Before joining the Neighbours team, what other shows and productions had you worked on?
I started out in TV as an intern at the Sci Fi channel in London, before becoming an edit assistant then freelance producer/director of digital content. From there I joined the British soap Hollyoaks - shooting, directing and editing all their online video output. During my time there I created an original webseries ‘LOL’ (http://www.youtube.com/lolseries) - which lead to my joining Hollyoaks’ storyline department, plotting the ups and downs of Chester’s most dangerous suburb.
In 2010 I moved out to Australia, doing a mix of freelance editing and directing gigs before becoming an Associate Producer at MTV. There, I was responsible for news, interviews and original content (on air and online). A highlight being working on The Janoskians MTV Sessions – five kids from Melbourne playing pranks on the locals.
How did you get into digital content creation and production?
I suppose it started as a teenager, when I got my first computer and later a video camera. I set up a couple of fanpages for my favourite TV series, teaching myself how to use Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Flash. Then directing short films with friends, cutting on Premiere. Media studies classes were always my favourite (it didn’t feel like work!) – so I went on to study TV Production at university hoping it would become a career.
I started out in TV as an intern at the Sci Fi channel in London, before becoming an edit assistant then freelance producer/director of digital content. From there I joined the British soap Hollyoaks - shooting, directing and editing all their online video output. During my time there I created an original webseries ‘LOL’ (http://www.youtube.com/lolseries) - which lead to my joining Hollyoaks’ storyline department, plotting the ups and downs of Chester’s most dangerous suburb.
In 2010 I moved out to Australia, doing a mix of freelance editing and directing gigs before becoming an Associate Producer at MTV. There, I was responsible for news, interviews and original content (on air and online). A highlight being working on The Janoskians MTV Sessions – five kids from Melbourne playing pranks on the locals.
How did you get into digital content creation and production?
I suppose it started as a teenager, when I got my first computer and later a video camera. I set up a couple of fanpages for my favourite TV series, teaching myself how to use Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Flash. Then directing short films with friends, cutting on Premiere. Media studies classes were always my favourite (it didn’t feel like work!) – so I went on to study TV Production at university hoping it would become a career.
How long have you been working on Neighbours, and what have you done during this time?
The Australian Writers Guild ran a scheme in 2011 offering two young writers the opportunity to join the story team for six weeks. As a long term fan of the show and budding storyliner, I lept at it, and was lucky enough to be picked. With three other storyliners, we plotted the last couple of months of 2011 – Mal’s affair with Jade, Michael’s secret affair with Emilia etc
Two years later, I rejoined the show as Digital Content Producer, charged with reinvigorating the online output.
What is involved in being the digital content producer at Neighbours?
Basically, producing all the digital content for Neighbours! When I joined, we had a fairly large Facebook and Twitter audience, as well as the official Network Ten website. I added to this a YouTube channel and Instagram account. Based on-site at the Neighbours studios in Nunawading, I wanted to make the most of our cast and set access and start delivering regular behind the scenes content. I shoot the backstage videos, interviews and now oversee a pair of social media associates that shoot the Instagram pics.
The main goal of the role is to bring online audiences to the show – and so I try to do that by offering as much content as possible around big storylines. Whether it’s behind the scenes videos, on set photos or story extensions (webisodes).
What is an average day like for you?
It all depends what the Neighbours crew are shooting. Some days I’ll spend a few hours on set following a cast member as they shoot scenes for a backstage vid, or be locked away in my office editing, or brainstorming ideas for future content. It’s nice to spend an afternoon binge-watching the latest block of episodes when they come out of the post department.
You’ve been the producer of the three Neighbours webisodes – Steph in Prison, Brennan on the Run, and Neighbours Vs. Zombies. What made you and the Neighbours team to decide to create spin-off YouTube series?
It can be very difficult to reach audiences, with every show clamouring for attention online. Promos, in general, can be misleading – and I think the audience can be a little wary of them. What I love about webisodes is that it they give current viewers some extra story content they won’t see anywhere else, and are a juicy carrot for viewers that may have stopped watching years ago. In just a couple of minutes, you could watch a scene with Steph Scully and fall in love with the character all over again – which hopefully gets you tuning back in at 6.30.
How did the idea for each series of webisodes come about?
