Bryan Bruce
Encyclopedia
Bryan Bruce is an award winning documentary maker and author. Born in Scotland
in 1948, his family emigrated to New Zealand in 1956. He grew up in Christchurch
and attended the University of Canterbury
where he graduated with an M.A. in Sociology
and Philosophy
. He now resides in Wellington
New Zealand.
Some of his published non-fiction works include:
His feature length documentaries range in topic from natural history
to crime
.
He writes, produces and directs the real crime show The investigator which screens on TV ONE (Television New Zealand
).
and can be found here.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1948, his family emigrated to New Zealand in 1956. He grew up in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
and attended the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
where he graduated with an M.A. in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. He now resides in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
New Zealand.
Some of his published non-fiction works include:
- A Taste of History ( Batemans 2007) A history of everyday foods.
- Hard cases (Random House New Zealand 2008 )
- Jesus: The Cold Case Random House New Zealand 2010
- Jezus: Dowody Zbrodni Cartablanca Poland 2011
His feature length documentaries range in topic from natural history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
to crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
.
He writes, produces and directs the real crime show The investigator which screens on TV ONE (Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand
Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to, and stylized as TVNZ, is a government-owned corporation television network broadcasting in New Zealand and parts of the Pacific. It operates TV1, TV2, TVNZ7, TVNZ Heartland, TVNZ U and new media services....
).
Awards
- 2011 Winner AFTA Award Best Documentary(Jesus The Cold Case).
- 2008 Winner QantasQantasQantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
Awards Achievement in Directing. Finalist: Best Factual Entertainment Series. - 2005 Nominated Best Factual Director – NZ Television Awards (A Question of Justice).
- 2003 Finalist New York Festivals Television Programming Awards(Writer, Director Producer for The Lost Dinosaurs).
- 2003 Banff Television Festival Award Finalist (The Lost Dinosaurs).
- 2002 Winner- Best Director Factual Entertainment (New Zealand Television Awards)
- 1999 NZ Film and TV Award finalist Best Script (The Trouble With Ben])
- 1998 NZ Film and TV Award finalist Best Director Factual Television (Shaky Beginnings)
- 1997 Winner - NZ Film and TV Award – Best Director Documentary (Murder They Said)
- 1995 ITVA- Best Documentary
- 1993 Nominated Best Director NZ Film and TV Award – Best Director ( Documentary) (Serious Fraud)
- 1991 Auckland University Award for Excellence in Journalism
Documentaries
The following documentaries made by Bryan Bruce are lodged at The New Zealand Film ArchiveNew Zealand Film Archive
The New Zealand Film Archive is a charitable trust dedicated to the collection, preservation and viewing of mainly New Zealand films and videos made between 1895 to the present day.- Background :...
and can be found here.
- Nothing to Live For : A 50 min Documentary on SuicideSuicideSuicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
for TVNZ. - Peter Blake (yachtsman) : A 50 min documentary for TVNZ on the life of winning Whitbread Skipper Sir Peter BlakePeter Blake (yachtsman)Sir Peter James Blake, KBE was a New Zealand yachtsman who won the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Jules Verne Trophy – setting the fastest time around the world of 74 days 22 hours 17 minutes 22 seconds on catamaran Enza, and led his country to successive victories in the America’s Cup...
- The Tour Ten years On : A 50 min documentary for TVNZ on the civil disorder surrounding the SpringbokTourSouth Africa national rugby union teamThe South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
of 1981. - Whina Te Whaea O Te Motu : A 50 min documentary for TVNZ on the life of the late Dame Whina CooperWhina CooperDame Whina Cooper ONZ DBE , was born Hohewhina Te Wake, daughter of Heremia Te Wake of the Te Rarawa iwi, at Te Karaka, Hokianga,...
. - Water A 58 min documentary (International Co-production with PBS Dallas).
- Breaking Barriers: A 48 min documentary on the life of pioneer filmmaker John O'Shea (director).
- 17 : A Documentary for TVNZ channel 2 about teenage life in New Zealand
- Stand By Your Man : A 46 min documentary for TVNZ about the dilemmas women face when their partners are imprisoned.
- You’re Soaking in It!: A 46 min documentary on Social Change in New Zealand for TVNZ, using old television commercials to tell the story.
- Serious Fraud: A Inside NZ documentary for TV3 about the life and times of three of New Zealand’s biggest fraudsters.
- Beyond A Joke: A 46 min documentary for TVNZ on the Kiwi sense of humour.
- Murder They Said: A 90 min Inside NZ drama documentary for TV3 about the investigation and trial of David Tamihere.
