Page 64 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2019 Edition

Most episodes are made in one five-day visit depending “We all really are quite thankful for the show because we
on the story. Up to 10 to 12 hours of footage is cut down to get to go to some cool places and meet some nice people and
22 minutes. There is generally one main camera and a drone, do what we love doing. It’s a dream job. I’ve been doing TV
which has replaced the expensive action of hiring a helicopter. for a while and am used to being sent to different places, but
As well as being massively cheaper, it can allow the crew to take honestly, this is not normal. It’s awesome. I love being outside
advantages of short breaks in bad weather to grab aerial footage. and for me, it’s a natural state. But to actually do TV work
She describes the three-person crew as light and lean and outside, yeah, I love it. The creativity of TV – the writing, the
her favourite way to work. “It’s low impact. We don’t freak thinking, the logistics as well as the creative… it’s left brain/right
people out … they’re not too intimidated. It’s a low-key shoot, brain at its peak I reckon.”
on purpose, and suits the nature of the show.” Sitting at her own kitchen table, the view isn’t anything to
Once home from the shoot, the director watches the sneeze at – a sweeping vista across Martinborough towards
footage, transcribes the audio and time codes the good shots. the eastern coast. Alastair and Celia and their two children –
Celia says she does a “good old-fashioned paper edit” before Charlotte, 7, and Earl, 4 – farm a 326ha finishing and cropping
the episode is edited together in Wellington over three days. farm on the outskirts of the Wairarapa town.
“We already know exactly what those grabs are and exactly “I can go out and do some fencing or do a bit of drafting and
where they are and it is quick for Mike Townsend, our editor, to then come back in and do some editing. I’ve often been on the
bolt it all together.” tractor when Julian’s rung and talked to me about a story. I turn
So with the 10 directors and crew members, Townsend joins the tractor off, have a chat and then go back to whatever I was
with production manager Robyn Best, post production manager doing,” she says, chuckling.
Bailey Palmer, associate producer Dan and producer Julian. Despite that, it can be a tough balance with a young family.
A new episode is made every week so those five remain in “It’s a big ask, but I’m simply not at full speed any more. I
the office and a new director comes in to edit every week. “They worked very hard for a long time so this pace, alongside farming
pump out an episode a week for 40 weeks. It’s quite amazing,” and family, is a great opportunity.”
Celia says. Proudly, Celia says, “everyone loves Country Calendar.
Country Calendar is on TVNZ from February to December Legitimately, 100 percent of the time everyone gushes over it.
every year. I’m so surprised at the range of people who say that – from 45th BULL SALE MAY 30th 2019
“I think we would have the smallest crew for the most farmers through to party people in Ponsonby. A lot of townies
volume. Each episode takes about six weeks to do over the watch it. It’s not just for the rural folk any more, there’s a very
space of about six months.” wide audience. Townies love it because they want to believe
Being reminded of her time at Routeburn Station prompts a that world still exists, I think. They will never own a farm or live
moment of gratitude from Celia. on a farm but they really like to identify with that.”

“WE ALL REALLY ARE QUITE THANKFUL a family favourite

FOR THE SHOW BECAUSE WE GET TO
GO TO SOME COOL PLACES AND MEET
SOME NICE PEOPLE AND DO WHAT WE here at waikaka genetics we have been in the hereford game for sixty five years of
LOVE DOING. IT’S A DREAM JOB.” stud breeding fun. Herefords are in our blood. it’s what we were born to do.

TOP LEFT TO BOTTOM RIGHT: Capturing the action in the
Greenstone Valley, part of Routeburn Station; The camera crew
interviewing one of the musterers at the Rat’s Nest Hut, Routeburn
Station - seated from left, director Celia Jaspers, Pete Young on
camera and Don Paulin on sound; Cameras off for the evening as
the mustering and camera crews gather around the fire.

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