Mad Men Producer Buys New TVNZ HD Drama

Charles Mesure and Miriama McDowell

TVNZ this morning revealed Lionsgate, an international distributor that also makes the award-winning Mad Men, has bought the worldwide rights to This Is Not My Life, which starts 8.30 tonight on TV One.

The 13-part HD action-mystery about  a man who awakes one day, only to discover he can’t remember his wife, his kids or even his own name, was commissioned from GRST and produced by Steven O’Meagher (Out of the Blue), Tim White (The Boys Are Back in Town, Out of the Blue), Rachel Lang (Go Girls, Outrageous Fortune) and Gavin Strawhan (Go Girls, Being Eve).

Star Charles Mesure is best known for playing Zane Gerard in TV3’s Outrageous Fortune but also has featured in such US series as Cold Case, Bones, Lost, Without A Trace, and TV2’s V.

“Lionsgate has a great international reputation with hits like Mad Men and Weeds,” Steven O’Meagher, said in a statement. “The fact they’ve acquired the sales rights to the New Zealand series This is Not My Life before it’s even screened is a tremendous sign of their confidence in the quality of the show.”

Lionsgate’s managing director of international television, Peter Lacono, called Life “well-crafted, artfully acted and directed” and said it “aligns perfectly with our international clients’ high standards for successful programming”.

The deal follows the drama’s showcasing at the LA Screenings in May.

Meanwhile, Onfilm has published a story about what’s been a banner week for NZ drama in primetime and the importance of Life to TV One’s schedule.