RonPledger
- Director
- Producer
Since joining state television as a sound operator in the 60s, Ron Pledger has gone on to win a reputation for his assured coverage of a wide range of live events, from concerts to This is Your Life to the state funeral of Sir Edmund Hillary. A life long music lover, Pledger was awarded an MBE in 1992, helping recognise 40 years of service in a military band.
Screenography
Biography
When colleagues are asked to describe Ron Pledger, words like calm, organised and gentleman tend to float to the top. Christine Brown, who assisted him on a run of live broadcasts in the 80s, remembers Pledger “as well-organised, a real gentleman and an absolute pleasure to work with”. Sound operator Andrew Stewart argues Pledger leaves nothing to chance. Stewart often crews on Praise Be, the show Pledger has produced for two decades; he argues that, “when Ron is the producer/director on a live production, apart from being great to work with, you have confidence it will go well”.
Awards
2002 TV Guide New Zealand Television Awards
Nominated for Best Entertainment Programme: 2001 Montana Wearable Art Awards
1995 New Zealand Film and Television Awards
Best Entertainment Programme: This is Your Life, Grant Fox
“In the control room he was calm and focused, and that flowed on to the rest of us working beside him. My over-riding memory is of the fun we had making programmes. Despite the hard work, long hours and unpredictable nature of live TV it was always enjoyable. That was in no small part down to Ron’s input.”