Meet the Producer - Steven Zanoski
Shortland Street Producer Steven Zanoski has been in the hot seat for several months now - we thought it was about time we found out how he's settling into his new role and more importantly, just what he has planned for our favourite show!
WHAT DOES A PRODUCER DO?
The producer is responsible for the over-all creative content of
Shortland Street.
This includes the stories we tell, how they're portrayed and
everything you see on-screen from the creative departments that
work on the show.
That isn't to say that I'm the person who does all the work - we
have a highly skilled team for that - but I do get to approve it
all.
WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE TO BE A PRODUCER?
I guess it's the control freak in me. I had a long history of
writing Shortland Street but could sometimes feel a little
frustrated when things didn't turn out quite as I imagined them to
be.
Many years later, when South Pacific Pictures offered me the
producer's job, I jumped at it.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND?
I started as a storyliner on Shortland Street towards the end of
its third season - that's the one where the truck came through the
clinic at Christmas and Carmen died.
I wrote for five years then executive produced while working in
development for South Pacific Pictures.
Immediately prior to coming back to the Street I spent five years
writing serial dramas in Europe and Russia, including an adaptation
of Ugly Betty for the Balkans.
WHAT QUALITIES DOES A PRODUCER NEED?
It's important to have an overall vision of what you want to
achieve and be able to communicate that.
You need to be decisive, clear and quick to act. You've also
got to be a good listener. Have faith in the people you work
with and respect the jobs that they do.
WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
2009's shaping up pretty good.
WHAT IS/WAS YOUR FAVOURITE SHORTLAND STREET EPISODE/
STORYLINE?
I always love the stuff we're currently working on and seeing how
the viewers will react to it. So right now, I'm excited about
episodes that revolve around the resolution of the Ethan Pierce
murder.
When Maia pulled the trigger I don't know if anyone suspected it
would give us six months worth of story.
I think it's fair to say that the material coming up on air breaks
with the Shortland Street style a little bit. It may be
controversial with the audience but it's been fun and exciting to
work on.
WHO IS (OR WAS) YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTER ON SHORTLAND
STREET?
This is a question that's asked a lot and it's always tough to
answer. I can never choose a favourite as I feel attached to
them all.
In days gone by there have been some characters who have been
directly based on me& but I'm not telling who they
are.
CAN YOU GIVE US A FEW CLUES AS TO WHAT IS COMING UP FOR THE REST OF
2009?
We've recently had a forward planning that looks at stories all the
way through to Christmas and beyond. It's exciting and
explosive stuff.
2009 has so far been about solidifying core relationships through
character-based stories. The remainder of the year will shake
these up with lots of surprises.
I guess you're looking for specifics, so I can say that there is a
shift in some key relationships coming up. Unexpected
characters get together, causing a commotion amongst the hospital
staff.
We have a new doctor, Maxwell, arriving - played by Robbie
Magasiva - who will shake up his department.
There is also the return of a core-cast character whose unexpected
arrival provides a lot of good drama.
