Westside (TV series)

For other uses, see West Side.
Westside
Genre Comedy-drama
Crime drama
Created by
  • Rachel Lang
  • James Griffin
Written by
  • Rachel Lang
  • James Griffin
  • Kate McDermott
Directed by
Starring
Opening theme "Watch Your Back" by Hello Sailor
Composer(s) Joel Haines
Country of origin New Zealand
Original language(s) English
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 16 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Chris Bailey
  • Kelly Martin
  • James Griffin
Producer(s)
Cinematography Marty Smith
Running time 44–45 minutes
Production company(s) South Pacific Pictures
Distributor All3Media International
Release
Original network TV3
Picture format HDTV 1080i
Audio format HD stereo
Original release 31 May 2015 (2015-05-31) – present
Chronology
Related shows Outrageous Fortune
External links
Official website
Production website

Westside is a New Zealand comedy crime drama television series created by Rachel Lang and James Griffin[1] for South Pacific Pictures. It is a prequel to Outrageous Fortune, and chronicles the lives of Ted and Rita West in 1970s Auckland. The first series aired from 31 May to 5 July 2015 on TV3.

On 28 July 2015, NZ on Air announced funding of the show for a second series,[2] which premiered on 12 June 2016.[3] Unlike the previous series chronicling a separate year in the 70s, the entirety of series 2 is set in 1981.[3]

On 2 August 2016 NZ on Air announced funding for a third series. It will be set in 1982 and will air sometime in 2017[4]

Plot

Set in the 1970s, it features a "Westie" couple, and stars Antonia Prebble and David de Lautour as Rita and Ted West. In the first episode, set in 1974, it features John Walker beating Rod Dixon in the 1500 metres at the 1974 Commonwealth Games. In series one each episode covers one year, from 1974 to 1979, with events like the Muldoon election, dawn raids on overstayers, carless days, and the birth of the punk rock scene in Auckland.[5]

The second series of Westside is set in 1981, following the springbok tour. The series starts with Rita returning home from prison to find the West household in disrepair. Throughout the course of the series Ted's gang plots to steal from the South Africans visiting New Zealand, preventing them from buying land.

Cast and characters

Main cast

  • Antonia Prebble as Rita West,[6] wife of Ted and mother to Wolf
  • David de Lautour as Theodore "Ted" West,[6] husband of Rita and father to Wolf
  • Dan Musgrove as Lefty Munroe,[6] husband of Ngaire and father to Desiree, Chelsea and Lisa
  • Esther Stephens as Ngaire Munroe,[6] wife of Lefty and mother to Desiree, Chelsea and Lisa
  • Todd Emerson as Bjelke "Bilkey" van Heeder[6]
  • Pana Hema-Taylor as Bert Thompson[6]
  • Xavier Horan as Phineas O'Driscoll,[6] husband of Carol
  • Sophie Hambleton as Carol O'Driscoll,[6] wife of Phineas
  • Reef Ireland as Wolfgang "Wolf" West[7] (series 2), Ted and Rita West's son

Recurring cast

  • Will Hall as Detective Mike McArthy[8]
  • Liam Ferguson as Wolfgang "Wolf" West[9] (4 episodes; series 1), Ted and Rita West's son
  • Patrick Tafa as Falani[10] (7 episodes)
  • Caleb Wells as Barry "Sparky" Gibbs (5 episodes)
  • Jordan Mooney as Eric (4 episodes)

Guest cast

  • Reon Bell as Young Wolfgang "Wolf" West[11] (2 episodes; series 1), Ted and Rita West's son
  • Jordan Mauger as Rod Nugent[8] (2 episodes)
  • Jarred Blakiston as Vern Gardiner[12] (1 episode)
  • Angelina Cottrell as Young Desiree Munroe (1 episode), Lefty and Ngaire Munroe's daughter
  • Eve Gordon as Auntie Pat (1 episode)
  • Jamaica Vaughan as Maria Doslic (1 episode), Dafna's 13-year-old daughter
  • Tatiana Hotere as Dafna Doslic (1 episode), Maria's mother
  • Glen Levy as Darijo Doslic[13] (1 episode), Dafna younger brother
  • David Fane as Falani Senior[10] (1 episode)
  • Joel Tobeck as Des McEwen (1 episode)
  • Jamie Irvine as Marty Johnstone (1 episode)
  • Gabriel McArtney as Captain Hook (Dave McArtney)[14] (1 episode), vocalist/guitarist of Hello Sailor
  • Jaime McDermott as Anne-Marie Gibbs (1 episode)
  • John Leigh as Dougal Gibbs (1 episode)
  • John Rawls as Gang Leader (1 episode)
  • Natalie Welch as Desiree Munroe (1 episode)
  • Dean O'Gorman as Evan Lace (2 episodes, series 2)
  • Laura McGoldrick as Wendy (1 episode, series 2)

Production

In July 2014, NZ on Air approved funding of NZ$4.8 million for the miniseries.[15] On 28 July 2015, NZ on Air approved funding of NZ$7.6 million for a second series,[2] and on 2 August 2016 NZ$6.6 million was approved for a third series.[4]

Filming

Filming for series one commenced on 12 October[6] and concluded on 17 December 2014.[16] Filming for series two commenced on 27 September 2015[17] and concluded on 19 January 2016.[18]

Music

Westside: The Original Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Released 8 July 2015 (2015-07-08)
Genre Rock
Label South Pacific Pictures

Westside: The Original Soundtrack was released for digital download on 8 July 2015[19] and CD on 10 July 2015.[20] It peaked at number nineteen in New Zealand. Music from Westside Series Two was released for digital download on 1 July 2016[21]

Charts

Series 1
Chart (2015) Peak
position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[22] 19

