WHITE COLLAR BLUE
CREW
Kristen Dunphy
HEAD WRITER

Kristen has written for a range of Australian television series including Fallen Angels, Love Is a Four Letter Word, Heartbreak High and G.P. However, her vast experience in writing crime drama - Wildside, Murder Call and Water Rats - made Kristen an obvious choice to head the WHITE COLLAR BLUE writing team.

" I love telling stories. It gives me a chance to express ideas and dip into worlds I might otherwise have known very little about. I also enjoy working with actors, directors, other writers and being part of a process that is truly collaborative. And that is definitely the case on WHITE COLLAR BLUE."
OTHER WRITERS:
Tim Pye
" Writing WHITE COLLAR BLUE gives me an opportunity to learn about police forensics and current technologies that police use to track down criminals, and being able to talk to real police when researching the stories. I'd like to think that is reflected in my writing."

David Phillips
" WHITE COLLAR BLUE echoes the authentic voice of the Sydney beaches."

John Misto
Keith Thompson
Michael Miller
Sam de Brito
Kym Goldsworthy
David Ogilvy
Ken Cameron
PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR

In a career that spans more than 25 years, Ken has won numerous AFI and Logie Awards and is one of Australia's leading directors in both film and television. Feature films include Monkey Grip, Fast Talking and The Good Wife. His television credits are extensive and are highlighted by Bangkok Hilton, Brides of Christ, Bordertown, Wildside and the AFI Award winning My Brother Jack. Ken continues his creative relationship with the producers in directing for WHITE COLLAR BLUE.

"What better way to start a morning than to discover a dismembered body in the kitchen or uncover decayed remains in a ditch? And then to spend the rest of the day wading through a moral swamp of mendacity, cupidity, jealousy, covetousness, lust and barely restrained violence. All in the company of beautiful men and dangerous women. With a magnificent cast, smart, intriguing scripts, a brilliant and tireless crew and inspired producers - who could ask for more?"
Ian Watson
PRINCIPAL DIRECTOR

One of Australia's most talented directors, Ian was a highly successful theatre director before moving into film and television. Television credits include Wildside, Stingers, Farscape and The Secret Life of Us.

In between directing for Series 1 and 2 of WHITE COLLAR BLUE, Ian recently travelled to Europe to direct Torus II, a feature film for US Sci-Fi Network.


" I like the political stance that the show takes. In reality, crime doesn't come from abstract concepts of good and evil. It is often a product of economic and/or emotional necessity - and that is reflected in the stories and characters in WHITE COLLAR BLUE."
OTHER DIRECTORS:
Lyn Hegarty - Brendan Maher - Daniel Nettheim
Kerrie Mainwaring
LINE PRODUCER

Kerrie spent many years with ABC TV line producing for productions such as Bad Cop,Bad Cop, Grass Roots, and Love Is a Four Letter Word. She also previously production managed Wildside where she first met producers Steve Knapman and Kris Wyld. The opportunity to work with them again was the lure that brought her across to Network Ten and WHITE COLLAR BLUE.

" A major part of my job is bringing together a dedicated and hard working crew of talented individuals who also work well as part of a team. So far the crew and production staff have excelled in their work and I think those high standards are reflected in the final product."

Christine King
CASTING DIRECTOR

Internationally renowned casting director, Christine King has a wealth of experience in both film and television. She has over 150 hours of television credits, including Wildside and Grass Roots. Recent high profile feature films cast by her include Star Wars Episode III, A Man's Gotta Do, Ned Kelly, Black and White, The Quiet American and Rabbit Proof Fence.

"What I enjoy most about casting WHITE COLLAR BLUE is the opportunity to cast so many actors across such a wide range of ages, class, ethnicity, and experience. Given the level of unemployment among actors, it is extremely satisfying to give work to so many actors at all levels. From a professional point of view it is also great for my own working knowledge of actors, as with so many roles to cast I am constantly given the opportunity to try out new people.

