QTV
Paora Durie
Name: Paora Durie
Nickname: Paora?
Favourite food: Avocado Sushi
Worst Food: Anything but avocado Sushi
Favourite book: Vile Bodies by Evelyn Waugh
Favourite TV show: Curb your enthusiasm by Larry David
Most memorable holiday: Paris
Pets: Oscar, my ginger cat, she's a doll
Most memorable Q moment: Everyday is memorable; everyday we found out hugely exciting scientific improvements and frightening issues that all really impact us.
Favourite interview: Ooh, that's tough. We've fallen in love with every single scientist we've met because they're all just so brilliantly intelligent, and all very eccentric. They're almost not real people, like an advanced sub-species of humans. So it's always fun to just sit down and chat with these real life scientists
Most embarrassing moment: Every time I see an episode. I really don't like watching myself, because that's not how I see myself and when I do it's terribly embarrassing because I think 'that's how people see me?!'
Person you'd most like to meet: I'd love to meet Brian Tamaki and ask him if he's feeling a little completely insane?
One thing you can't live without: Agave Plant & Grapes
Hometown: Wellington, it's a like a little miniature world, in a village. Wellington's a heck of a town
Primary School: Clyde Quay School, would you believe, also a heck of a primary school
High School: Wellington High, NOT to be confused with Wellington College, don't insult me
Most loved cartoon: American Dad
Most loved sport to watch: Woman's senior league petanque
Most loved sport to play: need you ask?
Most loved pop group: Le Tigre
Other jobs you've done: Hospitality
Most loved memory: Paris
If I was a singer I'd be: Gil Scott Herron, haha, I wish, but probably actually like the bird who left Atomic kitten for the bloke from Westlife
When I chill out I: Read, perve at art, or watch a film
Ambitions and dreams: I'm going to get a job on a cheesy Aussie soap then become a pop star, perhaps a little later poster boy for a huge make-up conglomerate
Family: My parents are lovely, my big brother's much like me, and my extended family is a monstrous throbbing mass of aroha
Subjects at school: Over the wonderful, formative years of high school I took art, drama, physics, mathematics, English, photography, geography, film, journalism, everything! I loved high school, not only did I have the most fun in my life but it's where you learn how to become real people. If you muck around in high school, it's all downhill from there.
Chelsie Preston Crayford
Name: Chelsie Preston Crayford
Nickname: Chels, Littles, Coons, Cher, Bum-face, Shmelzen, River-legs, Flo...
Favourite food: Avocado, Cheese, Potatoes, Gelato, Sushi... anything I'm in the mood for really.
Worst Food: Straight cow's milk and egg whites. Not too keen on seafood either.
Favourite movie: Buffalo 66, Napoleon Dynamite, Anchorman, Perfect Strangers, Monsters inc, Kill Bill 1 & 2.
Favourite book: Bartlett and the city of flames by Odo Hirsch, The star bellied sneeches by Dr. Zeuss, and I hate to say it but definitely Harry Potter series. Love the books, hate the films.
Favourite TV show: Kath & Kim, The Office, Curb your Enthusiasm, Scrubs, Full House, Spongebob, and Lost is addictive, as well as Medical Investigation.
Most memorable holiday: Pretty much every holiday I've had, especially when I was a kid. There's been some hilarious times in Takaka and Blackspoint with all my cousies. Fiji last year with my best friend Phylli was awesome too.
Imaginary friends: Mostly myself. I'm an only child so I kind of learnt to entertain myself in my head. It's great, I hardly ever get bored.
Pets: I've had soo many but just one who's actually stuck it out with me, my cat Hercules. Unfortunately Herc died recently. He was born when I was three. He's a legend.
Most memorable Q moment: There have been some instances in the van where 'I Spy' has gotten way outta hand (by the way you can definitely say "reflection" as your word). Barnaby's always a laugh on set too, I would've ruined so many takes laughing at that guy.
Favourite interview: They've all been super interesting and I've discovered so much more than I expected.
Most embarrassing moment: Ever?! I've had way way way too many to even list. I embarrass myself every day. Most recent is probably the other day. I was late for a lecture at my university and I'd asked my friend to save me a seat. I walked in and she was way over the other side of the lecture theatre, so I kind of stood there for a while deciding whether I should walk across or not. I decided against it, seeing as I would've had to walk right in front of the lecturer. Now aware that everyone was already looking at me I casually went for the stairs, trying to redeem myself by acting cool, and tripped over. The entire lecture theatre were in hysterics and about a week later people I didn't know were still asking if I had a nice trip.
