EQ Media Group ANZ is expanding its development division, appointing Amy Schaeffer as head of unscripted development in New Zealand.
Schaeffer is an experienced researcher, presenter and writer who has worked across a diverse slate of unscripted projects including Crypto Bros, How Did You Do That? and The Garden Pantry.
“The local market is ever adapting and the unscripted production space is incredibly strong as reflected in high audience engagement,” said Schaeffer.
“We want to see more Kiwi faces on screen which drives a demand for Kiwi stories. I am excited to be able to create more local stories for both domestic and international audiences and have a passion to see New Zealand content succeed on both local and global stages.”
Schaeffer will be based in EQ Media Group’s Auckland office and work alongside executive producer Richard Fletcher in NZ and Brendan Dahill in Sydney.
Fletcher said the company was delighted to have Schaeffer join the team, and that her appointment highlighted its commitment to bringing foreign investment from international co-production partners to develop Kiwi stories.
“We can’t wait to expand both the scope and the global reach of our local unscripted production slate,” he said.
Recent international productions initiated from EQ Media Group in New Zealand include upcoming Cooks on Fire for TVNZ, Griff’s Canadian Adventure (Channel 4 UK, BBC First Canada, Eden, ABC Australia) following Griff’s Great Kiwi Road Trip, Rhys Darby Big in Japan (TVNZ, Network 10 Australia, Abacus Media Rights) and This Could Go Anywhere (Prime, Abacus Media Rights) and Under the Vines, a comedy-drama co-produced with Libertine Pictures for AMC Networks’ Acorn TV and TVNZ.