Will Hall: On goodies, baddies and a dodgy Aussie...
Will Hall fell into a screen career by accident after hanging out with filmmakers at Lincoln University - an unlikely scenario given his study towards a commerce degree. Since then, Hall has forged a career both in front of and behind the camera. Hall’s introduction to trans-Tasman film work had some teething problems, but on returning to NZ he landed a key role in The Insiders Guide to Happiness. Roles in Eagle vs Shark, Shortland Street and tele-feature Bloodlines followed, as well as Underbelly - Land of the Long Green Cloud and Nothing Trivial. Hall also co-produced and acted in his own feature film Netherwood, described as NZ's first modern day western thriller.
Esther Stephens: On being a curious — rather than ambitious — actor…
Actor and singer Esther Stephens made her television debut as Olivia on popular show Go Girls. Since then Stephens has acted on TV both here and across the Tasman, including Westside, When We Go to War, the Kiwi version of Underbelly, and in NZ/Australian co-production 800 Words.
Philly de Lacey: On the challenges of making crime shows...
Philly de Lacey is the Managing Director of production company Screentime NZ. Screentime has produced a number of crime documentaries and dramas, and De Lacey has been involved with many of them as Executive Producer. Her credits include documentary series Police Ten 7, Water Patrol and Marae DIY; and the dramas Bloodlines, Siege, Safe House and Underbelly: Land of the Long Green Cloud.
Dan Musgrove: From PVC-clad teen to Westside bigot…
Dan Musgrove loves playing bad guys and has managed to do so in shows such as Underbelly NZ – Land of the Long Green Cloud, Go Girls and Westside. When not being bad, he has acted in fantasy programmes (Legend of the Seeker), got a girl pregnant (Piece of My Heart), and climbed a mountain (Beyond the Edge).
Mike Smith: On directing drama and passing on Russell Crowe...
Versatile director Mike Smith has made an enormous amount of New Zealand drama. Highlights of his lengthy television CV include Radio Waves, Duggan, Serial Killers, The Almighty Johnsons, Nothing Trivial, tele-movie Siege and docu-drama Nancy Wake: The White Mouse. Smith also had a big hand in creating Heroes (80s pop band on-the-make show), yokels comedy Willy Nilly, children’s drama The Lost Children and 2013 comedy Sunny Skies. He was also one of the key players in the launch of Outrageous Fortune.
Stelios Yiakmis: From heart-throb to bad guy …
Actor Stelios Yiakmis created a name for himself playing doctor Johnny Marinovich for five years on Shortland Street. He gained further acting credentials in a range of Australian and Kiwi TV shows such as McLeod's Daughters, All Saints, and Underbelly – Land of the Long White Cloud, and the Australian feature film Jindabyne.
Ray Henwood: The voice...
Ray Henwood, ONZM — father of comedian Dai — arrived in New Zealand from Wales, just in time for the birth of professional theatre downunder. Best known to TV viewers for five seasons playing Hugh on hit comedy Gliding On, Henwood’s screen roles included villains (The Legend of William Tell) and surgeons (Shortland Street). On stage he played Stalin, Einstein and Richard Burton, and starred in early plays at Wellington theatres Downstage and Circa.