February 17, 2026 • 18 mins
What does New Zealand and David Hasselhoff have in common?
The answer, is TV producer Alex Breingan.
He has been hit with a raft of Serious Fraud Office charges... and is the same guy whose production company, Stripe Studios, owed the Baywatch star money.
Turns out, he might owe a lot more people, a lot more.
Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald Media Insider Shayne Currie is with us to take us through the rise, and falls, of this high-flying, Kiwi producer.
Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.
Host: Chelsea Daniels
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Kielda.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a
daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. What does
New Zealand and David Hasselhoff have in common? The answer
is TV producer Alex Bringan. He's been hit with a
raft of serious fraud chargers and is the same guy
(00:28):
whose production company Stripes Studios owes the Baywatch Star money.
Turns out he might owe a lot more people a
lot more money. Today on the front Page ends at
Herald Media insider Shane carriers with us to take us
through the rise and falls of this high flying KIWI producer.
(00:53):
First off, Shane paint us a picture of Alex Bringan.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Who is he?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
What did he build? And what shows is he credited
with that we might recognize?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Well, thanks for having me, Chelsea, It's nice to sit
down with you. Alex bring In. He's been sort of
the focus of some inquiries on my own behalf and
of course from different agencies in New Zealand for the
last couple of years. But intriguing character, a bit of
a charmer. I'm told I haven't personally met him, but
I've interviewed lots of people who have and he's a
(01:24):
UK born came to New Zealand in two thousand and
two and started out actually in radio in New Zealand
and had some roles at Media Works and the likes
of MARFM and Radio Live, but then moved into broadcast,
into television and broadcasting and production and eventually set up
Striped Studios in two thy and twelve. That was after
(01:45):
establishing Choice TV, which went on to become Eden Channel.
But anyway, Alex himself, I've spoken to him briefly once
on the telephone and I had various emails, very brief emails.
But despite that, I'm told he is a charmer, very
well spoken, loves being around celebrities and if you look
(02:06):
up YouTube and other channels, you see some interviews that
he has done himself, both on his own shows and
with some overseas kind of celebrities, Hollywood actors such as
Gabriel Mack from Suits Oh and people like that that
he did for The Cafe, which was a show that
he produced in New Zealand from twenty sixteen to twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I remember that one.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yeah, that was on TV three for a while, hosted
by Mike Purdue and Malhomer and so Alex has had tentacles.
Alex bringhas had tentacles in the New Zealand production and
television sector, in particular quite extensively right up to the
time he left for LA in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Right, so tell me what's he charged with? What's happening here?
Why is he on your radar? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
So he established, as I say, Stripe Studios now more
than ten years ago, and Stripe Studios was based out
of Ponson. Migray learned at small offices he set up
with Stripe Studios, he set up special vehicle companies for
each individual show that he was producing. Now Stripe Studios
itself's done more than a dozen shows and TV shows
and series, and some of them will be well known
(03:18):
to some people. They were the likes of The Circus
and Circus Two reunited some travel shows with former All
Black Stephen Donald and Israel dag and he also was
starting to establish two series and featuring some very well
known Hollywood players and actors, one David Hesselhoff, of course
(03:39):
of Night Rider and Baywatch fame, and also Netflix comedian
Eliza Shelsinger who they both came to New Zealand and
those two shows that they were involved in with Stripe
Studios unfortunately fell victim to some of the funding issues
and now the chargers that Alex Springing is facing. So
he was. Alex Springing is now facing thirty three Serious
(04:03):
Fraud Office charges and they relate to around thirteen Stripe
Studio shows. They relate to more almost fifteen million dollars,
partly public funding that he received for those shows, or
the public the screen production rebate that he received for
some of those shows, and also around ten million dollars
(04:23):
in private lending, mainly from Kiwibank and Fulkham Finance.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Right, So you mentioned before he's obviously relocated to LA
and kind of rebranded himself in some ways, right. Can
you tell us about his Hollywood life?
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, it's an intriguing life. I delved into this a
couple of weeks ago in my media column. Alex left
New Zealand in twenty twenty four, just as the Serious
Fraud Office had started investigating just how he was financing
and funding and receiving funds for these thirteen shows. But
he's been in out Los Angeles ever since, and I've
tracked him down now to to Hollywood, where he has
(05:02):
tried to establish himself and is trying to establish himself
in the TV and film industry there. Now he's living
with another woman in Los Angeles. He was married in
New Zealand to former TV three reporter and a very
well known Instagram personality, the One Handed Baker aka Rachel Heart.
