ScreenTalk » children’s tv http://screentalk.nzonscreen.com TV and Film Industry Interviews Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:16:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 What Now and Then – with Janine Morrell-Gunn http://screentalk.nzonscreen.com/interviews/janine-morrell-gunn http://screentalk.nzonscreen.com/interviews/janine-morrell-gunn#comments Mon, 24 May 2010 00:52:36 +0000 Screen Talker http://screentalk.nzonscreen.com/?p=549 Eager to join the television industry, Janine Morrell-Gunn started off as an intern with TVNZ in 1985. She began by directing news and current affairs stories, before taking on various production roles on shows such as McPhail and Gadsby, Fast Forward, Spot On, and Beauty and the Beast. Morrell-Gunn was appointed Executive Producer of TVNZ’s Children’s Unit, but when this was moved to Wellington in the late 90s she opted to stay in Christchurch. With husband Jason Gunn, she set up Whitebait TV and has subsequently produced a myriad of children’s TV shows such as Bumble, Wannabes, and the re-launched What Now?.

In this ScreenTalk interview, Morrell-Gunn discusses:

  • Being disappointed with how news was made in the mid 80s
  • Working with uncontrollable sheep on a story about artificial insemination
  • Missing a crucial shot while shooting a story for Spot On
  • Being intimidated by the panelists on Beauty and the Beast
  • Re-launching the iconic kids TV show What Now?
  • The challenges of producing The Erin Simpson Show
  • Working with her famous husband Jason Gunn

This video is available on YouTube to embed and distribute via a Creative Commons licence.

]]> http://screentalk.nzonscreen.com/interviews/janine-morrell-gunn/feed 0 Jason Gunn – Son of a Gunn http://screentalk.nzonscreen.com/interviews/jason-gunn-son-of-a-gunn http://screentalk.nzonscreen.com/interviews/jason-gunn-son-of-a-gunn#comments Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:41:46 +0000 Screen Talker http://screentalk.nzonscreen.com/?p=398 A generation of Kiwi kids grew up watching Jason Gunn on television. At the same time Gunn grew up on television himself. Beginning in children’s TV, Gunn hosted Jase TV, Son of a Gunn Show, After School, and What Now? Through many of these shows his co-star was a hugely popular life size puppet named Thingee. Gunn moved on to other programmes such as Young Entertainers and Small Talk.

In recent years Gunn has starred in a host of top-rating primetime entertainment and game shows including Wheel of Fortune, The Rich List and the incredibly popular Dancing with the Stars. As well as his hosting duties, Gunn has appeared as himself on Celebrity Treasure Island.

In this ScreenTalk interview, Gunn talks about:

  • Learning the skills of presenting from ‘old hands’ in the industry
  • How he grew up on TV hosting Son of a Gunn Show
  • Being best mates with a puppet named Thingee
  • His love for making children’s TV and how it is the best of all genres
  • How his comedic inspiration comes from his everyday life
  • The tough path of learning to play piano and sing
  • Just being himself on Celebrity Treasure Island
  • The drama and excitement of Dancing with the Stars
  • Why hosting game shows will lead to new things

This video is available on YouTube to embed and distribute via a Creative Commons licence.

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