1 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 1: Kielda. 2 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 3 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. What does 4 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 2: New Zealand and David Hasselhoff have in common? The answer 5 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 2: is TV producer Alex Bringan. He's been hit with a 6 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 2: raft of serious fraud chargers and is the same guy 7 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 2: whose production company Stripes Studios owes the Baywatch Star money. 8 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 2: Turns out he might owe a lot more people a 9 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 2: lot more money. Today on the front Page ends at 10 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 2: Herald Media insider Shane carriers with us to take us 11 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:49,520 Speaker 2: through the rise and falls of this high flying KIWI producer. 12 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 2: First off, Shane paint us a picture of Alex Bringan. 13 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: Who is he? 14 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 2: What did he build? And what shows is he credited 15 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 2: with that we might recognize? 16 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 3: Well, thanks for having me, Chelsea, It's nice to sit 17 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 3: down with you. Alex bring In. He's been sort of 18 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 3: the focus of some inquiries on my own behalf and 19 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 3: of course from different agencies in New Zealand for the 20 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 3: last couple of years. But intriguing character, a bit of 21 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 3: a charmer. I'm told I haven't personally met him, but 22 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 3: I've interviewed lots of people who have and he's a 23 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 3: UK born came to New Zealand in two thousand and 24 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,839 Speaker 3: two and started out actually in radio in New Zealand 25 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 3: and had some roles at Media Works and the likes 26 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 3: of MARFM and Radio Live, but then moved into broadcast, 27 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 3: into television and broadcasting and production and eventually set up 28 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 3: Striped Studios in two thy and twelve. That was after 29 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 3: establishing Choice TV, which went on to become Eden Channel. 30 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 3: But anyway, Alex himself, I've spoken to him briefly once 31 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 3: on the telephone and I had various emails, very brief emails. 32 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 3: But despite that, I'm told he is a charmer, very 33 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 3: well spoken, loves being around celebrities and if you look 34 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 3: up YouTube and other channels, you see some interviews that 35 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 3: he has done himself, both on his own shows and 36 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:17,239 Speaker 3: with some overseas kind of celebrities, Hollywood actors such as 37 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 3: Gabriel Mack from Suits Oh and people like that that 38 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 3: he did for The Cafe, which was a show that 39 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 3: he produced in New Zealand from twenty sixteen to twenty twenty. 40 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 2: I remember that one. 41 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, that was on TV three for a while, hosted 42 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 3: by Mike Purdue and Malhomer and so Alex has had tentacles. 43 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 3: Alex bringhas had tentacles in the New Zealand production and 44 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 3: television sector, in particular quite extensively right up to the 45 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 3: time he left for LA in twenty twenty four. 46 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:53,679 Speaker 2: Right, so tell me what's he charged with? What's happening here? 47 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 2: Why is he on your radar? Yeah? 48 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 3: So he established, as I say, Stripe Studios now more 49 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 3: than ten years ago, and Stripe Studios was based out 50 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 3: of Ponson. Migray learned at small offices he set up 51 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 3: with Stripe Studios, he set up special vehicle companies for 52 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 3: each individual show that he was producing. Now Stripe Studios 53 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 3: itself's done more than a dozen shows and TV shows 54 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 3: and series, and some of them will be well known 55 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:21,519 Speaker 3: to some people. They were the likes of The Circus 56 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 3: and Circus Two reunited some travel shows with former All 57 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 3: Black Stephen Donald and Israel dag and he also was 58 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 3: starting to establish two series and featuring some very well 59 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 3: known Hollywood players and actors, one David Hesselhoff, of course 60 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 3: of Night Rider and Baywatch fame, and also Netflix comedian 61 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 3: Eliza Shelsinger who they both came to New Zealand and 62 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 3: those two shows that they were involved in with Stripe 63 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 3: Studios unfortunately fell victim to some of the funding issues 64 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,280 Speaker 3: and now the chargers that Alex Springing is facing. So 65 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 3: he was. Alex Springing is now facing thirty three Serious 66 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 3: Fraud Office charges and they relate to around thirteen Stripe 67 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 3: Studio shows. They relate to more almost fifteen million dollars, 68 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 3: partly public funding that he received for those shows, or 69 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 3: the public the screen production rebate that he received for 70 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 3: some of those shows, and also around ten million dollars 71 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 3: in private lending, mainly from Kiwibank and Fulkham Finance. 72 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 2: Right, So you mentioned before he's obviously relocated to LA 73 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 2: and kind of rebranded himself in some ways, right. Can 74 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 2: you tell us about his Hollywood life? 75 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's an intriguing life. I delved into this a 76 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 3: couple of weeks ago in my media column. Alex left 77 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 3: New Zealand in twenty twenty four, just as the Serious 78 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 3: Fraud Office had started investigating just how he was financing 79 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 3: and funding and receiving funds for these thirteen shows. But 80 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 3: he's been in out Los Angeles ever since, and I've 81 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 3: tracked him down now to to Hollywood, where he has 82 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 3: tried to establish himself and is trying to establish himself 83 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:10,040 Speaker 3: in the TV and film industry there. Now he's living 84 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 3: with another woman in Los Angeles. He was married in 85 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 3: New Zealand to former TV three reporter and a very 86 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 3: well known Instagram personality, the One Handed Baker aka Rachel Heart. 