Stephen Peters

We've known Stephen for about seven years now and watched him move upward in the industry.  He's now Head of Development at Endemol Southern Star.  This seems like a good place for an 'ideas man'.

Let's find out a bit more...

Glenn: When did you start in the industry?

Stephen: I spent many years at Atlab learning everything including processing, printing, colour grading, sound mixing, even creating the optical audio tracks for all their 16mm and 35mm prints. I also worked in the Foley area of the sound mixing suite with Phil Judd and Phil Heywood for a lot of Aussie features of the time including ‘Puberty Blues’ ‘Breaker Morant’ etc.

Glenn: What was it about the industry that grabbed your imagination and made you want to be part of it?

Stephen: Everything, the possibilities seemed endless, still do really.

Glenn: What was your specialty on early productions?

Stephen: My first real job in production outside the lab was as an assistant film editor on a series of Mike Willessee doco’s for Channel Seven.

Glenn: Did anyone in particular inspire you?

Stephen: Initially at the lab there were still a lot of guys around who had been in the business for many years and they were all more than happy to pass on what they knew to a snotty little kid who asked too many questions.

Glenn: You’ve conceived some great shows, Our Country, Doing Time and The Great Chase. How do you get these ideas, and can you take us through the development process?

Stephen: Usually in the shower, so I guess that means I work best when I’m naked and wet….

Glenn: You EP’d Australian Survivor. How was it dealing with the parent production company. What were the production challenges you had to overcome?

Stephen: We had very little to do with the U.S. version of the show other than we had to try and emulate it with about one tenth of the budget, shitty weather and did I mention we had no money?

Glenn: What is your role now as Head of Development for Southern Star?

Stephen: I work on developing ideas for our networks here in Australia and I’m also involved in developing projects through Endemol based in Holland.

Glenn: How do you approach networks with your concepts. Do you fill a time slot/target audience first, or pitch the concept and see where it might fit best?

Stephen: You definitely need to have a time slot in mind with the network, it’s no use having a great show idea and nowhere to put it. Convincing any network in this country to go with an original idea that hasn’t been seen anywhere else in the world is a difficult task. It’s always safer for them to say ‘no’ than to risk their jobs on a possible dud.

Glenn: You were EP of the first Australian Idol series. How rewarding has it been to see the success of Guy and Shannon?

Stephen: Yeah it was very satisfying to see those guys go on to bigger things, especially to see them still making records and performing three years later. So they weren’t just overnight hits relying solely on a a TV entertainment show.

Glenn: Where do you see the television industry headed over the next decade?

Stephen: Everyone needs to take more risks, but everything points towards the opposite happening, sadly.

Glenn: Do you see conventional broadcasting surviving, or are we headed for an Internet 'play on demand'
system? And, do you think this would allow more creativity or less, considering that there will be very niche markets?

Stephen: I think the future lies in IPTV and the various media centre's that are coming into the market. I think this will have a negative effect on creativity, as the sponsors dollars will be split over so many platforms and so many niche networks and broadband sites.

Glenn: How has technology affected the way you do things in comparison to ten years ago?

Stephen: It’s fantastic, particularly with cameras, computer editing, and being able to email people files of graphics, sound bites etc. There are very few delays now from having an idea and making the idea happen.

Glenn: I know you’re an avid slide guitar player, what other hobbies do you have to get away from the business?

Stephen: Well my seven year old son is not a hobby, but hanging out with him is a wonderful way to forget about the hassles. Sitting down and reading ‘The adventures of Captain Underpants’ tends to put everything in perspective.

Glenn: Your most forgettable moment in the business?

Stephen: Did I mention not having a descent budget on ‘Australian Survivor’?

Glenn:  And lastly, any show you're particularly proud of?

Stephen: I think a show called 'Doing Time' set in a women's prison was a difficult show to get on air and I'm impressed that channel nine took the punt.

Many thanks to Stephen for taking the time to give us an insight into his world.