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thedownlowconcept is a production company and creative collective based in Auckland, New Zealand, specializing in producing comedy for film, radio and television. It was formed in 2002 by Jarrod Holt, Ryan Hutchings and Nigel McCulloch, and have since frequently collaborated with actor and comedian Josh Thomson. [1] They are notable for their quirky, irreverent, and sometimes controversial comedic style. [2] [3]
In 2009 thedownlowconcept created a popular and award winning [4] comedy game show 7 Days , based on their news-based radio panel show, Off The Wire. By creating consistent paid television work for a number of comedians the show has helped grow the New Zealand comedy scene by showcasing local comic talent to the public, [5] and helping the country outgrow its notorious "cultural cringe". [3] [6]
thedownlowconcept were the first group to win the New Zealand 48HOURS Film Festival twice, with short films Brown Peril (2007) and Only Son (2010). All films of the festival are to be conceived, written, shot, edited and delivered in 48 hours, with an unknown random genre, a character, a line of dialogue, and a prop, which is revealed at the start of the festival. Only Son later went on to win Best Screenplay and Best Short Film at the New Zealand Film and Television Awards 2010. [7] It is the only 48 Hour film to ever have featured in the New Zealand Film Awards, let alone win it outright, beating films with government funding from the New Zealand Film Commission. [8] Only Son was later picked up for distribution by the NZFC and was invited to Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas amongst studio premieres. [9]
In 2012 thedownlowconcept produced their first scripted comedy series, Hounds . It won Best Comedy at the 2012 New Zealand Film and Television Awards, beating 7 Days, making it three years in a row that the company has been nominated in the category, winning it in the previous year for 7 Days. [10] Despite the network not renewing the series, it remains one of the most critically acclaimed comedies ever produced in New Zealand. [11] [12] [13]
In 2009 New Zealand's national broadcaster TVNZ banned a music video made by thedownlowconcept for the possibility of breaching the Broadcasting Standards Authority code on the exploitation of children. [14] The video was made for the song Headlights by 11 piece afro soul funk band "The Hot Grits". [15] The video depicted preschoolers binge drinking milk as if it was alcohol and taking lollies and candy as if they were drugs. Lead vocalist Barnie Duncan said the idea for the video came from the production company, [16] with the intention to "demonstrate the child-like greed with which adults conduct themselves whilst on the road to excess". [17] Despite the removal of the video from circulation from both of TVNZ's networks, the clip was picked up by music television channels C4 and Juice TV, [14] and went on to win the "Best Music Video" award, The Golden Jandal, at the New Zealand 2008 Handle the Jandal music video awards. [18] The video was also the winner of the category of "Best use of exploitative tactics". The only other New Zealand music video that has been banned in the history of TVNZ is by The Skeptics, entitled AFFCO. [19] The 1987 clip featured graphic footage of lambs being slaughtered. [20]
In 2012 thedownlowconcept courted controversy again with the naming of a greyhound Lundybainwatson in their series Hounds. The dog's name referred to convicted multiple murderers Mark Lundy, Scott Watson and David Bain. Bain was later acquitted after spending 13 years in jail following numerous appeals from lawyer Joe Karam resulting in his eventual release from prison in 2009.[ citation needed ] Before the series aired, promotional material came to the attention of Karam who complained to the network citing bad taste [21] and potentially a defamation lawsuit. [22]
The unintentional publicity stunt caused a minor stir [23] when the producers called for suggestions on the Hounds Facebook page. [24] At the behest of the network the production company re-shot and re-recorded audio in the few scenes where the dog's name was mentioned, [25] renaming the dog Lundydixonwatson. Dixon referred to another controversial New Zealand murderer, Antonie Dixon. thedownlowconcept refused to be interviewed on the topic but released this statement, "We named the greyhound character (played by Flossie) after New Zealand's three most well-known, potentially wrongly accused men."
"Auckland-based production company thedownlowconcept are as close to a Kiwi comedy hit factory as currently exists." - Lee Henaghan, The Nelson Mail [2]
"Hounds, I believe, is the best Kiwi comedy show ever made." - Chris Schulz, The New Zealand Herald. [13]
"Is Hounds the best Kiwi comedy ever? Yes." Chris Philpott, Stuff.co.nz [11]
"They are gifted comic writers with great timing which is a rare gift. They have no fat in their work. Every second is great." - Ant Timpson, Flicks.co.nz [26]
"Great performances, terrific writing and beautiful direction". - Josh Olson, Scoop.co.nz (on Only Son) [9]
Hounds - Best Comedy or Comedy Series - Won - New Zealand Film and Television Awards, 2012 [27]
7 Days - Best Comedy or Comedy Series - Won - New Zealand Film and Television Awards, 2011 [28]
Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger - Best Constructed Reality Series - Nominated - New Zealand Film and Television Awards, 2011 [28]
7 Days - Best Comedy or Comedy Series - Nominated - New Zealand Film and Television Awards 2010 [29]
Only Son - Best Short Film - Won - New Zealand Film and Television Awards, 2010 [7]
Only Son - Best Short Film Screenplay - Won - New Zealand Film and Television Awards, 2010 [7]
William James Te Wehi Taitoko better known by his stage name Billy T. James, was a New Zealand entertainer, comedian, musician and actor. He became a key figure in the development of New Zealand comedy and was a household name during his lifetime.
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Patriot Brains is a New Zealand comedy panel game show, airing on TVNZ 2 in New Zealand and SBS Viceland in Australia since April 2021. The show, hosted by English comedian Bill Bailey in series 1 and Sue Perkins in series 2, focuses on the trans-Tasman rivalry by pitting two teams of three comics from Australia and New Zealand against each other. The host asks the teams a series of general knowledge questions about their respective countries from a revolving pool of categories. New Zealand production company thedownlowconcept produces the series, which receives funding from NZ On Air.