87 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:28,720 Speaker 3: But that marriage is now over. That loves split up. 88 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 3: Alex moved to Los Angeles, as I say, in twenty 89 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,119 Speaker 3: twenty four, and he is now living with a woman 90 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 3: in Los Angeles called Darcy Penn, who's a part time administrator. 91 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 3: And so I've painted a picture for the media column 92 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 3: of his new life. It's quite an upmarket life. He's 93 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,039 Speaker 3: living in an upmarket suburb in the Santa Monica Foothills. 94 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 3: As I say, He's tried to establish himself in the 95 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 3: film and TV industry there, set up a website called 96 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 3: Second Hour Films. Up until recently, he had associated himself 97 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 3: on that website. His website to around another dozen shows 98 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 3: in Los Angeles. But my subsequent investigations have found actually 99 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 3: that while he was describing himself as a producer of 100 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 3: some of these shows, the production companies say that was misleading, 101 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 3: that he wasn't associated in that respect with those shows, 102 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 3: and they've asked him to remove the references to their 103 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 3: shows on his website. 104 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 2: How many are on his website now. 105 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 3: Well as of today, Chelsea, and I've just checked this morning. Zero, 106 00:06:26,720 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 3: So it's just basically now a title on the website 107 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 3: Second Hour Films on his IMDb homepage. IMDb, for those 108 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 3: who don't know, it is a very well known movie 109 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 3: database site, basically a LinkedIn if you like, for the 110 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 3: film and TV industry. I would say so yeah. And 111 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 3: so Alex has now calls himself Alex James on that website. 112 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 3: James is his middle name. And as of this morning, 113 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 3: he's got another seven shows that he says is are 114 00:06:55,320 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 3: in development or filming associated with himself, and these that 115 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 3: have promotional and marketing material alongside them. Some of them 116 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 3: have been created by AI and so just where those 117 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 3: productions are at remains. 118 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 2: Unclear in terms of IMDb. And I've always wondered this, 119 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: do people because you know how like Wikipedia, you can 120 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 2: go on at yourself and edit something and they're obviously 121 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 2: people checking and stuff like that. But can I go 122 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 2: on to IMDb and create myself a profile? 123 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 3: You can? You can and unlike Wikipedia, it seems IMDb 124 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 3: there's a lot less I guess with Wikipeda, I've noticed 125 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 3: saying I've noticed this in the Alex bring in case. 126 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 3: There are a lot of people editing that page at 127 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 3: any one time and removing and adding details as news stories, 128 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 3: you know, come to the fore. IMDb seems a lot less, 129 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 3: I guess, kind of interactive Alex James. Alex Bringing's bio 130 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 3: right now is pretty brief. As I say, it's got 131 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 3: seven projects attached to his name that's fluctuated over time. 132 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 3: There was up to a dozen or more in recent 133 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 3: and recent times. I suspect I don't have proof of this, 134 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 3: but I suspect Alex himself has been editing his page 135 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 3: to reflect the requests of these other production companies for 136 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 3: him not to associate himself with them. 137 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 2: We have the chance interview a major Hollywood star, Gabriel 138 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 2: Marx from the hit show Suit said, well, we didn't 139 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 2: end up doing it. 140 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right. 141 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 2: Many of us did it because our producer and our 142 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:37,079 Speaker 2: DIY expert, Alex think he went along, and by all accounts, 143 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 2: it didn't go down particularly well with Gabriel. 144 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 3: Gabriel matt Is Harvey Specter from Suits and it's a pleasure. 145 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 3: It's an honor and robber. 146 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: I'm Alex. Yeah, I was told I was going to 147 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: be talking with Make and No. Yeah, a bit awkward. Sorry, 148 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:58,319 Speaker 1: that's really uncool, because you know, this whole came together 149 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 1: pretty quickly as I heard. Yeah, because I work hard 150 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: and fast. Yeah, I'm not going to do this interview 151 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: until Mike and Mail actually come here and sit across 152 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: from me in this boardroom. God damn it. 153 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 2: So his Stripe Media company that collapsed into liquidation in 154 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 2: twenty twenty four ohing creditors upwards of twenty million dollars. 