(05:24):
But that marriage is now over. That loves split up.
Alex moved to Los Angeles, as I say, in twenty
twenty four, and he is now living with a woman
in Los Angeles called Darcy Penn, who's a part time administrator.
And so I've painted a picture for the media column
of his new life. It's quite an upmarket life. He's
(05:44):
living in an upmarket suburb in the Santa Monica Foothills.
As I say, He's tried to establish himself in the
film and TV industry there, set up a website called
Second Hour Films. Up until recently, he had associated himself
on that website. His website to around another dozen shows
in Los Angeles. But my subsequent investigations have found actually
(06:05):
that while he was describing himself as a producer of
some of these shows, the production companies say that was misleading,
that he wasn't associated in that respect with those shows,
and they've asked him to remove the references to their
shows on his website.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
How many are on his website now.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Well as of today, Chelsea, and I've just checked this morning. Zero,
So it's just basically now a title on the website
Second Hour Films on his IMDb homepage. IMDb, for those
who don't know, it is a very well known movie
database site, basically a LinkedIn if you like, for the
film and TV industry. I would say so yeah. And
(06:44):
so Alex has now calls himself Alex James on that website.
James is his middle name. And as of this morning,
he's got another seven shows that he says is are
in development or filming associated with himself, and these that
have promotional and marketing material alongside them. Some of them
have been created by AI and so just where those
(07:09):
productions are at remains.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Unclear in terms of IMDb. And I've always wondered this,
do people because you know how like Wikipedia, you can
go on at yourself and edit something and they're obviously
people checking and stuff like that. But can I go
on to IMDb and create myself a profile?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
You can? You can and unlike Wikipedia, it seems IMDb
there's a lot less I guess with Wikipeda, I've noticed
saying I've noticed this in the Alex bring in case.
There are a lot of people editing that page at
any one time and removing and adding details as news stories,
you know, come to the fore. IMDb seems a lot less,
(07:48):
I guess, kind of interactive Alex James. Alex Bringing's bio
right now is pretty brief. As I say, it's got
seven projects attached to his name that's fluctuated over time.
There was up to a dozen or more in recent
and recent times. I suspect I don't have proof of this,
but I suspect Alex himself has been editing his page
(08:11):
to reflect the requests of these other production companies for
him not to associate himself with them.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
We have the chance interview a major Hollywood star, Gabriel
Marx from the hit show Suit said, well, we didn't
end up doing it.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Many of us did it because our producer and our
DIY expert, Alex think he went along, and by all accounts,
it didn't go down particularly well with Gabriel.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Gabriel matt Is Harvey Specter from Suits and it's a pleasure.
It's an honor and robber.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
I'm Alex. Yeah, I was told I was going to
be talking with Make and No. Yeah, a bit awkward. Sorry,
that's really uncool, because you know, this whole came together
pretty quickly as I heard. Yeah, because I work hard
and fast. Yeah, I'm not going to do this interview
until Mike and Mail actually come here and sit across
from me in this boardroom. God damn it.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
So his Stripe Media company that collapsed into liquidation in
twenty twenty four ohing creditors upwards of twenty million dollars.
Were there any earlier red flags before this?
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Not so much reflags. The way the serious fraud investigation
came about initially is that the New Zealand Film Commission,
which administers the screen production Rebate, flagged concerns about what
it called at the time an Auckland production company. It
did not name Stripe. It was only in subsequent months
that Stripe's name came out. It said in November twenty
(09:48):
twenty three that it had flagged concerns with the Serious
Fraud Office about an Auckland production companies and its use
of the screen production rebate, and so the Serious Fraud
Office has been investigating since that time. So the It's
Fraud Officers investigation's gone for more than two years. You know,
there's been a lot of political debate about the screen
production rebate, and basically how that works is there's two rebates,
(10:11):
one for local productions, one for international productions, and subject
to various criteria, but producers can receive back cash up
to forty percent of the money they've spent on in
the case of local productions, or twenty to twenty five
percent cash back for international productions. Now it's designed to
(10:32):
enhance the screen production industry, to bring productions to New Zealand,
to make sure the industry is vibrant. As I say,
a lot of political debate about it. At the ACT
Party for instance, has been opposed to it, whereas National
and under Nikola Willis have been very supportive in recent
times for it.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Well, in terms of that, I mean, how do these
allegations affect the industry, especially the local TV industry as
a whole. I suppose at a grassroots level it's already
quite difficult to get something off the ground right and
so when something like this happens or these charges come out,
they must just be like.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Oh no, yeah, it's not I mean, it's not a
great look. And already the Film Commission has come out
and said it's you know, it's made sure that over
the last two or three years, it's really tightened procedures
and reviewed the way that the screen production remate is administered.