I also enjoy the challenge of coping with the pace and energy of casting two episodes a fortnight. Casting at such speed, means that intuition, and the knowledge of actors gained over many years of casting are particularly important. Unlike the more leisurely pace of feature casting, there is often no time to test as a safety measure, or to explore every available option."
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Joe Pickering
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

A highly sought after DOP, Joe recently returned to WHITE COLLAR BLUE having worked on the TV mini-series Jessica. His other television credits include Heroes' Mountain, Grass Roots, Head Start, Heartbreak High and the award winning series Wildside and mini-series Changi.

Joe has occasionally taken time out from his busy television schedule to shoot feature film such as Idiot Box, Shame and Windrider starring Nicole Kidman.

"I love the chaos. Working to such a tight schedule means you have to be more instinctive with your choices. There are more cameras and more people to deal with. It's about getting the machine going. It's chaotic but productive."

Marcus North
DESIGNER

Marcus North is one of Australia's top television designers. A world class talent in his field, Marcus' credits include Bordertown, Brides of Christ and The Leaving of Liverpool for which he received the Gold Medal for Production Design at the New York Festival.

Marcus trained at BBC TV before joining ABC TV in Sydney, where his talent also extended to directing episodes of Children's Hospital and Fallen Angels.

"I derived a great deal of pleasure from designing WHITE COLLAR BLUE. I was given Jeffrey Smart/ Miami Vice/ the beaches of Sutherland Shire as a point of reference by Kris and Steve. This was soon translated to mean sun, sea and sand juxtaposed against concrete and steel with no middle ground. A lot of care has been taken in the selection of locations, props and dressing so hopefully we have created a world for the detectives of Kingsway that reflects this.

I am in debt to an enthusiastic, talented and inexhaustible art department who have provided incredible attention to detail, with particular regard police procedures and forensics. A great cast, fine directors and a talented, happy crew have only added to the wonderful experience."

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James Watts
ART DIRECTOR

James has a wealth of experience in art direction, set decorating and dressing. Feature films credits include The Nugget, Garage Days and Mission Impossible II. Having worked on a number of highly successful television series Grass Roots, Wildside, Head Start and Heartbreak High, James was an obvious choice for art direction on WHITE COLLAR BLUE.

"Working on a crime drama series gives me and my team the opportunity to create a new world every week, whereby the storyline dictates what kind of milieu our characters will find themselves in. With WHITE COLLAR BLUE the emphasis is on creating accurate forensic detail and crime scene procedure."

Neville Kerr
COSTUME DESIGNER

Having designed costumes for Wildside and Bad Cop,Bad Cop, Neville is clearly one of Australia's most experienced designers for television shows with a police focus.
He has also worked on a range of feature films including international productions such as Avatar and When Ghouls Go Bad.

"The joy of costume design on WHITE COLLAR BLUE is in exploring alternative options to the classic TV cop drama, as well as being part of the creation of characters and telling stories."

Nicole La Macchia
EDITOR

Nicole worked for 18 years editing for ABC TV drama before being lured away by Knapman Wyld Television to edit WHITE COLLAR BLUE. During that time she edited highly successful productions such as Grass Roots (Series I and II), Wildside and Love is a Four Letter Word - for which she received an AFI nomination.

"There is a wonderful sense of trust afforded me by the directors and producers of WHITE COLLAR BLUE, which means I have the freedom to play. At the same time, we have a strong collaborative relationship, which is fantastic because they're a highly talented group of people."

Chris Spurr
EDITOR
A talented and popular editor, Chris's credits include Changi, Bordertown, Police Rescue, Secret Men's Business, Come In Spinner, Wildside, Heat, and the soon to be released Fireflies.

"It was a pleasure to cut WHITE COLLAR BLUE...it is one of the most elegant looking shows on television."
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Antony Partos - Supersonic
COMPOSER

Supersonic is a music production company that specialises in original music for Film and Television. As a founding member of the company, Antony Partos composes most of the music for WHITE COLLAR BLUE. Additional tracks and extra production are added by fellow composer Johnny Green.