Steph In Prison came out of a desire to do everything we could to promote Carla Bonner’s return to the show. As a viewer, I was curious as to what happened to the character in her years off-screen, and the production team were keen to explore her mental health struggles in more detail as she came back to the show a very different person in 2013. Thankfully, Carla agreed to come back in for a day after she’d wrapped her stint and shoot the extra prison counselling scenes.
The webisodes rated well for us on the Neighbours YouTube channel and generated publicity – so we decided to do the same again for Brennan’s return, albeit with an interactive twist. Scott McGregor’s character is hugely popular with a huge chunk of our online audience, and with his exit story being so high stakes – he seemed a natural choice for webisodes.
Neighbours VS Zombies was the result of an ‘out of the box’ brainstorming session – what’s the craziest thing we could do with Neighbours to get viewers talking about it online? Easy, add zombies! We laughed about it… and then slowly, realised it could be a really fun way to bring back old faces. It’s amazing that it ended up happening – it just proves sometimes the crazier the concept, the better!
The Australian Writers Guild ran a scheme in 2011 offering two young writers the opportunity to join the story team for six weeks. As a long term fan of the show and budding storyliner, I lept at it, and was lucky enough to be picked. With three other storyliners, we plotted the last couple of months of 2011 – Mal’s affair with Jade, Michael’s secret affair with Emilia etc
Two years later, I rejoined the show as Digital Content Producer, charged with reinvigorating the online output.
What is involved in being the digital content producer at Neighbours?
Basically, producing all the digital content for Neighbours! When I joined, we had a fairly large Facebook and Twitter audience, as well as the official Network Ten website. I added to this a YouTube channel and Instagram account. Based on-site at the Neighbours studios in Nunawading, I wanted to make the most of our cast and set access and start delivering regular behind the scenes content. I shoot the backstage videos, interviews and now oversee a pair of social media associates that shoot the Instagram pics.
The main goal of the role is to bring online audiences to the show – and so I try to do that by offering as much content as possible around big storylines. Whether it’s behind the scenes videos, on set photos or story extensions (webisodes).
What is an average day like for you?
It all depends what the Neighbours crew are shooting. Some days I’ll spend a few hours on set following a cast member as they shoot scenes for a backstage vid, or be locked away in my office editing, or brainstorming ideas for future content. It’s nice to spend an afternoon binge-watching the latest block of episodes when they come out of the post department.
You’ve been the producer of the three Neighbours webisodes – Steph in Prison, Brennan on the Run, and Neighbours Vs. Zombies. What made you and the Neighbours team to decide to create spin-off YouTube series?
It can be very difficult to reach audiences, with every show clamouring for attention online. Promos, in general, can be misleading – and I think the audience can be a little wary of them. What I love about webisodes is that it they give current viewers some extra story content they won’t see anywhere else, and are a juicy carrot for viewers that may have stopped watching years ago. In just a couple of minutes, you could watch a scene with Steph Scully and fall in love with the character all over again – which hopefully gets you tuning back in at 6.30.
How did the idea for each series of webisodes come about?
Steph In Prison came out of a desire to do everything we could to promote Carla Bonner’s return to the show. As a viewer, I was curious as to what happened to the character in her years off-screen, and the production team were keen to explore her mental health struggles in more detail as she came back to the show a very different person in 2013. Thankfully, Carla agreed to come back in for a day after she’d wrapped her stint and shoot the extra prison counselling scenes.
The webisodes rated well for us on the Neighbours YouTube channel and generated publicity – so we decided to do the same again for Brennan’s return, albeit with an interactive twist. Scott McGregor’s character is hugely popular with a huge chunk of our online audience, and with his exit story being so high stakes – he seemed a natural choice for webisodes.
Neighbours VS Zombies was the result of an ‘out of the box’ brainstorming session – what’s the craziest thing we could do with Neighbours to get viewers talking about it online? Easy, add zombies! We laughed about it… and then slowly, realised it could be a really fun way to bring back old faces. It’s amazing that it ended up happening – it just proves sometimes the crazier the concept, the better!
You were also the writer of the most recent series, Neighbours Vs. Zombies. How did you come up with the story, and what was it like working with Louna?
I started by watching as many zombie movies as possible, and together with Louna, working out possible stories around our returning characters. We wanted a teen underdog to get his hero moment (Mason), a lost lover from the past (Dee) threaten a current relationship, and someone to seek revenge (David) for their untimely death.
