Celebrity Treasure Island - First Episode
In the first all celebrity version of Touchdown reality TV hit Treasure Island, 14 marooned contestants must provide food, water, fire, and shelter for themselves on a Fijian island, as they compete to find treasure and avoid elimination. Presented by Pieta Keating — who was runner-up on the original Treasure Island — the "household names" include Olympians and All Blacks (Frank Bunce), model Nicky Watson, actors and TV tradesman John Cocks. Hunger and cheating suspicions soon exacerbate tensions between the teams.
The Peter Jackson Collection
Peter Jackson has gone from shy fanboy to master of his craft; from Pukerua Bay to Wellywood. With six journeys into Middle-earth now behind him, he has few peers in the realm of large scale filmmaking. Led by early 'behind the scenes' docos this collection pays tribute to PJ's journey, from re-making King Kong in his backyard to err ... re-making King Kong in his backyard.
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).
Death and the Maiden
"Shall we have our photo taken?" This lo-fi classic offers up a time capsule to a long ago day down south, with The Verlaines performing in a Dunedin flat in the company of various Flying Nun friends, and a wandering pet bunny. Director/cameraman Peter Janes recalls that the clip was shot "in a beautiful old house on Stuart Street", before everyone "took off to Cargill's Castle and made it up as we went along." Vocalist Graeme Downes' 18 mentions in the chorus of a word starting with 'V' are a namecheck not only for his band, but for infamous French poet Paul Verlaine.
Julie Christie
Julie Christie, DNZM, is one of New Zealand's most successful television producers. She built her company, Touchdown Productions, into the country's leading producer of entertainment television and exporter of programme formats. In 2006 she sold Touchdown to global company Eyeworks in a multi-million dollar deal; she stayed on as managing director until 2012.
Charlotte Purdy
Charlotte Purdy’s CV ranges from reality TV to Antarctic disaster. After a television OE in the United Kingdom, she helmed documentaries and factual TV back home. Under her Rogue Productions banner she created reality format The Big Experiment, and made Reel Late with Kate. After a decade producing current affairs, she co-directed docudrama Erebus: Operation Overdue and rugby doco By the Balls.
Meg Douglas
Producer Meg Douglas began in television as a teenage reporter, before heading behind the camera as an adult. Since then she has worked in a variety of roles — from researcher, writer and production manager, to producer and director. In 2005, Douglas started her own production company, Scottie Productions, which has netted several awards.
David Ambler
After starting his TV career in his native New Zealand, David Ambler found himself in London, taking on global hit MasterChef. Ambler first honed his talents on 1990s series First Hand, then directed a run of documentaries and non-fiction shows, including Epitaph and My House, My Castle. Eventually relocating to England, he directed and produced a range of non-fiction titles, then became Head of Programmes at production company Shine TV. In 2010 he shared a BAFTA Award for MasterChef - The Professionals. In 2016 the MasterChef veteran took on the job of overseeing Britain's stable of MasterChef shows.
Willy de Wit
After making his name as part of comedy troupe Funny Business in the 80s, Willy de Wit found national success when the foursome won their own sketch show in 1988. From there de Wit appeared in a host of comedy shows throughout the 90s, including More Issues, Sportsnight and Comedy Central, before becoming a host on Radio Hauraki in 1998. He stayed with the station for 12 years.
Rachale Davies
Rachale Davies was 16 when she started her TV career, reporting for teen show InFocus. She moved behind the camera in the early 2000s, producing, shooting and researching stories for iconic children's show Blue Peter and reality show Diet Trials at the BBC in London. On returning to New Zealand, Davies directed on The Apprentice New Zealand and the first season of New Zealand's Next Top Model. In Australia, she produced The Farmer Wants a Wife (season eight), and was a casting producer for Big Brother. Davies went on to work as a series producer at Attitude Pictures in Auckland.