Michael Hurst Writer/Director Profile

Profile

Michael is one of New Zealand’s leading actors and directors, having worked extensively across film, television and theatre for over 40 years. He and his wife Jennifer Ward-Lealand, are considered to be New Zealand's most powerful theatrical duo. Michael was already an accomplished theatre director before he began screen directing over 20 years ago. His earliest directing projects included Kiwi feature film Jubilee, which stars a young Cliff Curtis, and television satire Love Mussel. Since then, Michael has gone on to direct episodes of Westside, 800 Words and The Almighty Johnsons, as well as US series Ash vs Evil Dead. With countless awards under his belt, Michael is a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contributions to film and television, as well as the winner of an Art’s Laureate.

Location

Auckland, New Zealand

Social Links

Skills

After Dinner Speaker, Broadcaster, Celebrity, Compere/MC, Debator, Documentary, Field Presenter, Improvisor, Judge, Keynote Speaker, Live Performance Host, MC / Stage compere, Panellist, Singer, Speech Writer, Television

Career Biography

Director.

2021My Life is Murder (TV Series) - EP 2.09 "Wild Life"Greenstone Pictures
2021My Life is Murder (TV Series) - EP 2.10 "Pleasure & Pain"Greenstone Pictures
2021Mystic (TV Series) - EP 1.09 "The Secret"CBBC, TVNZ
2021Mystic (TV Series) - EP 1.10 "The Discovery"CBBC, TVNZ
2021Mystic (TV Series) - EP 1.11 "The Claim"CBBC, TVNZ
2021Mystic (TV Series) - EP 1.12 "The Truth"CBBC, TVNZ
2021Mystic (TV Series) - EP 1.13 "The Return"CBBC, TVNZ
2021Power Rangers Dino Fury (TV Series) - EP 1.06 "Superstition Strikes"Entertainment One, Netflix, Nickelodeon
2021Power Rangers Dino Fury (TV Series) - EP 1.07 "Stego Search"Entertainment One, Netflix, Nickelodeon
2021Power Rangers Dino Fury (TV Series) - EP 1.08 "Unexpected Guest"Entertainment One, Netflix, Nickelodeon
2021Power Rangers Dino Fury (TV Series) - EP 1.19 "The Makeover"Entertainment One, Netflix, Nickelodeon
2021Power Rangers Dino Fury (TV Series) - EP 1.20 "Working Nightmares"Entertainment One, Netflix, Nickelodeon
2021Power Rangers Dino Fury (TV Series) - EP 1.21 "Void Trap"Entertainment One, Netflix, Nickelodeon
2020Between Two Worlds (TV Series) - EP 1.09 "The Leader and the Led"Seven Network
2020Between Two Worlds (TV Series) - EP 1.10 "A Dog and a Man"Seven Network
2019The Dead Lands (TV Series) - EP 1.5 "Generational Warfare"General Film Corporation
2019The Dead Lands (TV Series) - EP 1.6 "A Question of Identity"General Film Corporation
2019The Dead Lands (TV Series) - EP 1.7 "Broken Promises"General Film Corporation
2019The Dead Lands (TV Series) - EP 1.8 "The Sacrifice of Innocence"General Film Corporation
2019Westside (TV Series) - EP 5.05South Pacific Pictures
2019Westside (TV Series) - EP 5.06South Pacific Pictures
2019Westside (TV Series) - EP 5.09South Pacific Pictures
2019Westside (TV Series) - EP 5.10South Pacific Pictures
2018800 Words (TV Series) - EP 3.12South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions
2018Westside (TV Series) - EP 4.06 (co-director)South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production
2018Westside (TV Series) - EP 4.08South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production
2018Westside (TV Series) - EP 4.10South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production
2017800 Words (TV Series) - EP 3.03South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions
2017800 Words (TV Series) - EP 3.04South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions
2017Westside (TV Series) - EP 3.07South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production
2017Westside (TV Series) - EP 3.08South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production
2016800 Words (TV Series) - EP 2.03South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions
2016800 Words (TV Series) - EP 2.04South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions
2016800 Words (TV Series) - EP 2.09South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions
2016800 Words (TV Series) - EP 2.10South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions
2016800 Words (TV Series) - EP 2.13South Pacific Pictures/Seven Productions
2016Balloons (Short Film)
2016Westside (TV Series) - EP 2.03South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production
