Christopher Bourn: Pioneering entertainment producer…

Christopher Bourn is the pioneering entertainment producer best known for his work on the classic talent series Studio One. He has also worked as a sports director, and on a range of other early TV shows. His legacy of live TV broadcasts includes directing the first ever All Black rugby test to be broadcast on television, as well as the boxing at the 1974 Commonwealth Games; and serving as New Zealand producer for international co-production The Pacific Song Contest.

In this ScreenTalk, Bourn talks about:

• Becoming a presentation director at WNTV-1, and early days working with Selwyn Toogood
• A major camera meltdown at the first televised rugby match
• How Night Sky host Peter Read was tongue-tied by an astronomically famous guest
• How a performer made music from vegetables during auditions for talent show Studio One
• The day TV began screening in colour in New Zealand
• Directing the boxing at the 1974 Commonwealth Games
• Creating the multi-country Pacific Song Contest
• Enjoying directing the live screens for many big concerts at the Auckland Domain
• Never having had a boring day during his TV career

This video was first uploaded on 5 December 2016, and is available under this Creative Commons licence. This licence is limited to use of ScreenTalk interview footage only and does not apply to any video content and photographs from films, television, music videos, web series and commercials used in the interview.

Interview, Camera and Editing – Andrew Whiteside