Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Director confident that Billy T's talent will be recognised

Updated at 8:36 am on 16 August 2011

The director of a documentary film portraying both the private and public life of Billy T James, says the entertainer's talent will be recognised both by audiences who grew up with him and the generation that came after his death.

Billy T - Te Movie had its premiere in Hamilton on Monday night.

Director Ian Mune says he is fairly confident the movie will be a hit when it opens to the public later this week.

He hopes the audience will have the opportunity through the movie to celebrate Billy's life and appreciate that he was a much loved New Zealander.

Mune says older people will remember the brilliance of Billy T James as both a singer and a comedian, and younger people will be equally inspired.

He says he is sure that Billy T, who died 20 years ago at the age of 42, would have been proud of the film.

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