Beloved Kiwi Classic Filmed at South Seas Film School

After 18 years much-loved presenter Suzy Cato, has returned to South Seas Film School, in Glenfield, utilising their professional TV studio and facilities, through the summer break of 25/26

“Having filmed three of the four series of ‘Suzy’s World’ and one series of ‘Bryan and Bobby’, within the South Seas Film School studios; and having office space on campus for both productions, I felt a real sense of coming home”, Suzy shared during a break in filming.

Not only did South Seas provide the studio facilities for the production, but the majority of the crew are South Seas alumni, underscoring the school’s long-standing reputation for producing industry-ready practitioners who move seamlessly into professional screen work. “To have so many South Seas Film School grads in our production whanau was a continuation of a production decision made nearly 30 years ago! Every series of every screen production Treehut Limited has made, we have made a point of employing graduates from South Seas Film School – their competency and confidence is matched by their enthusiasm, ability and a much needed resilience and perseverance. South Seas grads have been an integral part of our productions”.

This recent Treehut Limited production is produced by Gerben Cath alongside Nerida Cath in the Production Manager role – two of the original founders of South Seas (est. 1992).

Out on location, the alumni included field directors – Keely Meechan (2018), Sacha Handsaker (1995) Barry Prescott (1995), DIT Operator Brandon Hermitte (2016) and James Moore (2017) working as a Field Camera Operator. On the studio floor, South Seas grads made up all of the tech crew except two, with DOP Grant Mckinnon (1993) with camera operators; Marianna Zvonareva (2024) and assists Uliana Zvonareva (2025) and Bella Morris (2025), floor manager–Jaimee Boyce (2025), art dept–Drew Brown (2025) and art assist Maddie Wade (2025). In the production office, two recent grads filled the production assistant roles, Moeta Tararo (2024) and Aaron Cluka (2025).

Behind the scenes, the series is being edited at Dept of Post, a boutique post-production house set up by South Seas graduates James Brookes (2006) and James Gardner (2000) Another strong endorsement of the school’s pathways, the editors working on the series are also South Seas alumni –Thomas Asche (2012), Annie Hubbard (2016), Martin Paris (2014) and Mitch Tornquist (2014 ) with colourist Patrick Oxnam (2018) all under the watchful eye of the Post Production Co-ordinator Kali Moss (2010)

South Seas Film School is delighted to have played a part in creating Suzy’s latest production–a programme deeply woven into New Zealand’s cultural memory. This, paired with the strong South Seas alumni footprint, highlights a thriving creative ecosystem where education, industry, and legacy storytelling meet.

It’s a proud moment for South Seas Film School and a powerful example of graduates continuing to shape the future of New Zealand screen, together.

Photo (L-R): Grant McKinnon (1993), Ulianna Zvonareva (2025), Bella Morris (2025), Aaron Cluka (2025), Marianna Zvonareva (2024 – yes sisters), Suzy Cato, Maddie Wade (2025) Drew Brown (2025), Jaimie Boyce (2025)

L-R Editors : Thomas Ached (2012 ) Annie Hubbard (2016) and Martin Paris (2014)

L-R Gerben Cath – South Seas Founder, Dept of Post Founders James Gardner (2000) and James Brookes (2006)

L-R Prod Assist Moeta Tararo (2024) and Cam Assist Marianna Zvonareva (2024)

L-R Prod Assist Moeta Tararo (2024), Suzy Cato and Field Director Keely Meechan (2018)

L-R Cam Assist Marianna Zvonareva (2024) DOP Grant Mckinnon (1993) Cam Assists Uliana Zvonareva (2025) & Bella Morris (2025)