Person you'd most like to meet: I dunno about meet cos I'm so awkward when I meet people I admire, but I'd like to be friends with Gina Reilly and Jane Turner (the girls from Kath & Kim), Maggie Smith, Johnny Depp, and Brooke Fraser. Anyone I could learn stuff from. I'd really like to meet the Dalai Llama actually. Oprah would be worth a go too she gives out a lot of free stuff.
One thing you can't live without: Lip balm, sunshine, laughter, family, water, music and slippers.
Hometown: Wellington
High School: Wellington East Girls' College for 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th form and Wellington High School for 7th form.
Most loved cartoon: Spongebob Squarepants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Jem and the Holograms, Captain Planet and Popeye the Sailor.
Most loved sport to watch: Some of those random sports you only ever see at the Olympics like Synchronised Swimming and Weightlifting.
Most loved sport to play: Hmmm, I'm not really a sporty girl as such (in fact I completely suck at every sport invented) but I like jumping on my trampoline and doing Pilates, does that count? Oh I played badminton once but I came 2nd to last in the team.
Most loved pop group: Umm, well I guess if it has to be pop it's gotta be the Beatles, and there will always be a place in my heart for the Spice Girls. I love pretty much all types of music. My favourite at the mo would have to be Fat Freddy's Drop.
Other jobs you've done: Done heaps of different acting jobs since I was about 4. Ads, Plays, TV series episodes, stuff like that. Played 'Missy' on Shortland St in 6th form. My first regular job was at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington, I started there when I was 15 and only recently left to be on Q.
Most loved memory: Wow, I wouldn't like to say. I have so many fantastic memories and I wouldn't like to put one above the other. It's great when you get a part you really wanted or a good grade for something you tried really hard for, but its also great when you're just sitting on the couch and you realise how insanely content you are, and how many amazing people are around you. I guess those are the kinds of memories I value the most.
If I was a singer I'd be: Definitely Beyonce Knowles. Who can resist that booty? And she's a killer dancer too.
When I chill out I: do pretty much absolutely nothing. I love veging out on the couch with my mum and boyfriend most of all though. I love the feeling when you don't have anything that you can actually just lie around and do nothing. That feeling gets rarer and rarer.
Ambitions and dreams: My main ambitions are to always be doing what I enjoy and feel passionate about, to live in the moment, and to always be learning. I want to have a long, full, exciting life (don't we all).
Family: I live with my mum Gaylene, which is a blast, but my family is massive! I've got heaps of extended family all over the show and we all love seeing each other and hanging out. I especially love mucking around with my dad and cousins; we always end up with sore stomachs from laughing so hard. My cousins are like the siblings I never had. We tease each other all the time and love each other heaps.
Subjects at school: My best subject at school was Drama, but I also enjoyed English, Painting, Classics, Science & Maths (until they got too hard for me) and Social studies. This year I do Theatre at Vic Uni.
Barnaby Fredric
Name: Barnaby Fredric
Nickname: Barney, Barnabus, Barn, B-dog, Barnabizzle, Barnabot, Bazza, B-Fred
Favourite food: Charlie's Pressed Apple Juice
Worst Food: Feijoas, Mince
Favourite movie: Adaptation, In my Father's Den, Shaolin Soccer ... to name a few
Favourite book: Anything by the incredible Bernard Beckett, and of course the Harry Potter books are so addictive!
Favourite TV show: Eating Media Lunch, Scrubs, Family Guy, South Park, Lost, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm
Most memorable holiday: Los Angeles, California living it up, staying with the richest kids in the world.
Imaginary friends: None, though I do have an inner monologue
Pets: 2 cats, Toto and Fina
Most memorable Q moment: A certain comment made by Dr. Ashley Rowden regarding bathroom etiquette in submersibles…..
Favourite interview: They are all really crazy and interesting, too hard to choose
Most embarrassing moment: Heaps and heaps, I felt like a total moron doing some of the wacky stunts we pull on this show.