I think there are more questions to be asked there eventually,
once we understand what Alex Bringhan's position is with the
(11:28):
serious Fraud Office charges. He's denied them. Of course, we
still don't know if he will come back to New
Zealand to fight those charges, or whether Interpol needs to
get involved and he is extradited to New Zealand. But
they are very serious charges. There's a lot of money
at stake, and so I think following that and even
in between, we'll understand a little bit more from the
(11:50):
New Zealand Film Commission, just any changes it's made in
terms of, I guess, monitoring the way that that money
is distributed. But you're right, Chelsea, in terms of you know,
the industry is under a lot of pressure. The last
thing it needs is sort of publicity about a producer
facing these kind of charges. It's important though that the
sunlight's on this case. Every industry will have, I guess
(12:14):
cases bad eggs, cases that aren't great, But by and large,
the New Zealand screen sector, you know, has a great
reputation both locally and globally. It's getting back onto its feet.
There's a lot of issues that it's confronting in terms of,
you know, the global streamers and whether they need to
contribute a lot more to the industry. But yeah, this
(12:36):
doesn't help.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
What tipped you off about Alex Brennan, Well, it's you know.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
What tipped us off originally was the New Zealand Film
Commission's very brief statement in November twenty three that it
had referenced this production company in Auckland to the Serious
Fraud Office. And from there I started to pull a
few strands, as at other media. But over the last
two or three years, as Alex bring In has dealt
(13:05):
with other people, he has accused the New Zealand Film
Commission of having a vendetta against him and changing the
framework of its screen production rebate. Film Commissions denied that
he's accused The Herald of having a vendetta against him.
The Herald. You know, we certainly stand by our reporting.
We've been chasing him down for an interview for many
(13:26):
years to hear his side of the story, and that
office still stands. But he is an intriguing character. He
has the gift of the gab. He's a very confident
person by all accounts. And so this story has all
of the elements. Really, it has, you know, the David
Hasselhoff and Elizah Schlsinger factors in terms of Hollywood. It
has somebody who now lives in a different country trying
(13:47):
to establish himself there and question them all kind of
ways that he is doing that. And back here it's
you know, there's a lot of money involved, a lot
of public money, a lot of private money, featuring and
featuring out some of our her own bigger names.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
You've spoken to his ex wife, Is that right? What
did she have to say? No?
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Unfortunately, Rachel Hart, she has declined interviews so far. However,
she has been on social media in a lot stronger
ways in recent times, and she's actually spoken out about
her ex husband and one very taling post on Instagram
and on Facebook just in the last two weeks where
(14:25):
she quite clearly outlined what she described the definition of
a narcissist and described the way that Alex Springhan was
still using a lot of her own money while after
ed moved to Los Angeles and now, as she has discovered,
had already met another person and was now living with
them and her four children in Los Angeles. Four young
(14:49):
children that Alex Springen and Darcy Penna living in Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
You've been around for a wee, Bet Shane, I hope
you don't mind be saying.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
You can tell her from the from the hairstyle.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
You're no spring Chicken. But you've dealt with these media
scandals before, right, How might this damage trust in the industry?
And what sets this apart? You've already said the Hollywood
actor David Hasselhoffs involved. But what makes you so dogged
in your pursuit of someone like Alex Springer?
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I think, and for any journalist, I think getting to
the bottom of, you know, of allegations and seeking answers,
I think is really important. And when it does involve
so much, you know, it's millions and millions of public money,
and there are still a lot of individual creditors who
are unlikely to see their money and so yes, there is.