As the webisodes existed out of the main show’s continuity, I was able to take the characters to extreme places and have them do things that they’d never do in the main series i.e. Mason killing Matt. One of our more successful scenes has Susan begging Karl to relieve her suffering, should the zombie-ism progress. I liked that there were shades of Susan’s existing MS storyline in there, which made it more powerful. Can you imagine that happening in the main show? It would be devastating!
Working with Louna was fantastic – she brought a wealth of YouTube knowledge and story ideas. Although she wasn’t as up to date on Neighbours continuity, she was a litmus test for me – I could ask, will a casual viewer/mainstream audience care about this character or story? Louna also brought along her online fanbase to the project – some of whom appeared as extras. And that theme tune cover… incredible. It played on Triple J!
Are there any characters you wish you could have brought back from the dead, but were unable to?
Yes, for a variety of reasons. We compiled a list of every Neighbours character death and then made a shortlist asking ‘What impact would their return have on characters currently in the show?’. There are so many great characters I’d loved to have seen again – Cody Willis, Ringo Brown, Declan Napier, Julie Martin – they could cause chaos!
In some cases, the actors had moved on long ago and weren’t interested in a return – in other cases, they were on the other side of the world and it wasn’t possible to involve them for logistical reasons, or the timing was wrong. Zombie Madge, for example, would have been fantastic (“Harolddddd!”) – but she was due to make a return during the 30th episodes, so the impact would have been lost.
Knowing now which actors are interested, I am always thinking of ways to involve them in future Neighbours projects.
Fans were treated to a zombie Dee Bliss (unfortunately not played by the beloved Madeleine West), and many believe Kate Ramsay also came back from the dead. Is this true?
Yeah, the blonde zombie certainly wore a familiar outfit, didn’t she? The zombie in the complex was also wearing Kate’s dress…
Does Dee coming back as a zombie mean she’s really dead, and not just missing like Harold was?
Neighbours VS Zombies exists in its own little continuity bubble. I can’t see it preventing a future appearance in the show. But surely, by now, Dee’s dead… right?
Fans absolutely loved Neighbours Vs. Zombies. Is there any chance we could see a second zombie/Halloween series?
Neighbours VS Zombies was funded through the Skip Ahead scheme, a collaboration between Screen Australia and YouTube. I don’t imagine we’ll see zombies again (we’ve already killed off the entire suburb!) but there are certainly lots of other genres to explore. Aliens? Time travel?
It would be great to hear from the fans if they’d like to see another Halloween special – tweet/email and let us know!
I started by watching as many zombie movies as possible, and together with Louna, working out possible stories around our returning characters. We wanted a teen underdog to get his hero moment (Mason), a lost lover from the past (Dee) threaten a current relationship, and someone to seek revenge (David) for their untimely death.
As the webisodes existed out of the main show’s continuity, I was able to take the characters to extreme places and have them do things that they’d never do in the main series i.e. Mason killing Matt. One of our more successful scenes has Susan begging Karl to relieve her suffering, should the zombie-ism progress. I liked that there were shades of Susan’s existing MS storyline in there, which made it more powerful. Can you imagine that happening in the main show? It would be devastating!
Working with Louna was fantastic – she brought a wealth of YouTube knowledge and story ideas. Although she wasn’t as up to date on Neighbours continuity, she was a litmus test for me – I could ask, will a casual viewer/mainstream audience care about this character or story? Louna also brought along her online fanbase to the project – some of whom appeared as extras. And that theme tune cover… incredible. It played on Triple J!
Are there any characters you wish you could have brought back from the dead, but were unable to?
Yes, for a variety of reasons. We compiled a list of every Neighbours character death and then made a shortlist asking ‘What impact would their return have on characters currently in the show?’. There are so many great characters I’d loved to have seen again – Cody Willis, Ringo Brown, Declan Napier, Julie Martin – they could cause chaos!
In some cases, the actors had moved on long ago and weren’t interested in a return – in other cases, they were on the other side of the world and it wasn’t possible to involve them for logistical reasons, or the timing was wrong. Zombie Madge, for example, would have been fantastic (“Harolddddd!”) – but she was due to make a return during the 30th episodes, so the impact would have been lost.
Knowing now which actors are interested, I am always thinking of ways to involve them in future Neighbours projects.
Fans were treated to a zombie Dee Bliss (unfortunately not played by the beloved Madeleine West), and many believe Kate Ramsay also came back from the dead. Is this true?
