Police Recruit: the drama,
thrills, spills and sheer hard work as a wing of recruits train for
a life of crime-fighting. Serena has never been particularly
physical and Andre has never been academic. Failure is a very real
possibility. We have unprecedented access to explore the training
and the culture behind the uniform. According to instructor Lance,
"We are the biggest gang in the country." Learning to handle guns,
fast cars and violent confrontations is just part of the life of a
police recruit. Adopting the mindset and values of a law enforcement
officer is just as important. "We should look after each other."
Howard wrote and directed this Finalist, Best Documentary, NZ
Television Awards. 1 x 1 hour. 1996
Guthrie-Smith of Tutira: Herbert
Guthrie-Smith was a world-reknowned conservationist, author and
wild-life photographer who spent his life turning sixty thousand
acres of inland Hawkes Bay into a sheep station. It was a classic
pioneer struggle. The book that he wrote, 'Tutira', on the changes
to the fauna and flora that he observed has become a classic in
universities around the world. Actor Martyn Sanderson plays
Guthrie-Smith. Camera - David Paul, music - Jonathon Besser,
writer/director Howard Taylor. 1 x 1/2 hour. 2002 |
Shark Gordon: Shark expert Ian Gordon
gets down and dirty with shark species round the world. Howard
directed 4 episodes of this 13 part wild-life series for Natural
History New Zealand / Discovery Networks. Stripped almost
continuously on Animal Planet for three years. 13 x 1/2 hours.
2001-2004
Sally, Sophie and Jeff Leave Home:
three intellectually-disabled young people reach the age of maturity
and prepare to leave home. With the State reducing its role in their
lives, their parents are more responsible than ever for their
on-going care and management. How will they cope? Howard wrote and
directed for Greenstone Pictures. 1 x 1 hour. 2001
Fifty Years on Their Toes: The Royal
New Zealand Ballet Company celebrates reaching half a century with a
fiery production of Romeo & Juliet. The tears and truama
of creating a new version of the old ballet, interwoven with the
story of a young Ballet company finding its feet in a country more
attuned to beer, blokes and rugby. Written and directed by Howard
for the Gibson Group. 1 x 1 hour. 2005 |
Secret New Zealand - Kirk, Commies and the
CIA: When Prime Minister Norman Kirk died unexpectedly in office
the Cold War was at its height, New Zealand's anti-nuclear stance
was upsetting both France and the United States and paranoia about
foreign influence was rife. This episode of the Secret New
Zealand series explores the links between the Labour Prime
Minister, Russian spies caught in Wellington, the CIA and an alleged
coup planned from within the New Zealand Army. At a time when the
CIA had just organised the assassination of President Allende in
Chile, anything was possible. Written and directed by Howard for
Greenstone Pictures. 1 x 1/2 hour. 2001 |