Person you'd most like to meet: Larry David, Jeremy Wells, Natalie Portman, Ricky Gervais, Zach Braff
One thing you can't live without: Comedy
Hometown: Wellington
Primary School: Wadestown School
High School: Onslow College
Most loved cartoon: Family Guy, Transformers, Clone High
Most loved sport to watch: Handball, Test Cricket (if you need to pass time)
Most loved sport to play: Soccer
Most loved pop group: I don't know if they are pop, but I like The Living End, The Strokes, Kraftwerk and Snoop Dogg
Other jobs you've done: I was a Bank Teller for a while, and worked at Burger Wisconsin
Most loved memory: 7th Form year at Onslow
If I was a singer I'd be: A rap sensation with well-crafted beats
When I chill out I : Hang out with mates maybe make a movie
Ambitions and dreams: To act professionally
Family: Younger brother and sister
Subjects at school: Drama, English, Chemistry, History, Calculus
Tessa Devereux
Name: Tessa Devereux
Nickname: Teddy
Favourite food: Pasta and sauce, and ice cream (of course)
Worst Food: Coriander and asparagus - yuuurk
Favourite movie: Finding Nemo
Favourite book: The Day After Forever by Erin Skiffington
Favourite TV show: Scrubs
Most memorable holiday: Schooltrip to Europe in 6th form, just don't tell my teacher I called it a holiday.
Imaginary friends: Hundreds of "London Cats". They lived in London but teleported through my fence to hang out with me. (I was only 4!!)
Pets: Our dog Moss and my cockatiel Dott
Most memorable Q moment: Making tsunami in the spa pool
Favourite interview: Kevin Mackay the geologist
Most embarrassing moment: When I was 13 and my brother walked in on me when I was getting dressed.
Person you'd most like to meet: Nelson Mandela - but I don't know what I'd say.
One thing you can't live without: My diary, my camera, my cell phone - well one day they'll all be one thing!
What are you wearing right now?: Purple jersey, brown pants, blue fluffy slippers and 20p piece from London made into a necklace
Hometown: Wellington
Primary School: Owhiro Bay
High School: Wellington High School
Most loved cartoon: Invader Zim & The Simpsons
Most loved sport to watch: Hockey
Most loved sport to play: Hackey sack
Most loved pop group: Spice Girls (old school)
Other jobs you've done: Walking someone's dogs for them, Holiday Programme/After School Care, Evolve - Wellington Youth Centre, Babysitting,
Most loved memory: Making video clips with my best friend and her family. But you'll never see them - muahahaha
If I was a singer I'd be: Holly Smith
When I chill out I: listen to music, read a book, play with Dott my cockatiel and write - heaps!!
Ambitions and dreams: Write a book, see the Aurora Borealis, learn a jazz song on the piano
Family: Big and complicated. If I leave someone out they'll be mad at me.
Subjects at school: Photography, English, Drama, Physics, English, Chemistry, Hospitality
GLENIS GILES – PRODUCER
Glenis has a background in sales and marketing. She has worked in the New Zealand independent film and television industry since 1988 as a production manager, line producer and producer. Her portfolio of work includes film and television drama, theatrical short films, documentaries, children's television, commercials and music videos. She has worked extensively in the production of television for youth and produced the highly successful and award winning films Song of the Siren, Shoes, The Grocer's Apprentice and Eau de la Vie.
Glenis and her business partner, Di Oliver-Zahl, created Project Q the multi-media science based project with initial support from NIWA and many of the CRI's. Tragically Di was killed in a biking accident just prior to pre-production of the series in February 2005. "Her traumatic loss was devastating, but I'm very proud of our achievement and just wish she was still here to celebrate with us".
Project Q incorporates QTV a multi-media 13 part television series for children, Q Careers - profiles of ten scientists from around NZ and the supporting interactive website designed by Oktobor.
Di and Glenis worked with the CRI's,The Sir Peter Blake Trust, The Ministry of Education, Oktobor, Transpower and TVNZ to get Q to the screen.
Oliver-Zahl and Giles met working on Bread and Roses and established OliverGILES Productions in 1994, (Limited 2003). They made numerous theatrical shorts together but Q was their passion.
Glenis an active member of the Wellington film community currently Chairing the Wellington Fringe Film Festival, and was a founding member of WIFT Wellington Inc. (Women in Film and Television)
OliverGILES Productions Ltd
P.O.Box 9207
Wellington
New Zealand
+ 64 21 650 368
www.olivergiles.co.nz
glenis.g@paradise.net.nz
glenis@qteam.co.nz
www.wgtn.wift.org.nz
www.fringefilmfest.co.nz
www.nzfilm.co.nz
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Di Oliver-Zahl – Executive Producer
For the past fifteen years Di worked consistently in the film and television industry, as a producer, creative director, writer and researcher. Di's work received international acclaim at the prestigious Cannes Festival International du Film; the Festival Internationale Cinema Giovani Italy Le Prix de la Jeunesse at Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival and two awards at Odense International Film Festival in Denmark in 1996.
