Perseverance and relationships are strong themes that shine through when talking with Janine Morell-Gunn about her screen industry journey. Starting as an intern at TVNZ in the 80s, she has been at the helm of WhitebaitMedia since 1998, which has beamed thousands of hours of entertainment into homes of tamariki across Aotearoa. Recently appointed an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her efforts in children’s content, we sat down to find out what drives her and how she arrived where she is today.
When And How Did You Start Off In The World Of TV Production?
Honestly, I have only ever wanted to be a missionary or a TV Current Affairs Producer.
They say one person can make a difference. Where I grew up, boys went to work at the freezing works or the steel plant and the best job a girl could get was being a bank teller. My Mum said I should go to university and her belief in me changed my journey forever.
After my first year at University of Canterbury (UC) I went to Auckland on holiday. I was keen to leave uni, so I walked in off the street into TVNZ and met a guy who said I should get a degree and then come back. So I did, and every year (and there were four more of them) I sent this person a Christmas card. When I finished at UC, I applied for a TVNZ internship and who should be on the interview panel but the same guy I had met once, for 15 minutes, four years earlier.
My TVNZ internship interview was hard out and none of it was about what I had studied. Questions like “what was the lead item in the paper this morning?” and “as a trainee female director, would I direct a Miss NZ beauty contest?”
Or my favourite “we see you have a ring on your engagement finger, do you intend to work AND be married?”
It was the 80s! Suffice to say, I got through it all. Thank you Rod Cornelius.
What Challenges Did You Face As A Female In A (Then) Male Dominated Industry?
Some of the men were challenging and difficult. Their voices have made me dig deeper and work harder to achieve our tamariki kaupapa and I have always been surrounded by the most amazing group of strong, savvy, fabulous fun-loving wāhine – inside and outside our industry.
Did You Always See Yourself Creating Content For Tamariki, Or Did It Happen Organically?
My love for tamariki content came when I was asked to produce Sesame St Kōrero Māori - to take the Spanish out and put Te Reo in. There was no budget or cash, just below the line resources…if I could find them! So I made friends.
Lisa Reihana made the opening titles as part of her fine arts degree. Temuera Morrison voiced the montages. The Late News graphics team animated the phrase of the day and Shane Jones recorded the purakau.
That, in a nutshell, is how I’ve continued to work for the past three decades – by building relationships, negotiating, hustling - begging if necessary! To get shows made and amplify the voice and talents of the tamariki we are here to serve - on screen.
Our industry is about storytelling. The stories of, for and by our diverse wāhine are being told a lot more since #MeToo. Our stories and contribution add enormously to the social fabric of our society. It’s important this continues with projects being made and led by women across every aspect of our screen production industry. "
Why Did You Choose Christchurch And Canterbury As The Place To Grow Whitebait?
Deciding to leave TVNZ as the Head of Children’s Content, put a stake in the ground back in Ōtautahi and sail our own waka was a big step for my husband Jase and I. But this is our hometown and we very passionate about it.
We started Whitebait. Whitebait is a little ika in a big pond - it is rare and can only be found in the South Island and swims against the tide. That’s us.
Standing at Bank Peninsula’s hilltop looking down into Akaroa Harbour always brings a tear to my eye. It is my turangawaewae – place to stand.
What Impact And Diversity Do You Think Wāhine Bring To The Film And Television Industry?
Our industry is about storytelling. The stories of, for and by our diverse wāhine are being told a lot more since #MeToo. Our stories and contribution add enormously to the social fabric of our society. It’s important this continues with projects being made and led by women across every aspect of our screen production industry.
What Advice Do You Have For Wāhine Who Want To Break Into A High-level Career Like Yours?
I don’t see myself as high-level😊 I’m a jobbing Producer who works hard to sell ideas and then execute them to the highest possible standard within a culture of kindness, putting the audience at the centre of what we do.
Any wahine who wants to Can -Dream Big - Visualise to Materialise.
What’s Next For You?
Producers always have ideas in the bottom drawer ready to bring out when the time is right. I am so grateful for the past 35 years being able to do a job I love. I think I will always be working on a new idea.
Producers always have ideas in the bottom drawer ready to bring out when the time is right. I am so grateful for the past 35 years being able to do a job I love. I think I will always be working on a new idea.
