thedownlowconcept is a

production company A production company, production house or production studio is a studio that creates works in the fields of performing arts, new media art, film, television show, television, radio, comics, interactive arts, video games, websites, music, and video ...

and creative

collective A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest or work together to achieve a common objective. Collectives can differ from cooperatives in that they are not necessarily focused upon an e ...

based in

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

, specializing in producing

comedy Comedy is a genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. Origins Comedy originated in ancient Greec ...

for film, radio and television. It was formed in 2002 by Jarrod Holt, Ryan Hutchings and Nigel McCulloch, and have since frequently collaborated with actor and comedian

Josh Thomson Joshua Joseph Thomson (born September 21, 1978) is an American mixed martial arts podcaster, commentator, analyst and former mixed martial artist. A professional competitor since 2001, Thomson has competed in Bellator MMA, PRIDE, Strikeforce, U ...

. They are notable for their quirky, irreverent, and sometimes controversial comedic style.

Notable productions

''7 Days''

In 2009 thedownlowconcept created a popular and award winning comedy

game show A game show (or gameshow) is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment where contestants compete in a game for rewards. The shows are typically directed by a game show host, host, who explains the rules of the program as well as commentating a ...

'' 7 Days'', based on their news-based radio panel show, ''Off The Wire''. By creating consistent paid television work for a number of

comedians A comedian (feminine comedienne) or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting foolishly (as in slapstick), or employing prop comedy. A comedian who ...

the show has helped grow the New Zealand comedy scene by showcasing local comic talent to the public, and helping the country outgrow its notorious "

cultural cringe In the fields of cultural studies and social anthropology, cultural cringe is an expression used to refer to an internalized inferiority complex where people dismiss their own culture as inferior (''cringe-inducing)'' when compared to the culture ...

48 Hours Film Festival

thedownlowconcept were the first group to win the New Zealand 48HOURS Film Festival

twice Twice (; Japanese language, Japanese: トゥワイス, Hepburn romanization, Hepburn: ''Tuwaisu''; commonly stylized in all caps) is a South Korean girl group formed by JYP Entertainment. The group is composed of nine members: Nayeon, Jeongyeon ...

, with short films ''Brown Peril'' (2007) and ''Only Son'' (2010). All films of the festival are to be conceived, written, shot, edited and delivered in 48 hours, with an unknown random genre, a character, a line of dialogue, and a prop, which is revealed at the start of the festival. ''Only Son'' later went on to win Best Screenplay and Best Short Film at the New Zealand Film and Television Awards 2010. It is the only 48 Hour film to ever have featured in the New Zealand Film Awards, let alone win it outright, beating films with government funding from the

New Zealand Film Commission The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC; ) is a New Zealand government agency formed to assist with creating and promoting New Zealand films. It was established under the New Zealand Film Commission Act 1978 (as amended in 1981, 1985, 1988, 1994 a ...

. ''Only Son'' was later picked up for distribution by the NZFC and was invited to

Fantastic Fest Fantastic Fest is an annual film festival in Austin, Texas, focused on fantasy, horror, sci-fi, action and cult films, the largest genre festival in the United States. It was founded in 2005 by Tim League of Alamo Drafthouse. Lisa Dreyer ...

in Austin, Texas amongst studio premieres.

''Hounds''

In 2012 thedownlowconcept produced their first scripted comedy series, '' Hounds''. It won Best Comedy at the 2012 New Zealand Film and Television Awards, beating 7 Days, making it three years in a row that the company has been nominated in the category, winning it in the previous year for 7 Days. Despite the network not renewing the series, it remains one of the most critically acclaimed comedies ever produced in New Zealand.

Controversy

"Headlights" music video

In 2009 New Zealand's national broadcaster

TVNZ Television New Zealand (, "Te Reo Tātaki" meaning "The Leading Voice"), more commonly referred to as TVNZ, is a New Zealand state-owned media company and Crown entity. The company operates a television network, streaming service, and news se ...

banned a music video made by thedownlowconcept for the possibility of breaching the

Broadcasting Standards Authority The Broadcasting Standards Authority (; abbreviated BSA) is a New Zealand Crown entity created by the Broadcasting Act 1989 to develop and uphold standards of broadcasting for radio, free-to-air and pay television. The main functions of the B ...

code on the exploitation of children. The video was made for the song ''Headlights'' by 11 piece afro soul

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...

band "The Hot Grits". The video depicted preschoolers

binge drinking Binge drinking, or heavy episodic drinking, is drinking alcoholic beverages with an intention of becoming intoxicated by heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time, but definitions vary considerably. Binge drinking is a style of ...

milk as if it was alcohol and taking lollies and candy as if they were drugs. Lead vocalist Barnie Duncan said the idea for the video came from the production company, with the intention to "demonstrate the child-like greed with which adults conduct themselves whilst on the road to excess". Despite the removal of the video from circulation from both of TVNZ's networks, the clip was picked up by

music television Music television is a type of television programming which focuses predominantly on playing music videos from recording artists, usually on dedicated television channels' broadcasting on satellite, cable, or streaming platforms. Music televis ...

channels C4 and

Juice TV Juice TV, is a 24-hour music television channel operating from the Auckland suburb of Parnell in New Zealand. The channel is available on channel 38 on the Freeview streaming app. It also broadcasts 18 hours a day on CH200, Kordia's local chan ...

, and went on to win the "Best Music Video" award, The Golden Jandal, at the New Zealand 2008

Handle the Jandal Handle the Jandal was an annual New Zealand awards ceremony that celebrated self-produced New Zealand music videos. Formally known as the Radio Active 89FM Handle the Jandal DIY New Zealand Music Video Awards, the competition was open to music vid ...

music video awards. The video was also the winner of the category of "Best use of exploitative tactics". The only other New Zealand music video that has been banned in the history of TVNZ is by

The Skeptics Skeptics were a New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smalle ...