- The Coach: A Inside NZ documentary for TV3 about two sports coaches.
- In Cold Blood: A 90 min Inside NZ documentary on mass murder, featuring similarities in the lives of mass killers Thomas Hamilton ( DunblaneDunblaneDunblane is a small cathedral city and former burgh north of Stirling in the Stirling council area of Scotland. The town is situated off the A9 road, on the way north to Perth. Its main landmark is Dunblane Cathedral and the Allan Water runs through the town centre, with the Cathedral and the High...
Scotland) Martin BryantMartin BryantMartin Bryant is an Australian who has been convicted of murdering 35 people and injuring 21 others in the Port Arthur massacre, a shooting spree in Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia, in 1996. He is currently serving 35 life sentences plus 1,035 years without parole in the psychiatric wing of...
(Australia) and David GrayAramoana massacreThe Aramoana massacre was a mass murder that occurred on 13 November 1990 in the small seaside township of Aramoana, New Zealand. Resident David Gray, a 33-year-old unemployed man, began indiscriminately shooting people in the township with a scoped semi-automatic rifle, after a verbal dispute with...
(New Zealand). - Twisted Tales : A Originator of Emmy Award Winning Series 1 - 13x 24 mins hour animal stories for Animal Planet and Natural History (NZ) Ltd.
- First Impressions: A 44 min Inside NZ documentary about how we make up about our minds about people in the first few seconds of the encounter.
- Heavy Petting: A 45 min documentary for TVNZ on the psychologyPsychologyPsychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
of pet ownership. - Shaky Beginnings : A 45 min documentary for TVNZ on New Zealand’s GeologyGeologyGeology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and geographyGeographyGeography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
. - The Trouble With Ben : A 44 min documentary about a mother trying to look after her intellectually disabled boy at home.
- State Of Mind : A 44 min documentary for TV3 about the deinstitutionalisation of Mental HealthMental healthMental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
in NZ - Workhorse to Dreamhorse : A 44 min documentary for TVNZ about the history of the horseHorseThe horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
in New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. - The Bughouse : A 44 min documentary for TVNZ about the bugs that live in our houses featuring entomologist Ruud KleinpasteRuud KleinpasteRuud Kleinpaste . After being schooled back home in The Netherlands, he studied plant sciences at , eventually earning a degree in silviculture...
. - The Bridge : A 43 min documentary for TVNZ on the history of the AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
Harbour Bridge. - The Last Place On Earth : A 55 min documentary about New Zealand Geology, Flora & Fauna.
- The Lost Dinosaurs Of New Zealand : A 52 minute documentary about the discovery of New Zealand dinosaurs by Dr Joan WiffenJoan Wiffen-Early life:Joan Wiffen was brought up in Havelock North and King Country. Born in 1922 Joan Wiffen only had a very short secondary school education as her father believed that higher education was wasted on girls, so he made her leave...
. - The Sir Howard Morrison Story: A 50 minute autobiographical documentary about the life of entertainer Sir Howard MorrisonHoward MorrisonSir Howard Leslie Morrison, OBE, was a New Zealand entertainer. From 1964 until his death in 2009 he was one of New Zealand's leading television and concert performers.-Early life:...
for TVNZ. - Trial By Ordeal : A 70 minute drama documentary on the trial of John BarlowJohn BarlowJohn Barlow was an English diplomat and spy in the time of Henry VIII.-Life:He graduated M.A. at the University of Oxford in 1521.Barlow was intimately involved in the King's attempts to secure a divorce from his first wife, Katherine of Aragon from the Pope. Barlow was a supporter of Henry's...
for the murder of Eugene ThomasEugene ThomasEugene Thomas is an African-American martial artist and B-movie actor, who went to Taiwan and Hong Kong in the early 1980s, where he made about a dozen movies, mostly about Ninjas, like Mafia vs. Ninja or USA Ninja, where he frequently collaborated with the tae kwon do specialist Alexander Lou...
and his son Gene. - A Question Of Justice : A 93 Minute docudrama on David BainDavid BainDavid Cullen Bain is a New Zealander who featured in one of the country's most notable murder cases. He was convicted in May 1995 of the murders of his parents and siblings in Dunedin on 20 June 1994...
who was convicted in 1995 of the murder of his family. TV1 Highest rated NZ On Air funded factual programme in 2005 - Monsters Of The Deep: A 52 Minute TVNZ and International documentary on the identity of a huge carcass hauled up off the New Zealand coast.
- The Investigator: An 18 part Cold Case Crime series for TVNZ.
- Inside Child Poverty: A 45 Minute documentary for TV3.