She produced and developed drama and documentaries for television, feature and theatrical shorts for cinema. More recently her focus had expanded to include the development of new media and next generation technologies. Di held a Master of Communications from Victoria University, her thesis explored the collaborative work of art and science including nanotechnology, biological evolution, natural disasters and mycology and utilised five different communication media, theatre, installation art, painting, sculpture and cinema.
She was a founding trustee in AbeeC, an environmental education trust and the New Zealand representative in the London based NGO, Women Broadcasting for Change for the Television Trust for The Environment (TVE), producers of Earth Report.
Di was a teaching fellow at Victoria University’s School of Management and a tutor in Media Studies. She was about to embark on her PHD prior to her tragic accident in February this year.
Di and Glenis had been developing the concept for project Q over the last three years. She was passionate about Q and had directed several of the career profiles earlier this year. Di was very excited about the prospect of the television series and the interactivity of a web presence.
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Clare O'Leary- Co-Director, QTV
Clare is a documentary filmmaker and researcher in the creative and digital sector. She co-directed the QTV and Q Careers :Science series in 2005. She is currently consulting to the National Library on the Digital Content Strategy, an all of government initiative. She also works with NZIER on economic analysis and research. She is on the Tech Angel advisory team at Wellington Girls College and has written a history of the Tech Angel Project and case studies demonstrating how students teach the teachers digital media and communications. Previously she worked for New Zealand Trade & Enterprise from 2001-2004 as a Creative/Digital Sector Manager.
Clare has a Masters in Communications and is about to start her PhD at Victoria University exploring Digital Culture, Gender and Technology Innovation in New Zealand. She formed a new company in 2005 to specialise in research and production in the creative and digital sector, Eve Bay Studio.
Mobile: 027 3110608
www.evebaystudio.co.nz
Megan Oliver – Researcher/Scientist
Megan has been responsible for the underpinning science within each of the television episodes on Project Q and in the Q Careers series. She has also written scripts with writer Dave Armstrong, which include dramatic scenarios or 'quiddles' for the television series.
Megan is a marine biologist at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). She has a Masters in Marine Science from the University Canterbury and is currently working on her PhD through the University of Tasmania on “Enhancement of Rock Lobsters”.
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Lala Rolls
I am a film director and editor. I migrated to New Zealand from Fiji at the age of 17 in 1981. I have directed Music Videos in Fiji, New Caledonia and Easter Island, Short films, TV stories, including stories a kids TV show 'Wired' in 2000, community service videos, a piece on Hone Tuwhare, the poet and a documentary called 'Children of the Migration', about Pacific Island families in Aotearoa.
I started on a science degree at Otago University, in 1983 changed it to an arts degree and ended up finishing it as a Psychology degree with as many Film papers as I could get away with, at Victoria University in 1997.
Strangely all these things came together in Project Q and QTV. Who would have thought it.
In all my work as a director I am interested in finding the true character. I like to see the real person - even if the person is reading lines or acting or being asked to give us the line they just said naturally again because we need to reset the camera.
We really strove for this on QTV, with our four presenters always trying to bring their real selves to the story even when we were filming set up intros and outros for the show. This is a very big ask of any actor/presenter and I am so proud of how we managed to do that. To stay as true as we could; to ask the questions we might naturally ask (that is if we hadn't done our research); and to laugh when we would ordinarily laugh. We also asked the scientists we interviewed to take this path with us and I was blown away at how open they were to our 'line of inquiry' as chaotic as it sometimes may have seemed.
I have loved this job and have found the science, the scientists and the particular sparks of Barnaby, Chelsie, Paora and Tessa absolutely absorbing.
JOHANNA SANDERS - Editor
Johanna Sanders is the editor of the QTV series. She works as a freelance editor, and recently has been working on the comedy Facelift produced by Gibson Group. Johanna completed a Master of Arts at Massey University, specialising in video installation in 2004. She is now travelling around Europe visiting galleries and digital media centres to research and develop ideas for her next experimental work.
