Zapruder's Other Films

Our team:

Andrew Denton – Mr Zapruder

Andrew Denton is not tall but his brain is big and interesting. Along with Peter Thompson and Anita Jacoby he runs Zapruder’s with a strong heart, creative mind and firm but friendly hand.

For many years he was on the telly. You might have seen him back in the day on shows like Blah Blah Blah, Live and Sweaty, The Money or the Gun or Denton. More recently he interviewed lots of interesting folk during six series of Enough Rope but you won’t see him doing that anymore. He only likes making TV now not being on it. He absolutely hates spiders and Earl Grey tea. He loves his family and a clever idea. He has never bagged a Gold Logie and it’s unlikely he ever will. He is an excellent water skier.

Written by Polly Connolly.

Anita Jacoby – Mrs Boss

Executive Producer and Head of Production, Anita has worked in the industry for 30 years (which is miraculous really when you think she’s only just 40). Having produced across lots of genres from news and current affairs to light entertainment and everything in between, Anita has worked her magic on 60 Minutes, Sunday, Witness, LAWS, Enough Rope, Gruen, Elders and more.

She has been with Zapruder from the very start and has seen the company grow from Enough Rope to now having seven shows on the slate.

Away from work one of Anita’s great loves is her stud bull, Horatio, renowned for being in the top 5% of bovine semen breeders in Australia. Got to love a bloke with that sort of pedigree.

Peter Thompson – Managing Director

Peter Thompson is the lawyer other lawyers turn to when they need to out-lawyer other lawyers. From Midnight Oil to Jimmy Barnes, LucasFilm to Animal Logic, he has represented many of entertainment’s freest – and fiercest – spirits. Now, as Zapruder’s Managing Director, Peter has put his wily strategic brain, big laugh, and unquenchable thirst for raw grain alcohol at the service of making fine, original Australian television.

Written by Andrew Denton.

Jon Casimir – Chief Tea Pimp

“Something About Jon” – best known for his mastery of the English language and part of the creative genius behind many a great ZOF idea. However, little is known of his other vast array of truly diverse attributes. Jon “the dog whisperer”, a truly well-behaved pooch has visited the office on many occasions, putting other office dog-owners to shame. Jon “the king of kid’s sleepovers”, generally an occasion to be feared amongst the hosting parent but not when it comes to sleepovers at Jon’s place. Jon “the real estate magnate of the east” always offers well researched & up-to-date info! Jon “the astute shopper” engages in riveting office conversation on the merits of NOT shopping at Aldi. A truly integral part of the ZOF team and always a good conversation to be had with “our Jon”.

Written by Louise Collins.

Catherine Durr – Production Supervisor

Catherine is Zapruder’s official Zen Master/Production Supervisor. Calming light exudes from her office as she nuts out complex formulas in Excel spreadsheets just for fun.

Before entering the world of TV, Catherine tried her hand as a nurse and even an apprentice pastry chef… which also happen to be essential skills for any production office.

Having kept most of the Aussie TV kids in line with her organisational superpowers: Beyond, Freehand, Southern Star, FremantleMedia Australia, Screentime and Seven… Catherine now calls ZOF her spiritual home.

And as if her bag of tricks isn’t full enough, she’s just completed the Grad Dip in Screen Business at AFTRS.

Written by Monique Schafter.

Debbie Cuell – Zapruder Executive Producer

Debbie says she has been working in TV for over 30 years, and the love must be mutual because she still sparkles with energy and youth.

After growing up on a farm in Wagga Wagga and working straight out of high school at the local TV station, she moved to the Sydney big smoke and Channel Ten, working her way up through news, talk, current affairs, lifestyle and entertainment. Years of freelancing as studio director and producer led, after the turn of the century, to seven years at Seven in development and as series producer on many shows. She left Seven to take on the role of Executive Producer on Missing Persons Unit, then Gangs of Oz. She joined Zapruder’s in early 2009 as Supervising Producer for two series of The Gruen Transfer, (as well as taking on EP of Development during 2009).

Despite being one on the most efficient and talented women in TV, Debbie is a delight to work with. She is currently responsible for rescuing a country town for us and ABC TV, and loving it.

Written by Peter Thompson.

Polly Connolly – Development / Producer

Polly is a woman of substance. In her work and personal life she possesses integrity, honesty and resilience. Everywhere she goes, people fall in love with Polly. She’s a weapon of mass adoration, the person we send in when qualities such as tact, kindness and likeability are required. No matter what show she works on, Polly always seems to finish with a new friend. Other TV production companies try to tempt her away (she’s famous as the best booker in the business), but we had her secretly microchipped a couple of years ago and now we’re able to keep track of her at all times, stopping her from attending those meetings. Part of the Zapruder DNA, she’s smart, funny and holds her own in the weekly battle of ideas.

Written by Debbie Cuell.

Ursula Mellor – Executive Assistant

They say that behind every great man there is a great woman, and we reckon they’re probably right.

Meet Ursula, the women we all love to love – calm, efficient, friendly and brilliant at negotiating everything Andrew related and then some. Ursula has been working with Andrew for almost 16 years and the Zapruder’s team would be missing a bit of its soul without her.

One of our favourite things about Ursula is that despite having held her own with some Australia’s most famous faces, she has her feet firmly on the ground, and a kind word is never far away.

Outside of work Ursula can be found relaxing with her husband and beautiful daughter, Scarlett.

Written by Anita Jacoby.

Louise Collins – Financial Director

Is a former chess prodigy who tired of the bright lights, big egos and moral decay of championship boardgaming. By turns, she then dabbled in espionage, cupcake design and piracy – her parrot, the very last Jamaican Red Macaw, was called Mr Winky. Finally, an accidental (don’t ask) marriage to a mining magnate, followed by the arrival of 13 jam-handed children, convinced her to pursue a quiet life at Zapruder’s, where she oversees anything even remotely to do with embezzling, sorry, accounts.

Written by Jon Casimir.