2016Westside (TV Series) - EP 2.04South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production
2016Westside (TV Series) - EP 2.07South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production
2016Westside (TV Series) - EP 2.08South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production
2016Westside (TV Series) - EP 3.03South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production
2016Westside (TV Series) - EP 3.04South Pacific Pictures/Seven Production
2015Ash vs. Evil Dead (TV Series) - EP 1.06-1.07Starz/Renaissance Pictures
2015Step Dave (TV Series) - EP 2.12 "Kids"South Pacific Pictures
2015Step Dave (TV Series) - EP 2.13 "Will You, Won't You"South Pacific Pictures
2015Tatau (TV Series) - EP 1.06-1.07BBC/South Pacific Pictures
2014Step Dave (TV Series) - EP 1.05 "My Room"South Pacific Pictures
2014Step Dave (TV Series) - EP 1.06 "Knocked Up Natalie"South Pacific Pictures
2014Step Dave (TV Series) - EP 1.07 "Promise and Deliver"South Pacific Pictures
2014The Brokenwood Mysteries (TV Series) - EP 1.03 "Playing the Lie"South Pacific Pictures
2013The Almighty Johnsons (TV Series) - EP 3.07 "Typical Auckland God"South Pacific Pictures
2013The Almighty Johnsons (TV Series) - EP 3.08 "The Asparagus is Kicking In"South Pacific Pictures
2012Spartacus: War of the Damned (TV Series) - EP 3.04 "Decimation" Starz Productions
2012Spartacus: War of the Damned (TV Series) - EP 3.09 "The Dead and the Dying"Starz Productions
2011Spartacus: Vengeance (TV Series) - EP 2.01 "Fugitivus"Starz Productions
2011Spartacus: Vengeance (TV Series) - EP 2.06 "Chosen Path"Starz Productions
2010Legend of the Seeker - EP 2.17 "VengeanceDisney/ABC Studios
2010Legend of the Seeker - EP 2.21 "Unbroken"Disney/ABC Studios
2010Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (TV Series) - EP 3 "Paterfamilias"Starz Productions
2009Legend of the Seeker - EP 1.22 "Reckoning"Disney/ABC Studios
2009Legend of the Seeker - EP 2.02 "Baneling"Disney/ABC Studios
2009Legend of the Seeker - EP 2.12 "Hunger"Disney/ABC Studios
2009Spartacus (TV Series) - EP 1.12 "Revelations"Starz Productions
2009Spartacus (TV Series) - EP 1.13 "Kill Them All" (splinter unit)Starz Productions
2009Spartacus (TV Series) - EP 1.5 "Shadow Games"Starz Productions
2009Spartacus (TV Series) - EP 1.9 "Whore"Starz Productions
2008Legend of the Seeker - EP 1.08 "Denna"Disney/ABC Studios
2008Legend of the Seeker - EP 1.10 "Sacrifice"Disney/ABC Studios
2004Treasure Island Kids: The Monster of Treasure IslandDaybreak Pacific Films
2004Treasure Island Kids: The Mystery of Treasure IslandDaybreak Pacific Films
2001Love Mussel (TV Movie)Frame Up Films
2001Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series) - EP 6.15 "To Helicon and Back"Renaissance Pictures
2000Jack of All Trades (TV Series) - EP 2.04 "The Morning After"Renaissance Pictures
2000Jack of All Trades (TV Series) - EP 2.06 "One Two Three, Give Me Lady Liberty"Renaissance Pictures
2000JubileeSouth Pacific Pictures
2000Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series) - EP 5.16 "Life Blood" (Amazon High segments)Renaissance Pictures
2000Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series) - EP 5.18 "Antony and Cleopatra"Renaissance Pictures
2000Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series) - EP 6.04 "Who’s Gurkhan?"Renaissance Pictures
1999Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) - EP 5.15 "Greece is Burning"Renaissance Pictures
1998Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) - EP 4.17 "One Fowl Day"Renaissance Pictures
1998Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) - EP 5.01 "Faith"Renaissance Pictures
1998Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) - EP 5.07 "Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bridge"Renaissance Pictures
1997Amazon HighDir. Michael Hurst
1997Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) - EP 4.08 ". . . And Fancy Free" Renaissance Pictures
1997Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series) - EP 2.15 "A Day in the Life"Renaissance Pictures
1996Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (TV Series) - EP 3.01 "Mercenary"Renaissance Pictures
1994I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (Short Film)Frame Up Films
1975A Silent Welcome (Short Film)
1974The World Situation Today (Short Film)