Robin Nathan – Composer/Musician
Robin Nathan is best known for her old performing life in When the Cat's Been Spayed with Jackie Clarke and Charlotte Yates. She has embraced music technology, and composes award-winning music for stage, screen and radio. She currently produces the outlaws of NZ children's music FATCAT & FISHFACE, and has a working partnership with Emmy-nominated Mona Lia Ventress (USA) under the moniker QUEEN PONG. Robin has been responsible for composing the themes for QTV and much of the incidental music in the show.
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Deane O'Connor - Production Manager
Deane has worked in Children's TV for the past six years and holds a bachelor of broadcasting and communications from the New Zealand Broadcasting School.
As the production manager for Project Q he was responsible for setting up the frame works for the show to develop; organising, planning, and dealing with the logistics and the day-to-day managing of the television series.
Deane has also worked as a production manager, production co ordinator and a producer on various documentaries, short films, magazine shows, television drama and theatre productions. He has also worked extensively on various children's programmes such as wntv, Sticky TV, What Now and Studio 2. He is currently working on a nation wide competition for Studio 2 called Super Squad.
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Project Q set design. A collaborative project between Candywhistle and d_luxe Interior Architecture.
We were given the task of designing and building the Project Q set in March 2005, with a small budget and only 2 weeks before filming started.
We started by trying to create a space that was both visually appealing and that added to the scientific premise of the show. To do this we wanted to use the space to display scientific objects and imagery that would represent more than just the ‘set’ of a TV show by providing interesting visual material for those watching the show.
200 cardboard boxes were stacked up on top of each other to form the ‘walls’ of the ‘laboratory’ that the presenters work in. Some of these boxes are opened to reveal interesting objects while others were left closed and used to display imagery of scientists, symbols and objects.
Within the space there are 3 zones, all performing different functions. The first is the research zone where the suspended computer and data projector can be used to find information and present it as way of developing ideas and concepts. Next is the discussion zone where these ideas are presented and discussed. This is a light table made from transparent red acrylic. Finally there is the chill out zone, where the presenters can relax and talk about what they have been doing and what is coming up in following episodes.
Each of the four walls represents the scientific process of exploration and discovery. The ‘process’ begins in the research zone using a contemporary representation of research; the Internet, computer and data projector. In this part of the process an idea is researched and developed while the graph paper projected upon records this collected data in a scientific manner. The next part of the process is the ‘notebook’ wall, representing the layering of image, object and ideas as way of representing physical research and the overlaps and cross-referencing that occurs in such research. This is where objects are displayed from each week’s investigations. The next step in the process is where all the collected data is formatted and discussed into a quantifiable resource that can be processed, tested and recorded. This is behind the chill out zone.
Finally, there is the faceted periodic table wall, representing the results, display and distribution of all that comes from scientific experimentation.
Candywhistle is a Wellington Interior Architecture and Furniture design practice.
We are interested in using space and object to explore and challenge the way people experience the modern world, where design is the link between commerce and culture and the fun is finding solutions that are conceptually challenging, culturally relevant and aesthetically pleasing. Ultimately we are interested in ones experience of daily life and how the things that surround us can affect that experience.
Basically, we love making challenging objects, whether it is furniture, spaces or products.
Contact: candywhistle@xtra.co.nz, d_luxe@xtra.co.nz
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Backhouse Interiors
Backhouse offers some of the world’s best designed furniture products for the office and for the home. They are dedicated to providing outstanding furniture solutions for design-conscious devotees of modern living. When we approached Gary for something funky in the set he kindly donated the four wonderful La Boheme coloured stools that you'll see throughout the series.
These stools evoke the image of precious amphoras. Plastic like blown glass, illuminated by the reflections of an intense radiant colour. Available in five colours and three shapes.
Backhouse has been at the forefront of the New Zealand furniture industry for over 50 years and has a clear vision of continuing this commitment.
You'll find them at:
12 Kaiwharawhara Road,
Kaiwharawhara,
Wellington, New Zealand
tel 64 4 499 8847 | fax 64 4 499 8849
email: backhouse.interiors@xtra.co.nz
www.backhousenz.com
*FORMWAY*
Formway is this really cool furniture design company down in Seaview, not far from Avalon Television Studios in the Hutt Valley.