155 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 2: Were there any earlier red flags before this? 156 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 3: Not so much reflags. The way the serious fraud investigation 157 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 3: came about initially is that the New Zealand Film Commission, 158 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 3: which administers the screen production Rebate, flagged concerns about what 159 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 3: it called at the time an Auckland production company. It 160 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 3: did not name Stripe. It was only in subsequent months 161 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 3: that Stripe's name came out. It said in November twenty 162 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:51,240 Speaker 3: twenty three that it had flagged concerns with the Serious 163 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 3: Fraud Office about an Auckland production companies and its use 164 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 3: of the screen production rebate, and so the Serious Fraud 165 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:00,120 Speaker 3: Office has been investigating since that time. So the It's 166 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 3: Fraud Officers investigation's gone for more than two years. You know, 167 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:06,959 Speaker 3: there's been a lot of political debate about the screen 168 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 3: production rebate, and basically how that works is there's two rebates, 169 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 3: one for local productions, one for international productions, and subject 170 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:19,640 Speaker 3: to various criteria, but producers can receive back cash up 171 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 3: to forty percent of the money they've spent on in 172 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 3: the case of local productions, or twenty to twenty five 173 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 3: percent cash back for international productions. Now it's designed to 174 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 3: enhance the screen production industry, to bring productions to New Zealand, 175 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 3: to make sure the industry is vibrant. As I say, 176 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 3: a lot of political debate about it. At the ACT 177 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 3: Party for instance, has been opposed to it, whereas National 178 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 3: and under Nikola Willis have been very supportive in recent 179 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 3: times for it. 180 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 2: Well, in terms of that, I mean, how do these 181 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 2: allegations affect the industry, especially the local TV industry as 182 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 2: a whole. I suppose at a grassroots level it's already 183 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 2: quite difficult to get something off the ground right and 184 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 2: so when something like this happens or these charges come out, 185 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 2: they must just be like. 186 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 3: Oh no, yeah, it's not I mean, it's not a 187 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 3: great look. And already the Film Commission has come out 188 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 3: and said it's you know, it's made sure that over 189 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 3: the last two or three years, it's really tightened procedures 190 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 3: and reviewed the way that the screen production remate is administered. 191 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 3: I think there are more questions to be asked there eventually, 192 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 3: once we understand what Alex Bringhan's position is with the 193 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 3: serious Fraud Office charges. He's denied them. Of course, we 194 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 3: still don't know if he will come back to New 195 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 3: Zealand to fight those charges, or whether Interpol needs to 196 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 3: get involved and he is extradited to New Zealand. But 197 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 3: they are very serious charges. There's a lot of money 198 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 3: at stake, and so I think following that and even 199 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 3: in between, we'll understand a little bit more from the 200 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 3: New Zealand Film Commission, just any changes it's made in 201 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 3: terms of, I guess, monitoring the way that that money 202 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 3: is distributed. But you're right, Chelsea, in terms of you know, 203 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 3: the industry is under a lot of pressure. The last 204 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 3: thing it needs is sort of publicity about a producer 205 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 3: facing these kind of charges. It's important though that the 206 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 3: sunlight's on this case. Every industry will have, I guess 207 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:19,319 Speaker 3: cases bad eggs, cases that aren't great, But by and large, 208 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 3: the New Zealand screen sector, you know, has a great 209 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 3: reputation both locally and globally. It's getting back onto its feet. 210 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 3: There's a lot of issues that it's confronting in terms of, 211 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 3: you know, the global streamers and whether they need to 212 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 3: contribute a lot more to the industry. But yeah, this 213 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 3: doesn't help. 214 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 2: What tipped you off about Alex Brennan, Well, it's you know. 215 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 3: What tipped us off originally was the New Zealand Film 216 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 3: Commission's very brief statement in November twenty three that it 217 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 3: had referenced this production company in Auckland to the Serious 218 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 3: Fraud Office. And from there I started to pull a 219 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 3: few strands, as at other media. But over the last 220 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 3: two or three years, as Alex bring In has dealt 221 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 3: with other people, he has accused the New Zealand Film 222 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:12,719 Speaker 3: Commission of having a vendetta against him and changing the 223 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 3: framework of its screen production rebate. Film Commissions denied that 224 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 3: he's accused The Herald of having a vendetta against him. 225 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 3: The Herald. You know, we certainly stand by our reporting. 226 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 3: We've been chasing him down for an interview for many 227 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 3: years to hear his side of the story, and that 228 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 3: office still stands. But he is an intriguing character. He 229 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:34,200 Speaker 3: has the gift of the gab. He's a very confident 230 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:39,079 Speaker 3: person by all accounts. And so this story has all 231 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,440 Speaker 3: of the elements. Really, it has, you know, the David 232 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 3: Hasselhoff and Elizah Schlsinger factors in terms of Hollywood. It 233 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 3: has somebody who now lives in a different country trying 234 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,840 Speaker 3: to establish himself there and question them all kind of 235 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 3: ways that he is doing that. And back here it's 236 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 3: you know, there's a lot of money involved, a lot 237 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 3: of public money, a lot of private money, featuring and 238 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 3: featuring out some of our her own bigger names. 