Release

Broadcast

Series one premiered in Australia on 9Gem on 2 December 2015,[23] and series two premiered on 8 August 2016.[24]

Home media

Title Set details DVD release dates
Region 4
New Zealand[25] Australia[26]
Westside — Series One
  • Discs: 1
  • Episodes: 6
8 July 2015 3 February 2016
Westside — Series Two
  • Discs: 1
  • Episodes: 10
18 August 2016 TBA

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1631 May 2015 (2015-05-31)5 July 2015 (2015-07-05)
21012 June 2016 (2016-06-12)14 August 2016 (2016-08-14)
38[4]2017 (2017)[4]TBA

Episodes

Series 1 (2015)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byBackground
event
Original air dateNZ viewers
(thousand)
11"All That Impedes Thee from the Golden Round"Mark BeesleyRachel Lang1974 British Commonwealth Games31 May 2015 (2015-05-31)294,920[27]
22"Is't Far You Ride?"Mark BeesleyJames Griffin1975 New Zealand general election7 June 2015 (2015-06-07)220,650[28]
33"Instruments of Darkness Tell Us Truths"Murray KeaneRachel LangNew Zealand dawn raids14 June 2015 (2015-06-14)151,330[29]
44"Our Poison'd Chalice"Murray KeaneJames GriffinMarty Johnstone ("Mr Asia") drug deals21 June 2015 (2015-06-21)224,130[30]
55"Dire Combustion"Simon BennettJames Griffin1978 Bastion Point arrests
Punk subculture
28 June 2015 (2015-06-28)214,780[31]
66"But for a Wayward Son"Simon BennettRachel LangCarless days in New Zealand5 July 2015 (2015-07-05)206,190[32]

Series 2 (2016)

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
71"Episode 1"Murray KeaneJames Griffin12 June 2016 (2016-06-12)
82"Episode 2"Murray KeaneJames Griffin19 June 2016 (2016-06-19)
93"Episode 3"Michael HurstKate McDermott26 June 2016 (2016-06-26)
104"Episode 4"Michael HurstJames Griffin3 July 2016 (2016-07-03)
115"Episode 5"Murray KeaneRachel Lang10 July 2016 (2016-07-10)
126"Episode 6"Murray KeaneJohn Daniell and James Griffin17 July 2016 (2016-07-17)
137"Episode 7"Michael HurstMichael Beran and James Griffin24 July 2016 (2016-07-24)
148"Episode 8"Michael HurstKate McDermott31 July 2016 (2016-07-31)
159"Episode 9"Murray KeaneNick Ward and James Griffin7 August 2016 (2016-08-07)
1610"Episode 10"Murray KeaneJames Griffin14 August 2016 (2016-08-14)

Series 3 (2017)

Series 3 began filming on 30 October 2016[33]

References

  1. Jenkin, Lydia (24 May 2015). "Westside: Outrageous Fortune rewinds the clock". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 "$20 million invested in new New Zealand drama". NZ on Air. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 Kerry, Harvey (2 June 2016). "Westside star Antonia Prebble's connections to the 1981 Springbok tour". Stuff.co.nz. Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Ted, Rita and your favourite rogues will be back in 2017". NZ on Air. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  5. "TV picks: Westside, the Outrageous Fortune prequel". The New Zealand Herald. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Westside Story Casting Line-Up Revealed". TV3. MediaWorks New Zealand. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  7. Barclay, Keith (30 October 2015). "Westside names new Wolf". Screenz. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  8. 1 2 Spink, Emily (9 June 2015). "New Zealand actor Will thanks former high school for success". Stuff.co.nz. Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  9. Cawley, Rose (3 July 2015). "Westside actor takes on the globe". Stuff.co.nz. Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Then and now: Outrageous Fortune v. Westside". The New Zealand Herald. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  11. Mathers, Joanna (7 June 2015). "Being on-screen a big buzz for acting kids". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 27 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  12. "Television." (PDF). Johnson & Laird. p. 1. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  13. Allbury, Isobel (7 June 2015). "Former stunt-man becomes Westside actor". Stuff.co.nz. Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  14. Gardiner, Irene (20 June 2015). "Five greats from Hello Sailor". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  15. "Funding Decisions". NZ on Air. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  16. "THAT'S A WRAP!". Outrageous Fortune & Westside on Facebook. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  17. Simich, Ricardo (30 September 2015). "Spy: Westside goes 80s in leather, lace and leopard print". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  18. "This is the real #Westside whanau.". Outrageous Fortune & Westside on Facebook. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  19. "Westside (Original Soundtrack)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  20. "Westside: The Original Soundtrack". Mighty Ape. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  21. "Westside Series 2 (Music from the Original TV Series)". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  22. "Charts.org.nz – Soundtrack – Westside". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  23. Knox, David (24 November 2015). "Airdate: Westside". TV Tonight. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  24. Knox, David (5 August 2016). "Returning: Westside". TV Tonight. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  25. New Zealand DVD sets:
  26. Australian DVD sets:
  27. http://www.throng.co.nz/2015/06/tv-ratings-31-may-2015/
  28. http://www.throng.co.nz/2015/06/tv-ratings-7-june-2015/
  29. http://www.throng.co.nz/2015/06/tv-ratings-14-june-2015/
  30. http://www.throng.co.nz/2015/06/tv-ratings-21-june-2015/
  31. http://www.throng.co.nz/2015/06/tv-ratings-28-june-2015/
  32. http://www.throng.co.nz/2015/07/tv-ratings-5-july-2015/
  33. https://www.facebook.com/OutrageousFortune/photos/a.153812787359.117701.137039682359/10154706206407360/?type=3&theater
General references

External links

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