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Download AudioA writer on the axed television series Head High been given time and space to work on new projects.
Tim Worrall is next year’s Creative New Zealand Writer in Residence at Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington’s International Institute of Modern Letters.
Worrall, who is a member of the Rotorua-based Māori collective Steambox Films, says he has two ideas he wants to work on – a series on the revival of Polynesian ocean voyaging and a biopic on a Māori Second World War hero.
He says Head High was dropped after a strong season two, but it may have fallen victim both to new ownership at Television Three and major shifts in broadcast television.
“Our broadcast television channels are struggling to pivot to this new world of streaming. While our broadcast numbers may not have been through the roof, our online viewing was strong but that doesn’t represent a simple, easy way for channels like TV3 to make money so we’ve been a bit of a victim of that which is really unfortunate because if felt like there was a good buzz around production,” Worrall says.
The fellowship gives him the chance to follow in the footsteps of previous fellows like Patricia Grace, Witi Ihimaera, Briar Grace Smith and Arthur Belz.
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