Jane Avery

Peta Unplugged in Uzès

Currently in pre-production. A six part series featuring Peta Mathias’ cooking school and gastronomic adventure in the South of France. Intended filming date August 2010.

Peta Unplugged in Tahiti

Currently in post-production. A one-hour food and culture special featuring Peta Mathias in French Polynesia. Will screen on Prime TV late 2010. View promo at www.griptiontv.com

Peta Unplugged in Marrakech

6 x 1/2 hour – television series

Set in exotic Morocco, a country famous for indulging the senses, and presented by the effervescent Peta Mathias, “Peta Unplugged -  Marrakech” offers fresh perspectives on a culture via its cuisine.

This six part series focuses on world traveler and food expert, Peta Mathias, as she guides her “gastro-nomads” on a culinary and cultural tour of hip Marrakech and its intriguing surrounds.

Featuring cooking classes both in the field and at home, along with Peta’s highly entertaining and informative personal insights into the Moroccan way of life, “Peta Unplugged – Marrakech” is travel/foodie TV at its best.

View promo at www.griptiontv.com and www.petaunplugged.com

Will screen on Prime TV starting late July 2010. (International distributor – TVF International Ltd.)

Destination New Zealand (I & II)

The inaugural series in 2005 was a journey through New Zealand’s regions hosted by Kelly Swanson-Roe. The second series in 2007, was hosted by Miriama Smith. Both 13-part series’ featured segments on high-end accommodation, wine and food experiences and various tourist attractions. The beautifully framed scenic montages of our country are note-worthy. It was a documentary style travel show where Jeff and Jane applied their very high production values both in the field and in post-production. Both series were screened primetime on Channel 7 in Australia and rated very well (600,000+ in Sydney alone). It was also sold into various Asian markets and screened in New Zealand on Sky Network’s Living Channel. It is also part of Air New Zealand’s Inflight entertainment package.

Although Gription did not produce these programmes under its own name, Jane had sole responsibility as producer/writer and Jeff sole responsibility for the editing, as well as the directing of several episodes.

Air New Zealand Inflight

Gription was contracted over four years to produce and constantly update four Air New Zealand Inflight programmes to be screened on-board to passengers just before arrival in New Zealand. It was infomercial in style, featuring 15 and 30 second segments advertising attractions in the regions for tourists. Jane was constantly dealing with clients in order to produce, shoot and write their segments. She also voiced the programme. Jeff was the programme’s editor.

Volkswagen Ski Nationals

Gription produced a half hour documentary coverage of the National Alpine Ski Racing champs (2004, 2005, 2006). It was commissioned by Ski Racing New Zealand and sponsored by Volkswagen. The programmes screened on Sky Sport 1 and 2. As well as comprehensive race coverage and results, it profiled the athletes and made a point of explaining the sport in lay-person’s terms so it could be accessible to a wide audience. Both Jeff and Jane are competent skiers and are comfortable shooting in mountain terrain.

Corporate work

Gription has produced a number of corporate VTs for various New Zealand companies including Telecom, Fonterra and Villa Maria Estate.

Freelance directing, researching, writing (Jane)

Mercury Lane – directing/writing (Greenstone Productions)

Hallelujah Healers – documentary research (Top Shelf Productions)

Target – research (Top Shelf Productions)

Umanga – research (business series for Maori Television)

CHINA

When Jane and Jeff Avery teamed up in China in 1999 they, and their most preferred cameraman, Mathew Knight of Wellington, christened themselves Asylum Productions. It was a fitting name for an alliance of friends working in a frequently challenging environment. It was demanding but very enjoyable. Here are a few project highlights.

Modern Music Factory

An hour-long magazine style programme commissioned by CCTV profiling Chinese music heroes … from punks, to soulful guitarists and  epic karaoke style stars. It also featured the international violin maestro, Issac Stern, who made an historic return to Communist China to spread his message of the magic of music.

Jung Ja Jia Airshow

A documentary following the international airshow at Jung Ja Jia in Southern China. The international stunt pilots performed a daring, historic flight through the Tianmen Cave, a large but narrow rock formation. The documentary covered the build-up and execution of the stunt as well as the entertaining hoop-la surrounding the event.

Beijing Jeep

TVC filmed on location in the hills of Inner Mongolia.

Vidal Sassoon Hair Show

Corporate VT package for Vidal Sassoon’s inaugural hair and fashion show in Beijing featuring catwalk footage, backstage footage and interviews, including Vidal himself.

Rougemont Juice

Corporate VT package for a French Canadian fruit juice business. It included a fully dressed studio shoot along with on location scenes.