The making of Time Trackers
The original idea of a group of teens and a robot dog travelling
through time was created by New Zealand writer Donna Malane about
six years ago, and pitched to the Gibson Group.
The concept for Time Trackers was put in the proverbial bottom
drawer as Dave Gibson and Malane herself focused on the successful
TV2 series The Insider's Guide to Happiness and the sequel, the
Insider's Guide to Love.
As work concluded on the Insider's series, Malane revisited her
original idea.
While travelling in France, Malane's laptop stopped
working and the cause of the problem was originally thought to
be a virus. The idea got Malane thinking, and the concept grew
to incorporate 'time viruses'.
Malane and her writing partner Paula Boock continued to
develop Time Trackers.
Carmen the Cave Girl was added, along with (a)Dults, Kevin and
Stuart. TVNZ committed to the project, and NZOA funding was sought
and approved.
But with the level of special effects and separate elements the
series would require (a live action dog with an animated talking
mouth, CGI and green-screen, wire-work, and a concept that involved
shooting in several different periods of history), it was always
going to be a bigger budget production if it was to be successful.
This meant finding a co-production partner.
After several meetings, Sue Taylor's Perth-based company, Taylor
Media, took the show concept to Channel 7 in Australia. A
co-production deal between Gibson Group and Taylor Media was sealed
surprisingly quickly in industry terms, and the Time Trackers
series became a reality.
As a co-production partner, Sue Taylor not only brought the deal
with Channel 7 and her own expertise, but a percentage of key
creatives to the project.
Leading Australian production designer Clayton Jauncey joined the
team, as well as additional storyliners and writers, three core
cast (Kazimir Sas, Marcus Graham and John English), several key
guest cast members and editors.
The Australian partners also provided CGI, creating effects such as
the 'time viruses' themselves, and the 'wormholes' which the
characters slide down to get to specific periods in history which
the viruses are attacking.
The high level of production challenges which Time Trackers
presented is also what makes it unique. Although having four
producers on a series could sound like a nightmare, the
relationship was relaxed and easy - and, according to Donna
Malane, 'even better at the end of the production period than when
we started!'
Click here to meet the cast of Time
Trackers.
