didn't usually go into the box on the matinee days. And you must have gone there with strict instructions to be good.

TOD JOHNSTON: But seeing your mum in costume can be a bit confusing for a little fella.

JILL PERRYMAN: I heard this young voice from the box which broke up the audience because this voice said, "God, look at Mum's funny bum," you see.

TOD JOHNSTON: Despite the fact that Mum and Dad always had to travel, we were there with them. Life was an adventure.

JILL PERRYMAN: We really wanted to have our kids around us rather than, if we went on tour, we'd leave you behind somewhere. I think it was the main reason for us being together - we wanted to be there when you were growing up along the way.

TOD JOHNSTON: But that meant that continuity of education was pretty hard.

JILL PERRYMAN: Dad and I didn't quite know what to do about yours and your sister's education, 'cause you were just going to the local school in Melbourne. It was both the...I think it was the headmistress of one school and the headmaster of the other school said, "Have you thought of correspondence course?" Well, to me correspondence course was either for diplomats' children or children that were in the far outback in Australia, you know? And they said, "No, no, no. You do it, but you have to be the mediators."

KEVAN JOHNSTON: It was good fun, in a way. We learnt a lot. We saw you develop as a person. We saw you learn. I think it was a wonderful preparation for university and later education because you're taught, like they tell us, and they did tell us at the time, that, "Definitely only help them when they really need help. Make them find out for themselves." You were given a list of reference books and things to study before you did the test paper. No, no, that was good.

TOD JOHNSTON: I did manage to make it to a few schools. And then, of course, there was the school play.

KEVAN JOHNSTON: You hadn't rehearsed or given any indication that you could sing. I think around about that time I might have been doing 'Pippin', I'm not sure. And the Farnham influence on you came out and Mum and I just looked at each other and said, "He's good. He's good. Where did this all come from?" 'Cause we didn't encourage you. We didn't discourage.

JILL PERRYMAN: You know you get that moment and you think, "Is he that good? Is this real?" You know, you don't want to think that perhaps your child has got a certain talent 'cause you know what pitfalls are going to be ahead for them. I think that was the first eye-opener, that we realised that there was something lying dormant there that was in the chemistry and it would come out eventually. And it has, you see?

TOD JOHNSTON: And that brings us to an interesting point. If you're in the entertainment industry all your life would you wish it on your children?

Did you have hopes and aspirations for me to go into the theatre?

KEVAN JOHNSTON: Not really. If you wanted to do it that was fine. Um, I would have been there if you wanted advice on it. You'd probably go to Mum more for advice, I think, because you're frightened of what I'll say. But... (Laughs) But, no. No, I didn't have aspirations of you doing it. And I was very adamant in the fact that I didn't want you to be what I call an 'obnoxious theatrical kid' or, you know, full of your own importance. I felt that you should do some sport, which you liked, which was great. Because I felt in our way of life, our world of life, our theatrical way of life, it was good for you to realise that there were other things in life besides the theatre.

TOD JOHNSTON: So where did I end up? Well, education was important to me. I got myself a university degree. But the stage was still calling.

Did you find it unusual that when I achieved my university degree I went off and joined a rock band?

JILL PERRYMAN: Not at all. (Laughs) Not one bit. See, that's what's so good. I don't like things that follow a pattern. I love things... It's the adventure of show business or even environmental science. You never know what's around the corner. That's why I love this business. It's the uncertainty that can drive you up the wall, but it's the uncertainty that I love, because it just keeps you on edge, which I like. I don't know what your father would say. (Laughs)

KEVAN JOHNSTON: Alright, you've been asking us a few questions. What about if we ask you? What influence did being brought up by us in the theatre have on your life?

TOD JOHNSTON: I think it's changed my personality. I'm quieter than I normally would have been.

KEVAN JOHNSTON: (Laughs) That's a joke!

TOD JOHNSTON: Um, I think that, by growing up in a theatrical family, it's given me the courage to stand on my own two feet and to accept responsibility and not to shy away from the limelight. I guess there are some people that don't want to be in the limelight. But if you've got the courage enough to get up and do it, whether you're good, bad or indifferent, you stand on your own two feet and you just, you know, persist.

Well, I guess this is where I've ended up - in front of the camera. You can also find me behind a microphone with my band and also some radio work. Am I a natural-born performer or did I learn to live this way? I don't know. But I wouldn't be dead for quids.

GEORGE NEGUS: Thanks, Tod. Exit stage left. And aren't his mum and dad looking and sounding terrific? Particularly Jill, for all her fans out there. You too, Kev.

80 years without a highlight

As promised, my spoiler-free rundown of the Oscars ceremony. Tonight you will see a fairly smooth, if largely predictable, ceremony.

There were no embarrassing speeches, but no highlights either.

The Daily Show's Jon Stewart brought his usual dry humour to the evening, with a few running gags about pregnant celebs, and a "what might have been" look at a strike affected Awards.

Some of the clips of previous ceremonies had some sentimental moments, but as an 80th celebration it was a little on the routine side.

The musical numbers (assuming they remain in the Nine package) were more Broadway than Hollywood, no doubt because three of them were from Enchanted.

The In Memoriam section as always was sad, finishing with one poignant loss in particular.

One acceptance speech winner, cut short by the music, was invited back after the break to have their moment. Another got lost for words and cued the music themselves!

One category is 'presented' via satellite from US soldiers in Baghdad. The most staggering part of this package was their youthful age. It reeked of America having sent its children to war -perhaps that was the intent?

Harrison Ford looked half-asleep giving his presentation. Jennifer Hudson was lousy. Best were Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen.

And boy were there a lot of television-stars-who-have-done-the-odd-movie as presenters.

Best frock: Helen Mirren.

The best pre-show fun was in watching Richard Wilkins fluff his lines on the red carpet during the live satellite feed, none of which will remain in the edited highlights tonight.