MikeSmith
- Director
Since cutting his teeth on 1978 soap Radio Waves, Mike Smith has built one of the longest directing CVs in local television, winning awards en route for both drama and comedy. In 2005 he produced the debut season of Outrageous Fortune, and played a hand in its casting. He has also created or helped create shows Heroes, hit comedy Willy Nilly, The Lost Children and campground comedy Sunny Skies. In 2025, he made his feature directorial debut with ensemble drama The People We Love.
Screenography
Biography
Director and producer Mark Beesley, who has worked with Mike Smith on more than one occasion, appreciates his respect for the importance of the script. "Once Mike locks into a story, he's like a terrier with a bone," says Beesley. "He won't let it go, won't compromise till the telling's done to his satisfaction. He becomes a monster — but in a good way — especially if it happens to be your story he's chasing down."
Awards
2019 Huawei Mate30 Pro New Zealand Television Awards
Nominated for Best Feature Drama (shared with Gary Scott and Karen Curtis): for Mistress, Mercy: The Renee Chignell Story
“Right now Mike's in a sweet spot, doing some of the best work of his career (Siege, Underbelly, Almighty Johnsons), possibly because he seems determined not to rest on the laurels of his extensive experience, but to push himself out of his comfort zone.”
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