239 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 2: You've spoken to his ex wife, Is that right? What 240 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 2: did she have to say? No? 241 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 3: Unfortunately, Rachel Hart, she has declined interviews so far. However, 242 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 3: she has been on social media in a lot stronger 243 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 3: ways in recent times, and she's actually spoken out about 244 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:21,920 Speaker 3: her ex husband and one very taling post on Instagram 245 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 3: and on Facebook just in the last two weeks where 246 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 3: she quite clearly outlined what she described the definition of 247 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 3: a narcissist and described the way that Alex Springhan was 248 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:37,480 Speaker 3: still using a lot of her own money while after 249 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 3: ed moved to Los Angeles and now, as she has discovered, 250 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 3: had already met another person and was now living with 251 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 3: them and her four children in Los Angeles. Four young 252 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 3: children that Alex Springen and Darcy Penna living in Los Angeles. 253 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 2: You've been around for a wee, Bet Shane, I hope 254 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 2: you don't mind be saying. 255 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 3: You can tell her from the from the hairstyle. 256 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 2: You're no spring Chicken. But you've dealt with these media 257 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 2: scandals before, right, How might this damage trust in the industry? 258 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 2: And what sets this apart? You've already said the Hollywood 259 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 2: actor David Hasselhoffs involved. But what makes you so dogged 260 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 2: in your pursuit of someone like Alex Springer? 261 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 3: I think, and for any journalist, I think getting to 262 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 3: the bottom of, you know, of allegations and seeking answers, 263 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 3: I think is really important. And when it does involve 264 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 3: so much, you know, it's millions and millions of public money, 265 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 3: and there are still a lot of individual creditors who 266 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 3: are unlikely to see their money and so yes, there is. 267 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 3: While the Serious Fraud Office charges cover almost fifteen million 268 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 3: dollars bdo the receivers have identified more than twenty million 269 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 3: dollars that is owed to creditors. And you know that 270 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 3: includes Keywi Bank, full from Finance as I say, individual creditors, 271 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 3: ID and these big Hollywood names. And so for me, 272 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 3: you know, it's important that you know, sunlights is shown 273 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 3: into these nooks and crannies and making sure that another 274 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,040 Speaker 3: case like this doesn't unfold and that public money is 275 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:12,400 Speaker 3: safe and is well accounted for. So that that is 276 00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 3: partly it. But I'm also intrigued by Alex himself. You know, 277 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 3: here is a guy who has put himself out there. 278 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 3: He's created his own businesses, He's interviewed lots of people 279 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,080 Speaker 3: himself for his own shows, He's produced a lot of 280 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 3: his own shows, and so you know, it has all 281 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 3: the factors if he's looking for a great story to tell, 282 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 3: you know, for in for a new TV series, I 283 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 3: don't think you can go too far past the life 284 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 3: and times of Alex. 285 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 2: Bringing absolutely and so when we are we ever going 286 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 2: to see this David Hasselhoff travel Travels New Zealand show 287 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 2: going to see the has it has. 288 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:51,040 Speaker 3: The great news, Chelsea is that two of the shows, 289 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 3: and unfortunately there are a number of shows that haven't 290 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 3: seen the light of day. But two of the shows 291 00:16:56,120 --> 00:17:00,040 Speaker 3: have been picked up by another entertainment production company. And 292 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:04,960 Speaker 3: the David Hasselhoff Show is now available co starring Restaby, 293 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 3: one of our best known comedians of course, and that 294 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,120 Speaker 3: was a travel show traveling the length of New Zealand. 295 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 3: So that show is already available now on three Now. 296 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 3: And the schel Singer Show that was just announced in 297 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 3: the last couple of weeks has also been picked up 298 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 3: by Perpetual Entertainment, already available the first two episodes already 299 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 3: available in Australia and shortly coming to New Zealand as well, 300 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:29,680 Speaker 3: so those shows have been saved. Still a question about 301 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 3: just how much money is owed to the two stars. 302 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 3: I'm sure hopefully they've got a little bit of appearance money, 303 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 3: but probably not the full amount that they owed. 304 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:44,679 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us, Shane, Thanks Chelsea. That's it for 305 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 2: this episode of The Front Page. You can read more 306 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 2: about today's stories and extensive news coverage at enzidherld dot 307 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 2: co dot enz. The Front Page is hosted and produced 308 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 2: by me, Chelsea Daniels, Caine Dicky is our studio operation, 309 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 2: Richard Martin, our producer and editor, and our executive producer 310 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,879 Speaker 2: is Jane Ye. Follow the front page on the iHeart 311 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 2: app or wherever you get your podcasts, and join us 312 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,360 Speaker 2: next time for another look beyond the headlines.