Yeah, the blonde zombie certainly wore a familiar outfit, didn’t she? The zombie in the complex was also wearing Kate’s dress…
Does Dee coming back as a zombie mean she’s really dead, and not just missing like Harold was?
Neighbours VS Zombies exists in its own little continuity bubble. I can’t see it preventing a future appearance in the show. But surely, by now, Dee’s dead… right?
Fans absolutely loved Neighbours Vs. Zombies. Is there any chance we could see a second zombie/Halloween series?
Neighbours VS Zombies was funded through the Skip Ahead scheme, a collaboration between Screen Australia and YouTube. I don’t imagine we’ll see zombies again (we’ve already killed off the entire suburb!) but there are certainly lots of other genres to explore. Aliens? Time travel?
It would be great to hear from the fans if they’d like to see another Halloween special – tweet/email and let us know!
Which has been your favourite webisode series?
Zombies. By far the most challenging to produce, but it was awesome to be able to bring back to life some of my favourite Neighbours characters of all time and work with those actors.
There has been at least one web series each year since 2013, can we expect another one this year?
Yes :)
If Neighbours were to have more web series, what sort of storylines and topics would you like to see covered?
More of what makes Neighbours great – the humour, heartbreak and families getting through it. Another high concept series would be fun, and anything to give us an excuse to bring back some old faces (did someone say Rebecchi/Timmins family reunion?).
In 2014, the Neighbours YouTube channel started hosting full-length episodes from 2014. What was the reasoning behind this decision, and will this be a continuing thing in the future?
The rights were available to us – so it seemed like a good way to reach new viewers that expect everything to be on YouTube. Hopefully those viewers will transition to Channel Eleven and Tenplay to watch the latest episodes.
Is there any chance we could see older episodes uploaded to the YouTube Channel?
You’ll have already have seen key episodes from 2007 onwards being uploaded and you can expect to see more.
Are there any upcoming projects that you're involved in that aren’t Neighbours related?
I’m in post-production of a second season of my webseries ‘LOL’ and chipping away at a couple of feature scripts. I’d love to work with Louna again on a Melbourne based teen webseries.
Were you a fan of the show before joining the crew?
In a word… yes. Like most other Brits, I grew up on the show – then started following it more actively in the late 90s/early 00s - joining message boards and reading The Perfect Blend etc. I did the official Neighbours tour bus and have a photo holding the Ramsay Street sign. I feel very fortunate to be working on one of my all-time favourite TV series.
Finally, for a show that nearly didn’t make its first anniversary, it’s amazing to see it surpass its 30th anniversary. What do you think is the secret of the ongoing success of Neighbours?
Good writing.
Zombies. By far the most challenging to produce, but it was awesome to be able to bring back to life some of my favourite Neighbours characters of all time and work with those actors.
There has been at least one web series each year since 2013, can we expect another one this year?
Yes :)
If Neighbours were to have more web series, what sort of storylines and topics would you like to see covered?
More of what makes Neighbours great – the humour, heartbreak and families getting through it. Another high concept series would be fun, and anything to give us an excuse to bring back some old faces (did someone say Rebecchi/Timmins family reunion?).
In 2014, the Neighbours YouTube channel started hosting full-length episodes from 2014. What was the reasoning behind this decision, and will this be a continuing thing in the future?
The rights were available to us – so it seemed like a good way to reach new viewers that expect everything to be on YouTube. Hopefully those viewers will transition to Channel Eleven and Tenplay to watch the latest episodes.
Is there any chance we could see older episodes uploaded to the YouTube Channel?
You’ll have already have seen key episodes from 2007 onwards being uploaded and you can expect to see more.
Are there any upcoming projects that you're involved in that aren’t Neighbours related?
I’m in post-production of a second season of my webseries ‘LOL’ and chipping away at a couple of feature scripts. I’d love to work with Louna again on a Melbourne based teen webseries.
Were you a fan of the show before joining the crew?
In a word… yes. Like most other Brits, I grew up on the show – then started following it more actively in the late 90s/early 00s - joining message boards and reading The Perfect Blend etc. I did the official Neighbours tour bus and have a photo holding the Ramsay Street sign. I feel very fortunate to be working on one of my all-time favourite TV series.
Finally, for a show that nearly didn’t make its first anniversary, it’s amazing to see it surpass its 30th anniversary. What do you think is the secret of the ongoing success of Neighbours?
Good writing.
Interviewed June 2015