While the Serious Fraud Office charges cover almost fifteen million
(15:42):
dollars bdo the receivers have identified more than twenty million
dollars that is owed to creditors. And you know that
includes Keywi Bank, full from Finance as I say, individual creditors,
ID and these big Hollywood names. And so for me,
you know, it's important that you know, sunlights is shown
(16:02):
into these nooks and crannies and making sure that another
case like this doesn't unfold and that public money is
safe and is well accounted for. So that that is
partly it. But I'm also intrigued by Alex himself. You know,
here is a guy who has put himself out there.
He's created his own businesses, He's interviewed lots of people
himself for his own shows, He's produced a lot of
(16:25):
his own shows, and so you know, it has all
the factors if he's looking for a great story to tell,
you know, for in for a new TV series, I
don't think you can go too far past the life
and times of Alex.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Bringing absolutely and so when we are we ever going
to see this David Hasselhoff travel Travels New Zealand show
going to see the has it has.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
The great news, Chelsea is that two of the shows,
and unfortunately there are a number of shows that haven't
seen the light of day. But two of the shows
have been picked up by another entertainment production company. And
the David Hasselhoff Show is now available co starring Restaby,
one of our best known comedians of course, and that
was a travel show traveling the length of New Zealand.
(17:10):
So that show is already available now on three Now.
And the schel Singer Show that was just announced in
the last couple of weeks has also been picked up
by Perpetual Entertainment, already available the first two episodes already
available in Australia and shortly coming to New Zealand as well,
so those shows have been saved. Still a question about
just how much money is owed to the two stars.
(17:32):
I'm sure hopefully they've got a little bit of appearance money,
but probably not the full amount that they owed.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Thanks for joining us, Shane, Thanks Chelsea. That's it for
this episode of The Front Page. You can read more
about today's stories and extensive news coverage at enzidherld dot
co dot enz. The Front Page is hosted and produced
by me, Chelsea Daniels, Caine Dicky is our studio operation,
(18:00):
Richard Martin, our producer and editor, and our executive producer
is Jane Ye. Follow the front page on the iHeart
app or wherever you get your podcasts, and join us
next time for another look beyond the headlines.
Kielda.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a
daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. What does
New Zealand and David Hasselhoff have in common? The answer
is TV producer Alex Bringan. He's been hit with a
raft of serious fraud chargers and is the same guy
(00:28):
whose production company Stripes Studios owes the Baywatch Star money.
Turns out he might owe a lot more people a
lot more money. Today on the front Page ends at
Herald Media insider Shane carriers with us to take us
through the rise and falls of this high flying KIWI producer.
(00:53):
First off, Shane paint us a picture of Alex Bringan.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Who is he?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
What did he build? And what shows is he credited
with that we might recognize?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Well, thanks for having me, Chelsea, It's nice to sit
down with you. Alex bring In. He's been sort of
the focus of some inquiries on my own behalf and
of course from different agencies in New Zealand for the
last couple of years. But intriguing character, a bit of
a charmer. I'm told I haven't personally met him, but
I've interviewed lots of people who have and he's a
(01:24):
UK born came to New Zealand in two thousand and
two and started out actually in radio in New Zealand
and had some roles at Media Works and the likes
of MARFM and Radio Live, but then moved into broadcast,
into television and broadcasting and production and eventually set up
Striped Studios in two thy and twelve. That was after
(01:45):
establishing Choice TV, which went on to become Eden Channel.
But anyway, Alex himself, I've spoken to him briefly once
on the telephone and I had various emails, very brief emails.
But despite that, I'm told he is a charmer, very
well spoken, loves being around celebrities and if you look
(02:06):
up YouTube and other channels, you see some interviews that
he has done himself, both on his own shows and
with some overseas kind of celebrities, Hollywood actors such as
Gabriel Mack from Suits Oh and people like that that
he did for The Cafe, which was a show that
he produced in New Zealand from twenty sixteen to twenty twenty.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I remember that one.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yeah, that was on TV three for a while, hosted
by Mike Purdue and Malhomer and so Alex has had tentacles.
Alex bringhas had tentacles in the New Zealand production and
television sector, in particular quite extensively right up to the
time he left for LA in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Right, so tell me what's he charged with? What's happening here?
