BIOGRAPHY
CAROLINE BELL-BOOTH
Having started out her professional career creating theatre, Caroline quickly made a name for herself as a drama director of vision that excels at complex character projects.
Currently Caroline is in post on the TVNZ show One Lane Bridge s3, directed by herself (eps 4 & 5) and Rob Sarkies (eps 1-3).
Most recently, Caroline has just finished as lead director on My Life Is Murder Aotearoa s2 starring Lucy Lawless and prior to that the murder mystery telefeature series The Brokenwood Mysteries, which screens on TVNZ, Acorn TV (USA), France 3 (France), DR (Denmark), Giallo (Italy) and Nine Network.
In 2021 she shot Power Rangers Dino Fury for Entertainment One, which has enjoyed a very popular season on Netflix, with another to follow in late 2022. She also joined the British/NZ co-pro Mystic, an environmental teen drama based on Pony Club Secrets by Stacy Gregg, made for CBBC (England), TVNZ and Seven Network.
In 2020, Caroline joined the second season of the German-NZ co-production The Gulf, starring Kate Elliot, where she directed the finale tele-feature episode. This went to air in Germany later in 2021, and will soon be available on Netflix AUS/NZ.
Caroline is currently attached to one drama series and two feature film projects in development.
CREDITS
POWER RANGERS
DINO FURY
2021
Made for Entertainment One/Hasbro/SCG Power Rangers. Such a fun show to work on, where I learned a lot more about SPX and stunt work – and directing villainous giant mushrooms! Power Rangers Dino Fury, the 28th season of the American kids TV show, will screen on Nickelodeon and Netflix.
MYSTIC
2021
A CBBC/Libertine NZ co-pro, Mystic is set in the fictional Kauri Point, New Zealand. Starring Macey Chipping, it tells the story of Issie Brown and her new-found friendships with the town's teen horse riders, and their efforts to save Kauri Point from ecological threats. It screens on Netflix, CBBC, TVNZ and Seven Network.
THE GULF
2020
My favourite work thus far, I was entrusted with the remit to shoot the show as I wanted rather than fit into a prescriptive house style. The Gulf follows Detective Jess Savage (Kate Elliot) as she investigates crimes on her home of Waiheke Island, New Zealand. I love this show and am very happy with the result. Made by Letterbox Filmproduktion / Screentime / Lippy The Gulf is a German / NZ co-pro that has also sold to Netflix, Amazon Prime and Sundance Now
WESTSIDE
2018 - 2020
A beloved NZ show, Westside tells the story of legendary safe cracker and career criminal, Ted West and his fire cracker of a wife, Rita. I was lead director on the series for the final two seasons and it was an honour to be involved in a story with such heart. In the final season, I directed eps 1&2, 5&6. Made by South Pacific Pictures, Westside is available to view on Neon and Three Now.
BETWEEN TWO WORLDS
2019
An Australian drama series from the creators of A Place To Call Home for Seven Productions, two very different families collide when a heart is transplanted from one man’s chest to another. The highlight of this experience was working with Hermione Norris and Sara Wiseman, who star as the matriarchs of the series.
THE BAD SEED
2018
After raising themselves up from a desperate childhood, two brothers (Dean O’Gorman & Matt Minto) find the lives that they have worked so hard to build torn apart when one of them is accused of murder. This show was a challenging venture, which received much praise for its ambitious nature. Beyond NZ, the series screened in the UK on Alibi.
800 WORDS
2016 - 2017
An Australian/NZ comedy-drama, co-produced by South Pacific Pictures and Seven Productions for the Seven Network, and later sold to Acorn TV. It follows George Turner, (Erik Thompson) a widowed father, who quits his job and moves himself and his reluctant children to a kooky seaside town in NZ. This show offered me my first full-length episodic directing experience which led to ongoing work between Australia and NZ – and it was a delightful show to be a part of!