Russell Campbell
Russell Campbell has been analysing film and television for more than four decades. A longtime lecturer in film at Victoria University, Campbell’s books include Observations, a volume on New Zealand documentary — a field in which he has extensive first-hand experience.
Chris Harrington
Chris Harrington began in local television in 1976, reporting and producing current affairs and news. Highlights of his career include award-winning Sunday stories about allegations of police pack rape by Louise Nicholas, and another on treatment of Porirua Hospital inmates. In 1989 he was awarded a QSM for services to journalism. In 2007 Harrington moved into private production and public relations.
Jennifer Ward-Lealand
Kiwi acting legend Jennifer Ward-Lealand began acting at age seven; her first screen role followed at age nine. Since then she has starred in big screen dramas Desperate Remedies and Vermilion to critical acclaim, and appeared in a long run of television shows, from TV drama Danny and Raewyn to Australian comedy show Full Frontal.
Michael Hurst
Actor and director Michael Hurst is a Kiwi creative institution. Even leaving aside his work as a director and stage actor, Hurst's screen resume runs to 50 roles and counting: including playing everyone from painter Toulouse-Lautrec, to Hercules's sidekick Iolaus, to politician Rodney Hide.
Jonathan Ogilvie
Christchurch-born Jonathan Ogilvie has made dozens of music videos including the iconic clip She Speeds, for the Straitjacket Fits song. Based in Australia since the 90s, the AFTRS graduate has since had two shorts in competition at Cannes — one of them a Tropfest winner — shot a feature on Super 8 film, and in 2008 released 1920s gangster romance The Tender Hook, starring Hugo Weaving and Rose Byrne.
John Reid
John Reid made his feature debut with an acclaimed version of hit Roger Hall stage play Middle Age Spread. He went on to direct three more features ranging from raw comedy to moody arthouse pieces — plus documentaries, TV dramas and commercials. Reid has also been head tutor at the New Zealand Film and Television School in Wellington, and written the definitive book on the history of Pacific Films.
Grant Morris
After cutting his teeth on South Pacific Television soap Radio Waves, Christchurch-born Grant Morris went on to write comedy (The Billy T James Show) and children’s classic Count Homogenized — plus help create drama series Heroes and Inside Straight. Morris has continued to write since relocating to the United States in 1985, and is now a DJ on radio station It's New Orleans.
Jennifer Ludlam
Alongside a busy theatrical career, Jennifer Ludlam has acted onscreen at home and in Australia (Sons and Daughters, Prisoner). Award-winning turns came as an ex-prostitute falling for an undercover cop in 1993 TV-movie Undercover. Three years later she was news anchor Liz Whiteman in Cover Story. Ludlam won again as the put-upon mother in Apron Strings, before acting in TV comedy Golden and thriller The Blue Rose.
Jodie Rimmer
Jodie Rimmer began acting as a teen, in trans-Tasman TV tale Rogue Stallion. Since then her screen resume has displayed her versatility: from starring as a prostitute in debut feature I’ll Make You Happy, to playing real-life journalist Donna Chisholm (Until Proven Innocent), a duplicitous villian (Shortland Street), an Amazonian (Young Hercules), and an award-winning turn as Matthew Macfadyen’s ex-flame in In My Father’s Den.
Hori Ahipene
The versatile Hori Ahipene became a New Zealand comedy fixture in the 1990s after playing a Samoan matriarch on Skitz and The Semisis, a DJ in pioneering bilingual sitcom Radio Wha Waho, and his work directing for a run of sketch shows. The Toi Whakaari graduate went on to co-star with Te Radar on offbeat sitcom and chat show B&B, then took on dual roles for kapa haka comedy The Ring Inz.