Why is he on your radar? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
So he established, as I say, Stripe Studios now more
than ten years ago, and Stripe Studios was based out
of Ponson. Migray learned at small offices he set up
with Stripe Studios, he set up special vehicle companies for
each individual show that he was producing. Now Stripe Studios
itself's done more than a dozen shows and TV shows
and series, and some of them will be well known
(03:18):
to some people. They were the likes of The Circus
and Circus Two reunited some travel shows with former All
Black Stephen Donald and Israel dag and he also was
starting to establish two series and featuring some very well
known Hollywood players and actors, one David Hesselhoff, of course
(03:39):
of Night Rider and Baywatch fame, and also Netflix comedian
Eliza Shelsinger who they both came to New Zealand and
those two shows that they were involved in with Stripe
Studios unfortunately fell victim to some of the funding issues
and now the chargers that Alex Springing is facing. So
he was. Alex Springing is now facing thirty three Serious
(04:03):
Fraud Office charges and they relate to around thirteen Stripe
Studio shows. They relate to more almost fifteen million dollars,
partly public funding that he received for those shows, or
the public the screen production rebate that he received for
some of those shows, and also around ten million dollars
(04:23):
in private lending, mainly from Kiwibank and Fulkham Finance.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Right, So you mentioned before he's obviously relocated to LA
and kind of rebranded himself in some ways, right. Can
you tell us about his Hollywood life?
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, it's an intriguing life. I delved into this a
couple of weeks ago in my media column. Alex left
New Zealand in twenty twenty four, just as the Serious
Fraud Office had started investigating just how he was financing
and funding and receiving funds for these thirteen shows. But
he's been in out Los Angeles ever since, and I've
tracked him down now to to Hollywood, where he has
(05:02):
tried to establish himself and is trying to establish himself
in the TV and film industry there. Now he's living
with another woman in Los Angeles. He was married in
New Zealand to former TV three reporter and a very
well known Instagram personality, the One Handed Baker aka Rachel Heart.
(05:24):
But that marriage is now over. That loves split up.
Alex moved to Los Angeles, as I say, in twenty
twenty four, and he is now living with a woman
in Los Angeles called Darcy Penn, who's a part time administrator.
And so I've painted a picture for the media column
of his new life. It's quite an upmarket life. He's
(05:44):
living in an upmarket suburb in the Santa Monica Foothills.
As I say, He's tried to establish himself in the
film and TV industry there, set up a website called
Second Hour Films. Up until recently, he had associated himself
on that website. His website to around another dozen shows
in Los Angeles. But my subsequent investigations have found actually
(06:05):
that while he was describing himself as a producer of
some of these shows, the production companies say that was misleading,
that he wasn't associated in that respect with those shows,
and they've asked him to remove the references to their
shows on his website.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
How many are on his website now.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Well as of today, Chelsea, and I've just checked this morning. Zero,
So it's just basically now a title on the website
Second Hour Films on his IMDb homepage. IMDb, for those
who don't know, it is a very well known movie
database site, basically a LinkedIn if you like, for the
film and TV industry. I would say so yeah. And
(06:44):
so Alex has now calls himself Alex James on that website.
James is his middle name. And as of this morning,
he's got another seven shows that he says is are
in development or filming associated with himself, and these that
have promotional and marketing material alongside them. Some of them
have been created by AI and so just where those
(07:09):
productions are at remains.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Unclear in terms of IMDb. And I've always wondered this,
do people because you know how like Wikipedia, you can
go on at yourself and edit something and they're obviously
people checking and stuff like that. But can I go
on to IMDb and create myself a profile?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
You can? You can and unlike Wikipedia, it seems IMDb
there's a lot less I guess with Wikipeda, I've noticed
saying I've noticed this in the Alex bring in case.
There are a lot of people editing that page at
any one time and removing and adding details as news stories,
you know, come to the fore. IMDb seems a lot less,
(07:48):
I guess, kind of interactive Alex James. Alex Bringing's bio
right now is pretty brief. As I say, it's got
seven projects attached to his name that's fluctuated over time.
There was up to a dozen or more in recent
and recent times. I suspect I don't have proof of this,
but I suspect Alex himself has been editing his page
(08:11):
to reflect the requests of these other production companies for
him not to associate himself with them.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
We have the chance interview a major Hollywood star, Gabriel
Marx from the hit show Suit said, well, we didn't
end up doing it.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Many of us did it because our producer and our
DIY expert, Alex think he went along, and by all accounts,
it didn't go down particularly well with Gabriel.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Gabriel matt Is Harvey Specter from Suits and it's a pleasure.
