Child's Play

Child's Play offered primary school students the chance to create their own stories, then have them filmed. Each story ran from six to eight minutes long, and they ranged across comedy, adventure, mystery and fantasy — although as director Peter Sharp notes here, many were macabre. Made in the early days of second channel South Pacific Television, the series featured extensive location shoots and high production values. The first season was presented by actors Ilona Rodgers and Selwyn Crockett, and season two by Alice Worsley. The winning writer of each season was flown to Auckland and presented with a prize.