Tag Archive for: TVNZ OnDemand

Educators is Back for a Third Chaotic School Year

After two critically acclaimed seasons, Educators is back for a third season. Directed by DEGANZ member Jesse Griffin, the show stars co-creators Jackie van Beek (DEGANZ) and Jonny Brugh.

The comedy sitcom follows the hilariously inept teachers in charge of educating the next generation. Set behind the scenes of a typical New Zealand secondary school, the teaching staff is made up of local comedy legends, including Kura Forrester and Rick Donald. Primarily unscripted and improvised, the entire cast’s comedy strengths are on full display.

The show first aired in 2019 with the support of NZOA and has since won the Bronze World Medal in the 2020 New York Festival Streaming Comedy category. It also received nominations for the 2021 NZTV Awards for Best Comedy Series and the 2019 Huawei Mate30 Pro New Zealand Television Awards for Best Web Series.

Watch the series here.

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Aidee Walker Directs Kid Sister Now on TVNZ OnDemand

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Kid Sister has landed on TVNZ OnDemand! There are 5 episodes to binge now, directed by DEGANZ member Aidee Walker. The sitcom was created and written by New York-based Jewish Kiwi Simone Nathan, who also stars as the lead. Kid Sister follows Lulu, a loveable train wreck, as she goes on a crazy ride whilst trying to balance her love of her Jewish family and culture with finding her own path.

Congratulations to Aidee and the team behind the show. Positive reviews have started to roll in with The Spinoff’s Sam Brooke writing, “It’s a reminder that New Zealand doesn’t make enough of these kinds of personality-driven TV projects, shows that revolve around a singular highly watchable character.”

The experience for Aidee on Kid Sister was very different to the normal television model in New Zealand. She would describe it as director-led, thanks to the encouragement of producer Emily Anderton. Aidee spent nine months working on the show, including doing all the post production and sign offs with her producer.

Aidee’s directing credits for television include Mystic for CBBC and TVNZ, and local shows The Brokenwood Mysteries and Westside. She participated in DEGANZ’s inaugural Women Filmmakers Incubator in 2016.

Kid Sister was edited by Alex Boyd. Tammy Williams was the cinematographer and the show was executive produced by Harriet Crampton at Greenstone TV and Simone Nathan.

Watch Kid Sister here

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High Tide Don’t Hide Now Streaming

Co-directed by DEGANZ member Niva Kay, Emily McDowell, Nia Phipps and Phil Stebbing, High Tide Don’t Hide is now available on TVNZ OnDemand.

Documenting the 2019 School Strike for Climate movement, the feature documentary follows a group of teenagers preparing for the New Zealand protest. As the movement comes together, a painful truth emerges; climate change disproportionately affects indigenous people.

To ensure the effect of climate change on Pacific nations is acknowledged, Kiwi-Pasifika poet Aigagaleifili Fepulea’i Tapua’i forms a breakaway group to draw focus to this climate truth.

But planning the movement was the easy part. Kiwi teens face an ongoing struggle to be heard, as the tides continue to rise. Click here to watch High Tide Don’t Hide.

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TVNZ Drops Beyond the Veil

Congratulations to our members involved with Beyond the Veil as the anthology series has dropped on TVNZ OnDemand. Episode 3, Tappy, was written and directed by DEGANZ member Tim Worrall. Mia Maramara (DEGANZ) is behind the fourth episode, Albularyo, as both writer and director, while editor Brendon Chan (DEGANZ) cut the episode.

Beyond the Veil explores supernatural stories from the Māori, Pasifika, Filipino and Chinese people of Aotearoa. Episode 3 sees a hesitant young man embark on a road trip to fetch a body, while Episode 4 follows a Kiwi-Filipino doctor facing up to her troubled family dynamic.

Episodes of Beyond the Veil are dropping weekly on Mondays at 8:30 pm on TVNZ 2. But if you can’t wait to see it, the entire season is now streaming on TVNZ OnDemand.

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Under the Vines Heads Back Into Production

Filmed in Central Otago, Under the Vines is heading back into production for its second season after gaining traction overseas. This charming drama-comedy was created by DEGANZ member Erin White. Guild member Danny Mulheron directed the first block, while Erin directed episodes four to six.

Starring Rebecca Gibney (Wanted) and Charles Edwards (The Crown), the series follows two city dwellers as they navigate rural New Zealand after inheriting an Otago vineyard. But neither knows a thing about hard work, only their dislike for the other.

Co-produced by TVNZ and AMC’s (US) streaming platform, Acorn, Under the Vines has gained popularity internationally. The six-part first series was filmed in the beautiful vineyards around Gibbston Valley. All episodes are now available on TVNZ OnDemand.

Congratulations to Erin and Danny, and good luck to everyone working on season 2.

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