It's an honor and robber.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
I'm Alex. Yeah, I was told I was going to
be talking with Make and No. Yeah, a bit awkward. Sorry,
that's really uncool, because you know, this whole came together
pretty quickly as I heard. Yeah, because I work hard
and fast. Yeah, I'm not going to do this interview
until Mike and Mail actually come here and sit across
from me in this boardroom. God damn it.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
So his Stripe Media company that collapsed into liquidation in
twenty twenty four ohing creditors upwards of twenty million dollars.
Were there any earlier red flags before this?
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Not so much reflags. The way the serious fraud investigation
came about initially is that the New Zealand Film Commission,
which administers the screen production Rebate, flagged concerns about what
it called at the time an Auckland production company. It
did not name Stripe. It was only in subsequent months
that Stripe's name came out. It said in November twenty
(09:48):
twenty three that it had flagged concerns with the Serious
Fraud Office about an Auckland production companies and its use
of the screen production rebate, and so the Serious Fraud
Office has been investigating since that time. So the It's
Fraud Officers investigation's gone for more than two years. You know,
there's been a lot of political debate about the screen
production rebate, and basically how that works is there's two rebates,
(10:11):
one for local productions, one for international productions, and subject
to various criteria, but producers can receive back cash up
to forty percent of the money they've spent on in
the case of local productions, or twenty to twenty five
percent cash back for international productions. Now it's designed to
(10:32):
enhance the screen production industry, to bring productions to New Zealand,
to make sure the industry is vibrant. As I say,
a lot of political debate about it. At the ACT
Party for instance, has been opposed to it, whereas National
and under Nikola Willis have been very supportive in recent
times for it.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Well, in terms of that, I mean, how do these
allegations affect the industry, especially the local TV industry as
a whole. I suppose at a grassroots level it's already
quite difficult to get something off the ground right and
so when something like this happens or these charges come out,
they must just be like.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Oh no, yeah, it's not I mean, it's not a
great look. And already the Film Commission has come out
and said it's you know, it's made sure that over
the last two or three years, it's really tightened procedures
and reviewed the way that the screen production remate is administered.
I think there are more questions to be asked there eventually,
once we understand what Alex Bringhan's position is with the
(11:28):
serious Fraud Office charges. He's denied them. Of course, we
still don't know if he will come back to New
Zealand to fight those charges, or whether Interpol needs to
get involved and he is extradited to New Zealand. But
they are very serious charges. There's a lot of money
at stake, and so I think following that and even
in between, we'll understand a little bit more from the
(11:50):
New Zealand Film Commission, just any changes it's made in
terms of, I guess, monitoring the way that that money
is distributed. But you're right, Chelsea, in terms of you know,
the industry is under a lot of pressure. The last
thing it needs is sort of publicity about a producer
facing these kind of charges. It's important though that the
sunlight's on this case. Every industry will have, I guess
(12:14):
cases bad eggs, cases that aren't great, But by and large,
the New Zealand screen sector, you know, has a great
reputation both locally and globally. It's getting back onto its feet.
There's a lot of issues that it's confronting in terms of,
you know, the global streamers and whether they need to
contribute a lot more to the industry. But yeah, this
(12:36):
doesn't help.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
What tipped you off about Alex Brennan, Well, it's you know.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
What tipped us off originally was the New Zealand Film
Commission's very brief statement in November twenty three that it
had referenced this production company in Auckland to the Serious
Fraud Office. And from there I started to pull a
few strands, as at other media. But over the last
two or three years, as Alex bring In has dealt
(13:05):
with other people, he has accused the New Zealand Film
Commission of having a vendetta against him and changing the
framework of its screen production rebate. Film Commissions denied that
he's accused The Herald of having a vendetta against him.
The Herald. You know, we certainly stand by our reporting.
We've been chasing him down for an interview for many
(13:26):
years to hear his side of the story, and that
office still stands. But he is an intriguing character. He
has the gift of the gab. He's a very confident
person by all accounts. And so this story has all
of the elements. Really, it has, you know, the David
Hasselhoff and Elizah Schlsinger factors in terms of Hollywood. It
has somebody who now lives in a different country trying
(13:47):
to establish himself there and question them all kind of
ways that he is doing that. And back here it's
you know, there's a lot of money involved, a lot
of public money, a lot of private money, featuring and
featuring out some of our her own bigger names.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
You've spoken to his ex wife, Is that right? What
did she have to say? No?