, entitled AFFCO. The 1987 clip featured graphic footage of lambs being slaughtered.

Lundybainwatson

In 2012 thedownlowconcept courted controversy again with the naming of a greyhound Lundybainwatson in their series Hounds. The dog's name referred to convicted multiple murderers

Mark Lundy Christine Marie Lundy, 38, and her 7-year-old daughter Amber Grace Lundy were murdered in Palmerston North, New Zealand, on 29 or 30 August 2000. The bodies were found by Christine’s brother, Glenn Weggery who went to the Lundy home around 9.00 ...

Scott Watson Ben Smart and Olivia Hope, two young New Zealanders, disappeared in the early hours of the morning on New Year's Day, 1January 1998. The two friends had been celebrating New Year's Eve at Furneaux Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds with other part ...

and David Bain. Bain was later acquitted after spending 13 years in jail following numerous appeals from lawyer Joe Karam resulting in his eventual release from prison in 2009. Before the series aired, promotional material came to the attention of Karam who complained to the network citing bad taste and potentially a defamation lawsuit. The unintentional publicity stunt caused a minor stir when the producers called for suggestions on the ''Hounds'' Facebook page. At the behest of the network the production company re-shot and re-recorded audio in the few scenes where the dog's name was mentioned, renaming the dog Lundy''dixon''watson. Dixon referred to another controversial New Zealand murderer, Antonie Dixon. thedownlowconcept refused to be interviewed on the topic but released this statement, "We named the greyhound character (played by Flossie) after New Zealand's three most well-known, potentially wrongly accused men."

Acclaim

"Auckland-based production company thedownlowconcept are as close to a Kiwi comedy hit factory as currently exists." - Lee Henaghan,

The Nelson Mail ''The Nelson Mail'' is a 4-day a week newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newsp ...

"Hounds, I believe, is the best Kiwi comedy show ever made." - Chris Schulz,

The New Zealand Herald ''The New Zealand Herald'' is a daily newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand, owned by New Zealand Media and Entertainment, and considered a newspaper of record for New Zealand. It has the largest newspaper circulation in New Zealand, ...

. "Is Hounds the best Kiwi comedy ever? Yes." Chris Philpott,

Stuff.co.nz Stuff is a New Zealand news media website owned by newspaper conglomerate Stuff Ltd (formerly called Fairfax). As of early 2024, it is the most popular news website in New Zealand, with a monthly unique audience of more than 2 million. Stuff ...

"They are gifted comic writers with great timing which is a rare gift. They have no fat in their work. Every second is great." - Ant Timpson, Flicks.co.nz "Great performances, terrific writing and beautiful direction". - Josh Olson, Scoop.co.nz (on ''Only Son'')

Awards

Hounds - Best Comedy or Comedy Series - Won - New Zealand Film and Television Awards, 2012 7 Days - Best Comedy or Comedy Series - Won - New Zealand Film and Television Awards, 2011 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger - Best Constructed Reality Series - Nominated - New Zealand Film and Television Awards, 2011 7 Days - Best Comedy or Comedy Series - Nominated - New Zealand Film and Television Awards 2010 Only Son - Best Short Film - Won - New Zealand Film and Television Awards, 2010 Only Son - Best Short Film Screenplay - Won - New Zealand Film and Television Awards, 2010

Production credits

Radio

* ''Off the Wire'' Radio New Zealand National * ''The Late Night Adventures of Simon and Miles''

George FM George FM is a New Zealand dance music radio station, owned and operated by MediaWorks from its Hargreaves Street headquarters and relayed on Freeview and radio frequencies around New Zealand. Its seventy-five regular presenters and additional ...

* ''You've Been a Great Audience'' Radio New Zealand National * ''Pop! Goes the Weasel'' Channel Z and Kiwi FM * ''The Cab Ride to Destiny''

RadioWorks MediaWorks New Zealand is a New Zealand-based company specialising in radio, outdoor advertising and interactive media, interactive mass media, media. It is owned by Australian out-of-home advertising company QMS. It operates eight national rad ...

* ''Radio Station''

Television

* ''CoverBand'' (2014) TV One * '' Best Bits'' (2013-) TV One * '' Hounds'' (2012)

TV3 Channel 3 or TV 3 may refer to: Television *Canal 3 (Burkina Faso), a commercial television channel in Burkina Faso * Canal 3 Niger, a commercial television channel in Niger * Canal 3 (Guatemala), a commercial television channel in Guatemala * Can ...

* '' Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger'' (2011)

* '' 7 Days'' (2009–present)

* ''Pop! Goes the Weasel'' Series 1 and 2 C4 &

Film

* ''Gary of the Pacific'' (2017) * ''Brown Peril : The Tim Porch Story'' (2006) - NZ 48 Hour Grand National Winner * ''Water As A Metaphor'' (2008) -

Red Bull Red Bull is a brand of energy drinks created and owned by the Austrian company Red Bull GmbH. With a market share of 43%, it is the most popular energy drink brand as of 2020, and the third most valuable soft drink brand, behind Coca-Cola and ...

"Reel Life" National Winner * ''Only Son'' (2010) - NZ 48 Hour Grand National Winner * ''Seed'' (2012) - NZ 48 Hour Auckland Finalist

Gallery

Image:popweasel.jpg, Pop! Goes the Weasel Image:brownperil.jpg, Brown Peril : The Tim Porch Story

External links

thedownlowconcept WebsiteThe Public Address group-blogNew Zealand 48 Hour Website

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:downlowconcept Film production companies of New Zealand Television production companies of New Zealand Mass media companies established in 2002 Companies based in Auckland Mass media in Auckland 2002 establishments in New Zealand