They gave us the four black 'life chairs' for the show - you'll see the Q Team swivelling around on them in the set. They are just so comfortable you wouldn't believe.....and environmentally ergonomic! The Team wanted to take them home but......
check out: www.formway.com
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www.qteam.co.nz - *'BEST WEB'* review
THE DOMINION POST, 12TH MAY 2006
By from REUBEN SCHWARZ
Science TV for kids is a tough sell. Usually they try way too hard to be cool and totally in your face, or they go the conservative route and become painfully boring. TVNZ's QTV show walked the fine line well. It was funny and disgusting enough for kids but still interesting for cynical grown-ups.
The show, unfortunately, is no longer on the air, but the Qteam site that went along with it is still chocka with neat information, games, and experiments. The shows cover a wide range of topics, from climate change to geology to microbial forensics. There's DIY experiments, including science fair classics (build your own volcano) and tips for budding cops (dusting for fingerprints with cocoa). The best part of the site, though, is the Flash-animation games. In Deep Sea Explorer you plum the depths of the ocean looking for specimens. Shake-a-quake is somewhat more sinister, letting you make your own tsunami to flood a city. You place maggots on a rotting pig in Decomposer and in the delightful Poo Face you connect pipes to steer human waste through the sewers. Watch as it changes colour! It's less disgusting and more fun than it sounds, and kids will love it and learn a lot about where things go when you flush. Fans of the show may want to buy the follow-on DVD, Q Careers, with interviews with 10 young New Zealand scientists.
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Getting scatological for sake of science
THE DOMINION POST, THURSDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2005
By JANE CLIFTON
There's a neat, neat, neat science programme for children on Wednesday afternoons, TV One, which wouldn't go amiss on prime time – except it's a bit scatological for adult sensibilities.QTV is a locally-produced programme which, in a tone considerably less patronising than that of your average lifestyle/decorating show and many supposedly grownup documentaries, brings many areas of science to life. Starting from this weekend, it's being repeated on Saturday mornings, and is well worth a family sit-down – though adults may not be wise to watch it so soon after breakfast. It's the sort of programme which, if it had been on when many of us Of A Certain Age had been at school, might have fanned an interest in and understanding of science, so that the state of scientific literacy might not now be so woeful.
The three biggest strengths of the programme are: it's firmly rooted in daily life, so children (and adults) have an easy reference point for the new things they're learning; it's explained by people who are comfortable and lucid in the TV environment, with four lively teens asking the questions, and a procession of extremely urbane scientists providing the explanations; and it's grubby, icky, earthy and even fairly shocking, in a way that children find irresistible. Add to that the humour, which is quirky and unforced, and the excellent up-close and archival footage, and it's appointment viewing – at least, for those home from school in time. A lot of turf has been covered in this 13-part series, from geology to sewage processing to parasitic pest control. It has a heavy-hitting sponsors team, so there's some reassurance that the information and intent is of high quality: Ministry of Education, the Sir Peter Blake Trust, Vodafone and the Crown Research Institutes – Industrial Research, Hort Research, Crop and Food – among others. There's also a heartwarming contribution from smaller sponsors with, for instance, a Rotary branch stumping up to fund a prize for junior viewers of a week tagging along with leading Maui dolphin conservationist Kirsty Russell in Northland.
The programme is well supported with a website providing notes on each episode. There's no earnestness or goodie-two-shoesing in the scripting, which is a great relief.
One episode opened with the four teens – Barnaby Frederic, Tessa Devereux, Chelsie Preston-Crayford and Paora Durie – talking with admirable frankness about their "gross!" experiences with poo. This leads nose-wrinklingly to a fascinating look at what happens to the stuff after we produce it – all the way from plumbing to useful methane. In another, they are engaged in a furniture-destroying round of "I know an old lady who swallowed a fly," which leads to a "gross!" and compelling expose of insects which lay their eggs in other insects, which then hatch into larvae which eat their way out. This is biological control, in – as Barnaby says – a much more effective way than an old lady swallowing a cow that swallowed a goat. In the episode about fossils and the wealth of information they can tell us, Tessa decides to write a will stipulating that she must be fossilised when she dies, so that future generations will be able to glean a whole lot of information about us. The programme was three years in the planning, and nearly didn't come off, because co-producer Di Oliver-Zahl was killed in an accident while training for a triathlon, just after the contract was signed with TVNZ. But such was the – understandable – support for the project, that her film-making partner Glenis Giles managed to deliver handsomely on the series, with help from, among others, Oliver-Zahl's marine biologist daughter Megan Oliver, a researcher for QTV.
It's hard to recommend this programme highly enough. Aside from anything else, it's the sort of show that gives Charter TV a good name.
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