Howard is one of New Zealand’s most experienced directors with over a hundred hours of programming to his credit. His relaxed style of filming makes for intimate and revealing story-telling. He has shot in many countries round the world including England, France, USA, Tahiti, Mexico, Japan, Norfolk Island and he’s one of the few film-makers to have filmed on Pitcairn Island. While directing has been his forte, he has also produced a variety of programmes.
Howard learnt his craft at the NZBC (TVNZ) when the state broadcaster was the only game in town. After eight years as a film editor editing everything from news to drama, he moved to directing and producing. Four years producing Country Calendar was followed by a decade making arts programmes. In the 1990s he left TVNZ to pursue a career in the independent industry, with a focus on documentary. He has directed for a variety of independent production companies including Ninox, Gibson Group, Greenstone Pictures, Screentime, Imagination, Whakapapa Productions and Natural History New Zealand. Along side his gun-for-hire work, he set up Howard Taylor Productions for more personal projects.
Over the years he has been a board member of producer and director associations in their various evolutions – TVPDA, IPDG, SDGNZ – and a board member of various film and television awards bodies including the new combined SDGNZ and TBC Qantas Film and Television Awards.
A selection of his credits:
Howard has written for both screen and publication – scripts, magazine articles and reviews. Clients include:
NZ Family Courts Association
NZ Historic Places Trust
On Film magazine
Take magazine