10 Questions: Gareth Mauchline

Director, film maker - Gareth Mauchline.

Gareth Mauchline is a director/film maker at Channel North Television and helps train young Northlanders in TV and film making skills.

1. Describe yourself in three words?

Creative. Fun. Idealist.

2. As a child, who or what did you want to be when you grew up? And why?

Vexillology [study of flags]. Something about flags and their design and history and social impact always rang true with me. I can still name any flag in the world.

3. What is the most important advice you have ever been given?

Treat your creative project, whatever it is, however you're making it, not as a means to an end, but as the best thing you're ever going to make. Do something you believe in, something you love, and enjoy it.

4. At 7pm on any given weeknight, what are we likely to catch you watching on television?

I'm watching a lot of old movies at the moment actually, for research and all that we play lots of cool ones on Channel North.

5. If you had a chance to direct your dream movie, what would the movie be about and who would play the lead role?

A time travel film about finding yourself - starring mostly unheralded local actors because I'm a big fan of using unknowns - but it would also have Edward Norton for some star power.

6. What do you think is Northland's best kept secret?

The talent pool of creative people - they're everywhere, we had a Hollywood sound editor fixing a broken window at our house.

7. If you weren't a director at Channel North, what would you be doing?

This is a hard question, because in my spare time I make videos as well sowrite, direct, shoot films and write, direct and put on plays and write novels. Or sailing the seas as a rum drinking pirate, but probably not actually doing bad pirating.

8. Do you have a nickname, and if so, what's the story behind it?

My friends call me "Gaf". I don't remember where it came from, I think it was a combination of my young siblings struggling with my name and a Pokemon phase.

9. Tell us something that most people don't know about you?

I'd really love to become a commercial airline pilot on the side - like John Travolta minus the scientology.

10. What would you describe as the highlight of your career/role to date?

Just being able to work in an industry I love, where every day is a different creative challenge is a real highlight. And getting to work and learn from experienced film makers, writers and cinematographers - whilst being in Northland is really quite splendid.