Tom Finlayson: aliens, rural cops and casting in Belfast...

Interview – 2011

Reporter turned producer and director Tom Finlayson has an impressive track record in New Zealand television. He began his TV career as a reporter on Town and Around, but quickly moved on to news producing, and eventually TV drama production. Finlayson produced beloved sci-fi series Under the Mountain and successful police drama Mortimer’s Patch, as well as movies Other Halves and The Grasscutter.

In this ScreenTalk interview, Finlayson talks about:

His excitement and naivety upon becoming a reporter on Town and Around
The cynicism behind the wholesome family show Stars on Sunday
How producing the TV series Under the Mountain was one of his best experiences
Using mirrors to create in-camera effects for the show
The real reason for shooting Mortimer’s Patch in the countryside
The courage of director John Laing in picking street kids to act in Other Halves
The challenge of casting The Grasscutter in Belfast with director Ian Mune

This video was first uploaded on 29 November 2011, 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

...we had plenty of urban cops and robbers stuff from America, and the idea that we would reflect something quieter, and New Zealand and wry, and that sort of stuff was also very appealing.
– Tom Finalyson on the birth of rural copy show

Tom's Full Profile