About Alan
About Us
Longstanding Career in the Screen & Performance Industry
Alan has worked in the New Zealand screen industry for over 30 years, taking on numerous roles, including 20+ years as a screenwriter, script editor, story producer, screenwriting lecturer, and development executive. He has also worked for many years as a production accountant and financial controller. Over the years he’s been a comedian, actor, and youth music theatre producer, and has contributed to several industry organisations as treasurer and board member. In between freelance projects he’s taken time out to co-parent his two teenage daughters.
Writer, Story Producer & Development Executive
Network Television
Alan was a freelance script writer on TVNZ’s longest-running drama series, Shortland Street from 1995-98, and again from 2004 to 2005. At this time he also worked for six months full-time at the story table as a story-liner. He previously was a staff script editor and writer on a sketch comedy series, Pio! with Pio Terei, and in 1999 was appointed Development Executive at The Gibson Group. There, he created and co-produced two seasons of prime time, one-hour dramedy series, The Strip for TV3 (2000-2003).
Alan also worked as Head of Development at Screentime Communicado with legendary film & TV producer, Robin Scholes (Once Were Warriors, Mr. Pip, The Convert, Black Hands, When We Go To War) from 2003-2004, and in 2004 executive produced a ½-hour comedy for TVNZ, Oswald Gold.
Feature Film & Short Film
Alan was script editor on the feature film, The Truth About Demons (2000), written and directed by Glenn Standring (6 Days, The Dead Lands), starring Karl Urban (The Boys, Star Trek, Dredd, The Bourne Supremacy). He has also written several spec feature scripts across multiple genre, including: comedy, romantic comedy, drama, action/thriller, domestic thriller, and political thriller. His scripts have reached the finals and semi-finals of numerous script competitions, including: PAGE, Blue Cat, and Write Movies. Alan has collaborated with countless new and experienced writers over the years, giving script feedback/analysis. He is attached as producer to feature comedy/drama, Bed Ridden, from writer and director Grant Lahood (Kombi Nation, Intersexion, The Singing Trophy). (Co-written with Rachel Lang – Outrageous Fortune, Go Girls, Mercy Peak, Dark City)
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Alan has worked extensively in short film, both while teaching undergraduate students, and in the professional realm. We wrote, directed and produced Be Careful… in 2010, starring Craig Hall (The Hobbit, Boy, 30 Days of Night, A Place to Call Home) and Lisa Chappell (McLeod’s Daughters, The Cult, Spartacus: House of Ashur). The film was selected for the Show Me Shorts and Magma Short Film festivals, with Alan picking up a Best Director award at the latter. The script was also a finalist for Best Short Film Screenplay at the 2011 Screenwriter Awards (SWANZ).
Alan produced the short film, Cogito and co-wrote the short comedy, 50% Off Mail Order Bride, both in 2011.
Other Media: Graphic Novels & Live Performance
In recent years Alan has started exploring story-telling in other media, including sequential art in the form of comics and graphic novels. He looks forward to continuing this exploration!
He also enjoyed a tremendous collaboration with legendary Australian singer/songwriter, Paul Kelly, and others, on a theatre project, working title Deeper Water. This journey included working and collaborating with such Australasian luminaries as: Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, J.R. Reyne, Dan Kelly, Elroy Finn, Ray Woolf, Deliah Hannah, Esther Stephens, Jonathan Alver, Todd Emerson, Amanda Harrison, Natalie Gamsu, Gemma Ashley-Kaplan, Keegan Joyce, and Amanda Billing.
Tertiary Lecturer & Youth Mentor
Between 2004 and 2010, while helping raise a family, Alan worked as a tutor/lecturer, teaching screenwriting as part of Unitec’s Bachelor of Screen and Performing Arts. He has also taught screenwriting at The South Seas School of Film and Television, as well as part of the University of Auckland’s continuing education programme.
In 2018 Alan co-founded a youth music theatre company: APAA (Auckland Performing Arts Academy). Between 2019 and 2023 he co-produced eight music theatre shows, professionally staged – including being performed at Auckland’s ASB Waterfront Theatre – with casts comprised of seven to twenty-two year olds. The first show had 25 performers on-stage; after a couple of years that number exceeded 100. More than 250 students in total went through the APAA programme over five years, being trained and mentored by some of Auckland’s leading performing arts luminaries.
I can’t explain what a change I’ve seen in my child for the better, and how she has improved… Anke loved every minute of it. – MARYKE, Browns Bay (Parent, 12 y.o.)
It was such an amazing experience and was super fun to be in! The theatre we performed in was incredible! It was such a cool experience. – MYA, Torbay (17)
Jett absolutely loved being involved with APAA; the rehearsals were the highlight of his week. The show exceeded my expectations… it was evident that APAA are running an extremely professional operation. – SARAH, Browns Bay (Parent, 9 y.o.)
APAA was such a positive experience for Sophie. She has gained more self-confidence, grown in maturity, made great friends, and blossomed as a performer… [APAA is] simply a cut above! – PATRICIA, Takapuna (Parent, 17 y.o.)
APAA has brought out the best in Billie… we can’t thank you enough for creating a forum that provides young people with such incredible opportunities. – KRIS AND CRAIG, Kumeu (Parent, 11 y.o.)
Performing in the show was just one of the best experiences of my life… Thank you once again for making APAA. You should be proud of what you’ve created. – TOM, Torbay (17)
Tom just absolutely loved the group the moment he joined… – RUTH, Torbay (Parent, 17 y.o.)
Tom just absolutely loved the group the moment he joined… – HAYLEY, Birkdale (Parent, 10 y.o.)
Anke woke up this morning and shouted to the entire house: “Best day of my life: APAA starts today!” Just so you guys know it means a lot to these kids. – MARYKE, Browns Bay (Parent, 12 y.o.)
– MARYKE
Browns Bay (parent, 12 y.o.)
Budgeting and Production Accounting
Alan has extensive experience as a financial controller and production accountant. He has worked in one or other of those roles on more than:
- 18 feature films & TV movies
- 12 TV series & mini-series
- 10 shorts & one-offs
Recent highlights include:
- the Sherpa Tenzing feature, Tenzing with Tom Hiddleston & Willem Dafoe (2025, for See-Saw Films & Apple Original Films)
- the rebooted Spartacus series, Spartacus: House of Ashur (2024, for Lionsgate & Starz)
- the Jason Momoa historical epic, Chief of War (2023, for Fifth Season & Apple TV+)
- the Netflix interactive rom-com, Choose Love (2023)
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s series, Mr. Corman (2021, for A24 & Apple TV+)
- the feature film, Guns Akimbo, starring Daniel Radcliffe & Samara Weaving (2019)
- the feature film reboot Evil Dead (2013, directed by Fede Alvarez, Alien Romulus)
Alan has also been commissioned by NZ funding agencies to assess television production budgets and has trained others in production accounting.
He is uniquely placed to bring his financial/budgeting expertise together with his script/story skills in a producing capacity and looks forward to continuing on this journey in the years ahead.
