Archive

PIRATES DOCO-DRAMA – Beyond Group/Seven Network Australia/TF1

One of the most dangerous assignments of my career was creating and co-producing the high-budget docu-drama Pirates & The Policing of the High Seas for Beyond Productions filmed primarily in the Philippines.

Over twelve months I researched, developed and produced the project before interviewing the leader of an insurgent group, who openly described killings and acts of terrorism at sea and against remote villages.

The interview took many months to arrange. We travelled to a remote, uninhabited island in the southern Philippines, where two heavily armed boats approached the island and disembarked to a clearing at the top of a very small island. Before the interview I was provided local gin in small shot glasses. It would have been impolite  to reject the generosity of the drink.  

INTERVIEW – THE BEE GEES
I knew Andy Gibb who had taught me to ride a skateboard in Sydney during music TV days with Channel 7. His brothers warmed to the story and provided me with a lovely interview.  I also interviewed Andy for Channel 7 but it would seem this does not exist in my archive. Though there is still another box of tapes somewhere.

INTERVIEW – SAMMY DAVIS JNR. (Qantas Image series)
The Magic Man and I am proud of this interview. He liked it a lot, said goodbye and left the special room at the Sebel Town House Hotel in Sydney arranged for the shoot. 5 minutes later he was back. He walked up to me as I was taking off my mic clip from my lapel. “You know, man, I got back to my suite and I thought that guy is so good, just so so good! And when you feel that you have to say it, which is why I came back to tell you that you are great interviewer!” I was stunned. I hope he is right. What a gentleman.

INTERVIEW – HARRY TRIGABOFF, CHAIRMAN, MERITON (CNBC)
Harry is an icon in Australian business. The nation’s 2nd wealthiest man at time of writing (2019), he built the private powerhouse property company, Meriton. He very rarely gives interviews and I was able to secure this CNBC interview from 2009. Before the interview I was invited to meet with him for one hour in his Sydney headquarters as a condition of agreement to proceed.  I found a most engaging and interesting man. A very funny man. And we struck up a good chemistry. Though he was in a remote location for the interview, the chemistry works.

INTERVIEW – LINDSAY FOX, CHAIRMAN of LINFOX (CNBC)
Lindsay Fox is the founder of Australia’s Linfox transport empire.  One of the nations wealthiest men he began by purchasing an old truck so very long ago which he personally drove. Things changed.  He lives in Melbourne and I interviewed him in 2009 for CNBC.  I love the interview and his response to the referencing of the truck!  He was in Melbourne and we didn’t actually meet.  A pity.  A terrific man!

CLIVE JAMES (Qantas Image series)
Clive James is one of the finest interviewers in history alongside David Frost and Tim Sebastian though so different to both. He was also allegedly the lover of Princess Diana and I hope he was… He was lovely and intriguing to me. AFter the interview my assistant heard him tell his manager that he found me “disarming” and that I was “very good”. He regretted several of the revelations of his dispassionate approach to interview subjects. The shoot was done at Broadcom which owned Channel 10 and whom I worked for in another lifetime and it was done at 10am after a sleepless night following a relationship break up for me! I remember being half dead and wanted to tell him MY story but alas, I was not Katherine Hepburn!

FEATURE – ANTIQUES (Money Show – TVNZ)
Richard Matthews, a a most distinguished gentleman and friend during my two years spent in Auckland for Communicado and TVNZ where I hosted “MONEY” whilst serving as EP – International Development for Communicado.

FEATURE – MISS SAIGON PRODUCTION SYDNEY (CNBC)
Business became theater or theater became business one morning as I profiled the business of big musicals and my favorite musical Miss Saigon. I had for a long time been involved in discussions with Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s people in London to produce a documentary on their sourcing Filipino cast for the musical which was then playing worldwide in multiple languages in multiple cities. All go ahead including music rights clearance before the Sydney star suddenly pulled out of the show! It spoiled my beautiful day…

SHOW REEL – DEUTSCHE WELLE (DW-TV)
Great times at this iconic network where I was a very popular presenter of business television worldwide to the largest audience I have ever enjoyed.  I am still recognized for it to this day for my work at DW!  The old public broadcaster was massive in both space, facilities and the amount of employees. Its art direction was exquisite and still is. Only CNBC could beat this. I had a great time and lived in London and spent 2 weeks each month in Berlin for 6 years!