Speaker 3 (14:05):
Unfortunately, Rachel Hart, she has declined interviews so far. However,
she has been on social media in a lot stronger
ways in recent times, and she's actually spoken out about
her ex husband and one very taling post on Instagram
and on Facebook just in the last two weeks where
(14:25):
she quite clearly outlined what she described the definition of
a narcissist and described the way that Alex Springhan was
still using a lot of her own money while after
ed moved to Los Angeles and now, as she has discovered,
had already met another person and was now living with
them and her four children in Los Angeles. Four young
(14:49):
children that Alex Springen and Darcy Penna living in Los Angeles.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
You've been around for a wee, Bet Shane, I hope
you don't mind be saying.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
You can tell her from the from the hairstyle.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
You're no spring Chicken. But you've dealt with these media
scandals before, right, How might this damage trust in the industry?
And what sets this apart? You've already said the Hollywood
actor David Hasselhoffs involved. But what makes you so dogged
in your pursuit of someone like Alex Springer?
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I think, and for any journalist, I think getting to
the bottom of, you know, of allegations and seeking answers,
I think is really important. And when it does involve
so much, you know, it's millions and millions of public money,
and there are still a lot of individual creditors who
are unlikely to see their money and so yes, there is.
While the Serious Fraud Office charges cover almost fifteen million
(15:42):
dollars bdo the receivers have identified more than twenty million
dollars that is owed to creditors. And you know that
includes Keywi Bank, full from Finance as I say, individual creditors,
ID and these big Hollywood names. And so for me,
you know, it's important that you know, sunlights is shown
(16:02):
into these nooks and crannies and making sure that another
case like this doesn't unfold and that public money is
safe and is well accounted for. So that that is
partly it. But I'm also intrigued by Alex himself. You know,
here is a guy who has put himself out there.
He's created his own businesses, He's interviewed lots of people
himself for his own shows, He's produced a lot of
(16:25):
his own shows, and so you know, it has all
the factors if he's looking for a great story to tell,
you know, for in for a new TV series, I
don't think you can go too far past the life
and times of Alex.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Bringing absolutely and so when we are we ever going
to see this David Hasselhoff travel Travels New Zealand show
going to see the has it has.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
The great news, Chelsea is that two of the shows,
and unfortunately there are a number of shows that haven't
seen the light of day. But two of the shows
have been picked up by another entertainment production company. And
the David Hasselhoff Show is now available co starring Restaby,
one of our best known comedians of course, and that
was a travel show traveling the length of New Zealand.
(17:10):
So that show is already available now on three Now.
And the schel Singer Show that was just announced in
the last couple of weeks has also been picked up
by Perpetual Entertainment, already available the first two episodes already
available in Australia and shortly coming to New Zealand as well,
so those shows have been saved. Still a question about
just how much money is owed to the two stars.
(17:32):
I'm sure hopefully they've got a little bit of appearance money,
but probably not the full amount that they owed.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Thanks for joining us, Shane, Thanks Chelsea. That's it for
this episode of The Front Page. You can read more
about today's stories and extensive news coverage at enzidherld dot
co dot enz. The Front Page is hosted and produced
by me, Chelsea Daniels, Caine Dicky is our studio operation,
(18:00):
Richard Martin, our producer and editor, and our executive producer
is Jane Ye. Follow the front page on the iHeart
app or wherever you get your podcasts, and join us
next time for another look beyond the headlines.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Girlfriends: Trust Me Babe
When a group of women from all over the country realise they all dated the same prolific romance scammer they vow to bring him to justice. In this brand new season of global number 1 hit podcast, The Girlfriends, Anna Sinfield meets a group of funny, feisty, determined women who all had the misfortune of dating a mysterious man named Derek Alldred. Trust Me Babe is a story about the protective forces of gossip, gut instinct, and trusting your besties and the group of women who took matters into their own hands to take down a fraudster when no one else would listen. If you’re affected by any of the themes in this show, our charity partners NO MORE have available resources at https://www.nomore.org. To learn more about romance scams, and to access specialised support, visit https://fightcybercrime.org/ The Girlfriends: Trust Me Babe is produced by Novel for iHeartPodcasts. For more from Novel, visit https://novel.audio/. You can listen to new episodes of The Girlfriends: Trust Me Babe completely ad-free and 1 week early with an iHeart True Crime+ subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. Open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “iHeart True Crime+, and subscribe today!