" The style of the show lends itself to a soundtrack that is cinematic, with jazz overtones and a definite contemporary edge. I approach each episode as a mini feature film and try to inject the music with a degree of compassion and subtle humour. For further information go to www.super-sonic.com.au."

Michael Kennedy
CRIME CONSULTANT

From 1978 to 1996, Michael worked as a detective and an undercover operative with NSW Police. He specialised in Major Crime, Organised Crime, and Child Protection. He was previously the crime consultant for ABC TV drama Wildside and the Network Ten telemovie BlackJack. Apart from advising researchers, writers, directors and actors about the world of police and criminal investigation in WHITE COLLAR BLUE, Michael is also an Academic at The University of Western Sydney and is writing his [Sociology] PhD 'A Class Analysis of Police'.

"The 'progressive' thinking media have as a rule excluded rather than included rank and file police in any critical edge debate on the policing vocation. Consequently the film and television drama industry offer a genuine alternative means of engaging in the law and order debate, whilst exploring the contradictions of policing.

For my part advising WHITE COLLAR BLUE is made all the more enjoyable by being included in a talented and ethical creative team who have always encouraged and respected my radical standpoint."

OTHER CRIME CONSULTANTS:
(and their thoughts on policing and WHITE COLLAR BLUE)

Detective Chief Inspector Bob Barnett (Flemington Local Area Command):
" I like working with and for the community, trying to maintain the balance of good and bad. I think a similar philosophy is reflected in the characters and storylines of WHITE COLLAR BLUE."

Chief Inspector Nicholas Bingham (Duty Officer - Liverpool Area Command):
" I like getting stuck into meaty investigations, chasing bad guys and getting a result at the end of the day.

I enjoy the interaction with the script department on WHITE COLLAR BLUE and being part of the authentication of the show, whether it's to do with general police procedure or lines of dialogue."

Detective Sergeant William Shane Griffith (Special Services Group):
" Being an undercover cop is about out-thinking the crims... trying to predict a course of behaviour before they engage in it and anticipating a plan to deal with that behaviour... and most of the time our predictions are right.

With WHITE COLLAR BLUE, there is great satisfaction in seeing the result of my advice being played on screen, from attitudinal elements in the characters to the smallest detail in the wording of a charge."

Snr Sergeant Mick McGann (Breaking and Homicide Squads 1975 - 1991):
" It sounds clichéd but as a copper I really felt I was doing good for society. Locking up crooks was satisfying - particularly when they thought they were going to get away with it.

I enjoy being able to contribute to WHITE COLLAR BLUE, and to see that the contribution is acted upon. I like the reality of the show, and watching the interaction between the players. Everyone on that show is a self-starter - from the script department to the runner - they've got a job to do and they get on with it. It's about professionalism."

Jo Duflou, Forensic Pathologist (Department of Forensic Medicine, Central Sydney Laboratory Service).
" Why I like my job: the variety, my curiosity, the ability to be part of a team solving a mystery, the "saving lives" aspect (by detecting inherited diseases and by finding systemic problems in society & organisations), and finally, it is a really interesting job.

Why I like advising WCB: I find it a real challenge. Some of the questions posed I don't have an answer to but they are really valid questions (for instance: do pigs have ABO blood groups) - it then becomes a matter of finding the answer, either by looking it up in the usual reference texts, the internet or asking (puzzled) experts in that particular field. Other questions are interesting from a procedural perspective - in other words, how would I investigate this case in real life. Another challenge concerns coming up with a solution, where the initial proposed answer as outlined in the plot isn't scientifically possible or is taking too many leaps of faith. To the credit of the WCB Script Office, a lot of effort is put into making the plot scientifically possible, and sometimes that can be a real challenge for an advisor."

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Email: info@knapmanwyld.com.au